Crooked Vultures to wing way to Wellington

Hard-rock fans will have three days of head-banging bliss this summer, with supergroup Them Crooked Vultures set to play in Wellington between two AC/DC concerts.

Led Zeppelin bass player John Paul Jones, Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl and Queens of the Stone Age singer and guitarist Josh Homme - who have become Them Crooked Vultures - will perform in the capital on January 29.

Their TSB Bank Arena gig is sandwiched between two by Australian veterans AC/DC at Westpac Stadium on January 28 and 30, making it a hat-trick for rock fans.

Them Crooked Vultures made their debut last month in Chicago, earning rave reviews. They have since played in Europe, including surprise appearances at music festivals and as support for British band Arctic Monkeys. They will tour the United States next month.

Grohl, who also fronts the popular Foo Fighters, had been planning the group with Homme and Paul Jones for the past four years.

Other big-name acts coming to Wellington and the lower North Island this summer are The B-52's, The Proclaimers, Fleetwood Mac and Motown bands the Four Tops, Temptations, Mary Wilson, Martha and the Vandellas, and The Miracles.

OVERSEAS ACTS COMING YOUR WAY

* OCTOBER

Dance: Basshunter (Sweden), TSB Bank Arena, Wellington, October 7

Electronica: Metronomy (Britain), San Francisco Bathhouse, Wellington, October 7

Alt country: Justin Townes Earle (USA), Bodega, Wellington, October 10

Indie: Gomez (Britain), Opera House, Wellington, October 17

Indie: Lloyd Cole (Britain), Cabana, Napier, October 28 and Bodega, October 29

* NOVEMBER

Easy listening: Elaine Page (Britain), Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington, November 8

Rock and blues: Ry Cooder (USA) and Nick Lowe (Britain), Michael Fowler Centre, November 17.

Reggae: The Wailers (Jamaica), Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua, November 20

Indie: Lightning Bolt (USA) San Francisco Bathhouse, Wellington, November 25

* DECEMBER

Indie: Jarvis Cocker (Britain) Wellington Town Hall, December 3

Nostalgia: The Platters featuring Monroe Powell, Hawke's Bay Opera House, Hastings, December 5

Pop and folk: The B-52's (USA) and The Proclaimers (Britain), Alana Estate, Wairarapa, December 12

Rock: Fleetwood Mac (USA), Bowl of Brooklands, December 19-20

* JANUARY

Rock: AC/DC (Australia), Westpac Stadium, Wellington, January 28 and 30

Rock: Them Crooked Vultures (USA/Britain), TSB Bank Arena, January 29

* FEBRUARY

Soul: Four Tops, Temptations, Mary Wilson, Martha and the Vandellas, The Miracles, Joan Osborne, (USA), Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss (Australia) Mission Estate Winery, February 13

Pop: Cliff Richard and The Shadows (Britain), TSB Bowl of Brooklands, Feb 27

- © Fairfax NZ News