Blindspott to play one off gig at Vodafone Homegrown
Blindspott have confirmed they are reforming for a one off performance at Vodafone Homegrown (March 14).
Originally typecast as too heavy for radio, the networks were forced to play Blindspott's songs due to overwhelming requests from their listeners. The rest is history - a major label bidding war, two number one albums, triple platinum sales, 2 number one airplay singles, countless sold out tours, and overseas adventures in South East Asia, Japan, America and Australia.
After 10 years together the band went their separate ways in 2007. Drummer Shelton Woolright and guitarist Marcus Powell pursued opportunities in the UK and bass player Dave McDermott relocated to Melbourne. Vocalist Damian Alexander is still involved in the New Zealand music scene as well as focussing on his design work with street wear brand Illicit clothing.
Alexander explains the decision to play at the Wellington festival, "We're definitely not reforming but the opportunity to play Vodafone Homegrown amongst such a comprehensive line-up of Kiwi bands was just too good to turn down. It will be huge!"
Blindspott will be sharing the Jim Beam Stage with Supergroove, Opshop, Evermore, Goodnight Nurse, Streetwise Scarlett and Elemeno-P. Other big names on the other four stages include Head Like A Hole, Weta, Kora, The Black Seeds, Tiki, Katchafire and Concord Dawn.
The festival sold out this year and with tickets selling 5 times faster for next year's event, Blindspott fans are encouraged to get them soon. Tickets are $90 from Ticketek.
Vodafone Homegrown Line Up
Vodafone Homegrown will be back in 2009 on March 14 with an even stronger line-up than this year's sell out festival. The beautiful Wellington Waterfront will again be home to the 5 stages featuring 35 of New Zealand's best bands and DJ's.
The Jim Beam Stage in the TSB Bank Arena boasts an epic line-up including Supergroove, Opshop, Evermore, Elemeno-P, Goodnight Nurse and Streetwise Scarlett. With yet another big name band still to be announced as well as the winner of Jim Beam's Band Search who will open the show.
The Cadbury Moro Stage line-up is equally impressive with reggae legends Katchafire, the up and coming Tahuna Breaks and heavy hitters Tiki, Kora and Wellington crowd favourites The Black Seeds. Plus another headline act still to be named!
The Nokia Stage is headlined by the legendary Head like a Hole who are reforming for the festival after 8 years apart! Also performing are WETA, Fur Patrol, The Checks, Bang Bang Eche, Tiger Tones and The Coshercot Honeys (with one more headline act still to come).
And the free to the public Aphitheatre stage features a national 3 on 3 break dancing competition, Manuel Bundy, Sunshine Soundsystem, DJ Reno, Nick D and the Cool Kids Club going head to head with Dick Johnson.
Tickets are expected to sell quickly as Vodafone Homegrown 08 sold out well in advance leaving many music fans disappointed. Limited early birds are only $70 from Ticketek. They are on sale from October 6 for Vodafone customers and Homegrown Database members and from October 13 for everyone else.
Head like a Hole reform for Vodafone Homegrown
After 8 years apart New Zealand rock legends Head like a Hole are set to reunite exclusively for next years Vodafone Homegrown music festival.
Along with Shihad, Head like a Hole dominated the 90's delivering a serious dose of hard rock and heavy metal with flourishes of country. They have a live act that has to be seen to be believed and made a name for themselves with energetic and often outrageous performances, appearing on stage either naked, caked with mud, or covered completely in body paint.
They produced four albums over 10 years, with hits including Comfortably Shagged, Wet Rubber, Hootnanny, Juicy Lucy and some inspired covers such as Bruce Springsteen's I'm on Fire and Summer Nights from Grease. Their music videos were often as in-your-face and as controversial as the band themselves with one video not allowed to be screened before 10pm and another being banned outright.
Notorious frontman Nigel (Booga) Beazley says the reason Head like a Hole split in 2000 was for cliche "Sex, drugs and rock 'n roll reasons". They are stoked about the one off reunion gig for Vodafone Homegrown where they will be headlining the Nokia Stage in their hometown Wellington.
The March 14th festival has 5 stages set along the Wellington Waterfront. Organisers will be realising this years line-up on October 6th promising an even stronger line-up than last years sellout event. Early bird tickets go on sale October 13th, $70 from Ticketek.
