SEETHER 

What Seether have done since 2002 – when they released their US debut “Disclaimer” – is capture the attention of music fans across the globe with epic riffs and thunderous rhythms. The reworked “Disclaimer II” went platinum in USA when a new rendition of the ballad “Broken” became a Top 20 US chart hit. Seether’s success carried forward with 2005’s “Karma and Effect”, which debuted on the Billboard Album Charts at #8 containing the huge hit “Remedy”. After a stint in rehab, Shaun Morgan, front man/guitarist and principal songwriter’s new outlook on life and music has resulted in this year’s excellent “Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces”, easily the South African-bred, LA-based hard rock band’s most innovative studio album yet. “Fake It” – the radio smash that launched the disc has been a huge hit in NZ followed by the equally anthemic “Rise Above This”. Their headline slot at Southern Amp will be the band’s FIRST EVER (and long overdue…) concert appearance in NZ.  

THE LIVING END

It has been more than 10 years since The Living End released their breakout double-A sided single “Second Solution”/“Prisoner of Society” – with many hit songs, gold & platinum albums, sold-out shows, festival headlining appearances, world tours and thousands of satisfied punters in between. The Melbourne trio’s 5th studio album “White Noise” is released 19th July and is kicked off with the powerhouse new single “How Do We Know”. As a live act, the band’s reputation around the world is unquestioned – on a great night there is barely a band on the planet that can touch them! The band returns to NZ for their 2nd appearance at Southern Amp 2008. We are STOKED to have them back!

THE DANDY WARHOLS

The Dandy Warhols need little introduction but pose, if not an actual threat, then at least a series of pressing questions; Where do they come from? What drives them? And perhaps most of all, what do they want with us…? Returning to NZ for their first live appearance since Big Day Out 2004 equipped with a brand new album “Earth To The Dandy Warhols” on their own brand new record label might help answer some of those questions for the band from Portland, Oregon who have given us a swag of psych-pop hits over the last decade-plus. One of the few bands in the music business whose name constantly means ‘quality’ and ‘unpredictability’, with no questions asked!

THE CHARLATANS

As The Charlatans approach their 20th anniversary, their music continues to be as inspirational to hundreds of thousands of fans as it did when they first appeared on the British music scene in 1989. They first tasted chart success when their 2nd and now iconic indie single “The Only One I Know” became a top 10 hit in 1990 and have since gone on to establish themselves as a major force in the British scene, enjoying nine Top 10 albums (including three Number 1’s) and 22 Top 40 singles. After some prestigious support slots like Oasis’ famous Knebworth gigs in 1996, The Who at Wembley and The Rolling Stones at Twickenham in 2007, the band became first in the UK to release their new album “You Cross My Path” entirely free as an MP3 download through the website of popular UK radio station Xfm. They visit NZ for the FIRST TIME to support the album’s release on Cooking Vinyl/Shock Records after a run of European summer festivals.  

THE POTBELLEEZ

Do you believe in fate? The Potbelleez certainly do! From being a couple of Irish tourists landing in Sydney, Australia in 2001/2 with not much more than a record bag to their name, Dave Goode and Jonny Sonic have become the hottest property in the Australian dance scene. If recent form is anything to go by, with “Don’t Hold Back” being the biggest dance hit of the year on both sides of the Tasman, all sorts of awards and being snapped up by Ministry Of Sound to mix the recent “Sessions” CD, the sky now seems the limit! With their full 4-piece live set up seen for the first time in NZ, The Potbelleez will close out the Ministry of Sound Stage at Southern Amp 2008.

GYROSCOPE

Gyroscope have nailed it on their third album, “Breed Obsession” with the four best friends from Perth Australia pushing far beyond the infectious and intelligent pop-rock of their breakthrough 2006 album “Are You Involved?” From the standout piano-driven first single ‘Snakeskin’, to the intricate electronica-tinged ‘1981’ and personal, anthemic ‘Australia’, the band’s 3rd album’s beauty is in its subtlety and complexity. Gyroscope are making strong waves on Kiwi radio and make their first NZ festival appearance at Southern Amp 2008.

TIKI (MC DJ)

Artist, Producer, Engineer Tiki spent the previous twelve years playing to the world as frontman for one of NZ’s most successful live exports, Salmonella Dub. Doubling as an audio engineer for some of the country’s finest acts as well, including Shapeshifter, Tiki’s unique gift for taking music into an innovative new realm has finally and totally deservedly resulted in a highly successful solo album “Past Present Future” in 2008 and a #1 single with “Always On My Mind”. Southern Amp pays much respect to Tiki’s achievements this year and looks forward to his captivating Acoustic/MC/DJ set on the Ministry of Sound stage.

WETA

Filling the gap left by Testament will be Wellington rock band WETA. Formed in 1995 the band built a huge following as the fiercest live act in the country securing support slots with Shihad, Regurgitator, Everclear, The Foo Fighters & Soundgarden. After moving to Melbourne and scoring platinum sales of their debut album “Geographica”, various dysfunctional fist fights and all sorts of other rock & roll ‘issues’, caused the band to split up in 2001. Now reconvened and raring to go, the band set out on their first NZ dates in 7 years including a main stage appearance at Southern Amp 08!

THE JORDAN LUCK BAND

The Jordan Luck Band, front man and pop-writing genius with one of NZ’s iconic and legendary bands The Exponents, Jordan has clocked up a staggering 18 Top 40 singles over the years, with “Victoria” recently being voted by the public as one of the top 10 greatest NZ songs of all time. Today you’ll hear 20,000 rugby fans singing in unison to “Why Does Love Do This To Me?” ‘Legend’ is a word suffering from unwarranted overuse syndrome these days, but its original intention is 100% intact when describing the affection the Kiwi public has for Jordan’s songs.

AUTOZAMM

Autozamm are carving out quite a niche as one of this country’s fine live acts having supported Powderfinger, Shihad, Silverchair and The Black Crowes recently. The release of their 2nd album “Drama Queen” in March has seen them return to the live stage with a new sense of high energy and their latest single ‘Closer To Home’ is fast becoming a major hit on NZ radio.

GOODWILL

Goodwill is not only one of Sydney’s finest DJ’s over the last 10 years, but also one of Australia’s! In recent years his production credits, including ‘Happenis’, ‘Go Away Baby’ & ‘Outta Control’, have made him Ministry Of Sound’s highest selling Australian artist and a producer in demand, resulting in him mixing the recent MOS “Sessions Five” CD with The Potbelleez. Goodwill returns to Southern Amp for the 2nd year running this year and is a DJ well worth checking out!

CONCORD DAWN

Concord Dawn have been making major waves in the world of electronic music for many years, dubbed the “NZ pioneers of Drum & Bass” and have released their distinctive sound on some of the world’s most distinctive dance labels and earned a fearsome reputation for their live performances from extensive touring around the world. They return to the Ministry of Sound Stage this year.

LITTLE BUSHMAN

With a couple albums and plenty of gigs, Little Bushman give the feeling they’ve finally got a foot in the door. After some excellent NZ festival appearances over summer and a recent concert with the 40-piece Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, Australia beckons later in the year.

DIMMER

Dimmer featuring the enigmatic Shayne Carter rose from the ashes of Straitjacket Fits some time last century... their first album "I Believe You Are A Star" was released in 2001 on Flying Nun which the NZ Herald made their album of the year. With a brand new album currently being recorded, Dimmer will play their only South Island show this year at Southern Amp.

DIE! DIE! DIE!

Die! Die! Die! are worthy of their Russ Meyer–like name… Hailing from Dunedin and having toured the world over, this sickeningly tight power-trio have little patience for pop concessions! Abrasive and bare-bones, the band makes a lot out of a little… the result is mind-numbingly satisfying!

FUR PATROL

Hailing from Wellington, Fur Patrol are now two thirds Melbourne residents and one third back in Wellington again! With two albums, one producing a huge NZ #1 single, and two EPs to date in Australasia since forming in 1996, the new album, “Local Kid”, is due for release later this year.

GOODNIGHT NURSE

Its been a major year for Goodnight Nurse, their hit single ‘The Night’ was played non-stop on radio and their 2nd studio album “Keep Me On Your Side” debuted at #5 – They’ve won MTV Video Awards and their MySpace profile is the most prolific in NZ, with over 2 million song plays to date!

STATE OF MIND

The success of State of Mind a drum and bass duo, both abroad and in NZ has been recognised over the last few years, where they have achieved a host nominations and were awarded the 2006 BNet Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Single of the Year for ‘Aces High’ with Concord Dawn.

THE ASTON SHUFFLE  

Hailing from Australia’s capital Canberra, are a little electro, a little techno, but all house. In 2005 after being friends and associated production whores Vance Musgrove & Ross McGrath started their digital label project as a group effort to get their unreleased tunes out to the masses. Now under the influence of Ministry of Sound they are skyrocketing and heavily in demand for their white hot remixes… When the swing on their tunes hits the Ministry of Sound Stage at Southern Amp NZ dance fans will be very pleasantly surprised how hard it will be to keep their bodies from going retarded.

THE VALVES

The Valves are one of the South’s success stories of the last year. A huge live resume now boasts support slots to Bon Jovi, Ozzy Osbourne and Whitesnake plus literally loads of their own gigs. This tight kick-ass rock band deserve their slot on any major festival and we’re glad to have them back.

MIDNIGHT YOUTH 

A five-piece Auckland band fresh from recording their debut album in New York have opened for the likes of Incubus, INXS and OK GO over the past two years. With 3 top 40 NZ radio tracks under their belts, a major record deal on the cards and strong support on music TV, this young band are a live act worth watching out for on the NZ Music Stage at Southern Amp.

PITCH BLACK

Pitch Black have pumped their way through NZ’s electronic music scene since their inaugural performance at the Gathering New Year's eve festival in 1997 and have spent the last 10 years rousing dance floor punters, generating rave reviews and gaining fans across the world.

TAINTED

Tainted make no bones about being one of NZ’s best live metal acts. The hard working Christchurch band’s long-awaited debut album “Carved and Created” will be finally be released in early October and is expected to be one of the biggest NZ metal releases for quite a few years.  

TIGER TONES

Another act to make a very welcome return to Southern Amp with their forceful live performance of intelligent pop music that’s also intensely danceable...! Listening to this Christchurch electro-punk band is like having New Order, The Fall and My Bloody Valentine in your ears all at the same time. 

THE EXILES

The Exiles seemingly came from nowhere when their debut single ‘The One’ became the first independent NZ track to reach Top 30 on radio play and digital sales alone. Their Big Day Out appearance this year caught attention of The Herald who judged them the band with “Best Attitude”

CLAP CLAP RIOT  

winners of MTV Kickstart 2008 with a recent bFM & Kiwi FM #1 single, are a ferocious mix of dueling guitars, solid thumping drums & wild vocals. The 4 Christchurch lads have had comparisons to bands like The Small Faces along with receiving praise from NZ media for their searing live shows. 

CAIRO KNIFE FIGHT

CKF are a little hard to pin down. They make different kinds of music. They have Guitar, Bass, a Drummer who sings and two female Backing vocalists.... Singing drummers are cool.

OAKLEY 'O.G.' GRENELL

ex-Departure Lounge, OG is one of NZ's freshest hip-hop talents. A multi-musical son of the south, he is a clever writer and talented producer delivering some of the finest crafted hip-hop, soul & jazz cuts. Son of country legend John Hore Grenell, OG is a nice slice of mood tunes at the end of a night.

LINDON PUFFIN 

A Lyttleton legend… Physically & musically reminiscent of Morrissey & Costello (also just as entertaining and good looking...) Lindon is a fantastic and necessary slice of Southern culture. Recently returned from a 3-month World Tour of 12 countries & 36 cities this whirlwind artist performed through Japan, Europe, UK and USA!

THE L.E.D.s

Not your average band... Firstly, the members don't all live in the same city but they do all originally hail from Christchurch... Secondly, they use programmed beats AND a live drummer, bizarre... Together though their powers combine to create catchy, electro-fueled pop and a super-good live show.

ED MUZIK

Part of Christchurch’s vibrant indie-electro scene, Ed M has moved his live show from his bedroom to living room to the bar room and now to Southern Amp in less than a year! Multi-faceted and seriously entertaining, one thing you can always say about Ed is that he's unpredictable onstage!  

HERA

One of the most promising & charming female singer songwriters on the NZ scene today. Born in Reykjavik, based in Christchurch, already an award winning talent in her native Iceland, Hera’s popularity is growing quickly here through her enchanting live performances, beautiful songs and unique image. 

THE EASTERN

They play because they care… about the songs about the show about the folks they meet and the hands they shake. Lyttleton’s favourite folk-alt band promise to deliver foot-stomping folk, 12 round rock 'n' roll, brokeheart blues and old time harmony… all with a little country kick!

MINISNAP 

A side project to The Bats featuring the songs of Kaye Woodward accompanied by fellow Bats members Paul Kean and Malcolm Grant along with Marcus Winstanley from The Undercurrents.

ANNEKA THWAITES 

Anneka is a refreshing contrast to a world littered with disposable pop. Paired with intimate vocals and reflective lyrics, her music is an eclectic mix, fused together with a depth of originality.

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