Chatterbox: Hook up with Savage

Don't you just love getting yelled at by Savage? Then get ready for a roasting because the man himself, and New Zealand's other top hip-hop talent, are touring the country en masse again.

The Boost Mobile Hook Up Tour 2 features Savage, Fast Crew, King Kapisi, Dei Hamo, Adeaze (with Aradhna), Mareko, Deceptikonz, DJ Sir Vere and Misfits of Science.

The tour starts on April 15, takes in 15 towns from Invercargill to Auckland and is timed especially for the school holidays.

Since the first Hook Up tour in March last year, the local hip-hop scene has become even more successful and has spawned five singles that debuted at No 1.

"[Because of] the tremendous success urban music has experienced in New Zealand over the last 12 months we felt it was our duty to the fans to make the Hook Up Tour 2 a reality," says Brotha D from event organisers Dawn Raid Entertainment.

The tour dates are Fri April 15, Pioneer Leisure Centre, Christchurch; Sat April 16, Town Hall, Dunedin; Sun April 17, Stadium Southland, Invercargill; Mon April 18, Caroline Bay Hall, Timaru; Wed April 20, Regent Theatre, Greymouth; Thu April 21, Trafalgar Centre, Nelson; Fri April 22, Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North; Sat April 23, TSB Theatre, New Plymouth; Sun April 24, Town Hall, Wellington; Mon April 25, Municipal Theatre, Napier; Tue April 26, Gisborne Showgrounds, Gisborne; Wed April 27, Sportsdome, Rotorua; Thu April 28, QU Youth Centre, Tauranga; Fri April 29, Founders Theatre, Hamilton; Sat April 30, ASB Theatre, Auckland.

Before all that, how 'bout a bit of a loosen-up with breaks and drum'n'bass trio Aquasky, who perform in Auckland on Saturday, March 26 at Fu.

Over the years the UK producers have done collaborations and remixes with the likes of Mr Scruff, Adam Freeland, and Everything But the Girl. Aquasky have also remixed the track What's Down Low by New Zealanders Baitercell and Schumacher.

Meanwhile, on a more chilled-out and mature note, guitarist Ernest Ranglin and pianist Monty Alexander team up to play the St James in Auckland on April 1.

And woohoo. You asked for it - and you will receive. A second Russell Watson concert has been scheduled in Auckland for May 19.

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Catch him if you can

Donavon Frankenreiter is one popular man. Tickets to the singer-songwriter's Easter Friday show at the Studio, Auckland, have sold out but you can still catch him if you're quick - he's added another Auckland gig the following night.

He's making the most of his time in New Zealand, starting with an instore signing at Billabong, (his sponsors) Queen St, at 5pm after he arrives in the country. Then, the next day, he'll do promotional rounds at most of Auckland's major radio stations and music channels before playing at Indigo, Wellington, on Tuesday, the Civic, Christchurch, on Wednesday and the Studio gigs at the weekend. And being a pro surfer, there's a good chance he'll hit the beaches.

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Surf's up

So many old surfers have come out of the woodwork to catch a doco on the history of surfing at beaches such as Piha and Karekare that the season has been extended.

Old Men of the Point covers the scene from 1958 to the present, and will continue screening for the next six Sundays at 8.30pm at Auckland's Academy Cinema.

The film uses some historical footage and shows how the coastline has changed since visiting American surfers Rick Stoner and Bing Copeland first brought their balsa boards to Piha in 1958. There are also interviews with West Coast surfing pioneers and identities.

Old Men of the Point comes with a dub and electronica-fuelled soundtrack from the Kog Transmissions label. For bookings, phone 373 2761.

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The race is on

Get your liver primed, splash out on the coolest clothes ever, and practise squashing into toilet cubicles with a few of your friends, because the 2005 b.Net NZ Music Awards are coming.

Finalists for the May 27 event at the Auckland Town Hall were announced this week.

In contrast to the mainstream Tui awards, the b.Nets pay tribute to the country's best independent music.

The best album category is a goodie with nominations for: SJD, for Southern Lights; Tha Feelstyle, Break It To Pieces; Fly My Pretties, Live at the Bats; Trinity Roots, Home, Land, and Sea; and The Shocking Pinks, Mathematical Warfare.

Up for best video: The Fanatics, for Models; The Mint Chicks, Opium for the People; Tha Feelstyle, Outside Enclosure; SJD, Superman You're Crying; and Savage, Swing.

Best live act nominations include Jakob, Kora, Trinity Roots, The Mint Chicks and Shapeshifter.

Everyone's favourite awards, the male fox and female fox awards are looking like close races. Out of the boys, Con Psy from Frontline will rely on his looks rather than his lyrics to take on Shayne Carter (Dimmer), Tom Clark (the Fanatics), Paul Roper (Mint Chicks) and Samuel Flynn Scott (Phoenix Foundation).

And the girls award sees Heather Mansfield from the Brunettes, who always seems to get a nomination, up against Sjionel Timu (The Coolies), Sarah Chadwick (Batrider), Ruth Carr (Minuit), and Kirsten Morelle (Goldenhorse).

For the full list of nominations and voting details go to www.95bfm.com