Soundbites: Greg Johnson, Mel Parsons, Modern Māori Quartet

Mel Parsons and Greg Johnson. Photo/Supplied

Kiwi singer songwriters Greg Johnson and Mel Parsons will hit the road together in November, playing venues up and down the country including Mount Maunganui, Haumoana, Hamilton and Paekakariki.

Johnson, known for hits including Isabelle, Liberty and Don't Wait Another Day, is based in California and will release his EP Low Frequency ahead of the tour.

Parsons has been busy touring New Zealand, Australia and Europe in support of her album Drylands.

"We're going to have great fun with each other's songs," she said.

Johnson said: "I'm sure my crowd and her's will cross over a fair bit, while the uninitiated are in for a great night of discovery".

The tour kicks off at The Vic in Devonport on November 9. See plus1.co.nz for tour details.

Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori marks the release of the Modern Māori Quartet's debut album That's Us!

The 12 tracks of original waiata are composed by the group: James Tito, Maaka Pohatu, Matariki Whatarau, Francis Kora and Matu Ngaropo, with Kora producing the album.

That's Us! is rich in warm vocal harmonies and the familiar summer strum of acoustic guitar as the group provide their take on the classic Māori showband sound.

The Modern Māori Quartet last week released a video for debut single Shine and this week head out on a massive 20-date national tour, starting in Putāruru on Saturday night, hitting venues including Napier, Whanganui, Rotorua, Taupō and Whangarei and finishing up in Whakatāne on October 15.

Auckland three-piece Echo Ohs have released their debut album Hot Pockets.

The band's sound is described as a "lurching and writhing cauldron of cowboy psych and/or beach zombie", steeped in "lurid garage" and post-punk influences.

Tessa McDell has been busy. Dunes, Tessa and her sister Jamie, today (Friday) released a new single, Hard. Tessa, meanwhile, has a new video for her solo single Wait (feat. Kings).

Tessa takes the lead on the video for Hard, directd by Benjamin Brooking. The song was written by the sisters and produced by Thomas Healy. It follows their debut single Horses, and comes ahead of their debut album.

The video for Wait was filmed at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park and features drifting action from drivers David Hunter and Josh Smith from Team Thirty3.

- SoundBites is a weekly compilation of music bits and bobs, and also appears in NZME's regional newspapers.