Local Produce: Natasha – Dun Records

Posted 9:52am Sunday 26th July 2026 by Hanna Varrs

A couple of weeks ago, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, and Sabrina Carpenter had a bad day in Aotearoa. That’s because 4EPs, a recent release featuring four EPs by local Dunedin bands Sogg, U-No Juno, Vagina Dry and Sivle Talk, debuted at the number one spot on the Official Aotearea Music Read more...

Local Produce: U-No Juno

Posted 12:06pm Sunday 17th May 2026 by Ethan Montañer

U-No Juno are undoubtedly one of the most enthralling bands in the current Ōtepoti music scene, pulling from a colourful array of influences to craft their own self-described brand of “post-post-post-post-post-post-post hardcore”. Since 2024, the band have been carving out a name Read more...

Local Produce: Bunchy’s Big Score

Posted 4:12pm Saturday 11th April 2026 by Ethan Montañer

Bunchy’s Big Score is an Ōtepoti art/pop/rock band who have become well-loved in the local scene over the past two years. Known for their noisy ear-worm bangers and ridiculously fun live shows, the quartet is preparing for what will be their biggest year yet. The band’s current Read more...

Local Produce: Deaf Raccoon

Posted 12:29pm Sunday 22nd March 2026 by Ethan Montañer

Deaf Raccoon are one of Dunedin’s most exciting new alternative punk bands, and are a testament to the importance of having all-ages gigs. Having only played their first gig in April of last year, the four-piece have already released a single, played the Rockquest National Finals, and made Read more...

Local Produce: Monkey Do

Posted 7:42pm Saturday 14th March 2026 by Ethan Montañer

Monkey Do are a new pack of primates/alternative rock band who love the Ōtepoti music scene, and have spent the past year refining their sound at Pint Nights and flat gigs. Critic Te Ārohi caught up with Rowan (guitar, he/him), Mack (bass, he/she), Pato (guitar, he/him) and Kam (drums, Read more...

Foo Fighters Seeking Help

Posted 12:26pm Sunday 8th March 2026 by Dylan O'Connor

Local Ōtepoti feminist punk band, SEEK HELP!, has been announced as one of the openers for the upcoming concert of American rock band Foo Fighters. SEEK HELP! made history last year by being one of two bands representing Otago at Smokefreerockquest 2025, and they finished in third place. Now, Read more...

Banned Shirts: Why Not Knowing the Band is an Act of Feminism

Posted 3:49pm Sunday 21st May 2023 by Jamiema Lorimer

Nirvana. The Beatles. Pink Floyd. Bands that mean absolutely nothing to the girlies. Or do they? In this essay, I will outline why basic bitches wearing band shirts is actually a feminist act of sticking it to the man. Self-proclaimed music bros, Anthony Fantano subscribers, and guys who tune Read more...

Liz Stokes of The Beths on ‘Expert In A Dying Field’:

Posted 1:55pm Saturday 24th September 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

Aotearoa indie darlings, The Beths, released their third album ‘Expert In A Dying Field’ mid-way through this month. To Critic’s surprise, the album is not actually about our humanities/marine science students and staff looking on in despair as their department is slowly snuffed Read more...

Doctors of Rock, Professors of Roll

Posted 8:15pm Sunday 15th May 2022 by Sean Gourley

When you were a kid, if you ever saw your teacher outside the classroom, it could be a bit jarring. “What are you doing in PAK‘nSAVE, Mrs Dickson? Shouldn’t you be in Room 9?” Things may have changed since primary school, but going to a gig and seeing your professor on the Read more...

Local Produce: Hazmat Monkey

Posted 3:57pm Sunday 27th February 2022 by Zak Rudin

Dunedin’s newest up and coming eclectic musical duo “Hazmat Monkey” have just released their self-titled double album. The album is the first to feature their all-original music, and is truly a force to be reckoned with.  Hazmat Monkey first emerged in 2020, when two jazz Read more...