Shihad's crazy plan to open NZ Music Month

Shihad are about to kick off New Zealand Music Month in the best possible way.

Thanks to iHeartRadio, Radio Hauraki and 2Degrees, the veteran rockers will play three shows in one day, in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, on May 1.

Why the rush? "Because we like doing things we've never done before and this is gonna be an awesome challenge. And loads of fun, too," says frontman Jon Toogood.

The band will perform 50-minute sets in Christchurch at CPIT at midday, Wellington's Meow at 4.30pm, and Auckland's Powerstation at 9pm.

"All three cities have been extremely important to Shihad's career and we've had killer shows in each one," Toogood says. "They all have their own personality but each rock hard when given the chance to." Best of all: the shows are free. To enter, visit iHeartRadio.net.nz or 2degreesperks.co.nz.

That's not the only thing Shihad have up their sleeves for NZ Music Month.

They're releasing their self-titled third album - commonly called The Fish Album - on vinyl for the first time. Released on April 15, it will also come with a 10-inch of their 1998 Blue Light Disco EP.

Toogood says NZ Music Month is important to the band.

"When Shihad started out there was hardly any New Zealand music on the radio and it was almost impossible to get shows if you were playing your own music. Things have changed a great deal since then and the scene in New Zealand is all the better for it."