Charting Kiwi music's boomer year

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The Great NZ Love Song Entertainment Quiz 10/2 Roxette's Auckland concert cancelled The Exponents join class of '81 Axed musicians to protest at Grammys The Myele Manzanza story Lady Gaga returns to NZ Seven guitars to commemorate loss Madonna 'fuming with M.I.A' Wellington's Homegrown festival sells out

Girlpower ruled New Zealand music in the past 12 months.

On top of this trend flew Ladyhawke, alias Pip Brown, whose self-titled album won acclaim, not only here but also in Australia and Britain.

The Masterton-born musician took home six Tuis at the New Zealand Music Awards, won Australian Aria Awards for best breakthrough artist and breakthrough single for My Delirium and nominated in Britain for an NME Award for Best Solo Artist.

She was joined by Gin Wigmore. The songstress, whose quirky voice is reminiscent of Amy Winehouse and Duffy, released her debut album, Holy Smoke, in September and immediately shot to the top of the charts.

The solo album wasn't Wigmore's only brush with the charts this year. She was the haunting voice in South Auckland trio Smashproof's hit Brother.

The song spent 11 weeks on top of the New Zealand charts, breaking a 23-year-old record by clocking up the longest consecutive run at No 1 by a local act. The record was previously set by the America's Cup-themed single Sailing Away by All Of Us.

Brother struck a nerve, winning praise for its honesty and relevant lyrics, with lines such as "Man, take away a kid's life, just because he tagged? Damn", referring to businessman Bruce Emery who stabbed 15-year-old Pihema Cameron to death.

This year New Zealand also continued its long-standing love affair with dub and reggae beats.

While The Black Seeds' fifth studio album Solid Ground was released in 2008, it carried on to dominate the airwaves early this year.

The band was challenged only by fellow Wellingtonians Fat Freddys Drop, who released their highly anticipated second studio album, Dr Boondigga and the Big BW, in August.

The album spent five weeks on top of the charts and proved to be the best- selling New Zealand album of the year. More records were sold only by British reality-TV star Susan Boyle, Taylor Swift and the Black Eyed Peas.

Probably the year's most celebrated reunion was the third incarnation of Barnaby Weir's Fly My Pretties.

The Black Seeds singer brought his collective together once again and included some new talent for A Story, including singers Anna Coddington and LA Mitchell. He also enlisted the help of his father, storyteller Dick Weir. The 16-strong cast played a sold- out tour in May/June with encore shows at the end of the year.

Other notable local releases included Lawrence Arabia's Chant Darling, Sola Rosa's Get it Together, Midnight Youth's The Brave Don't Run, the Mint Chicks' Screens and Shapeshifter's The System is a Vampire.

But it wasn't all happy news. The country farewelled music great Sir Howard Morrison.

His death, at the age of 74, on September 24 ended a six-decade career. Sir Howard started off with the Howard Morrison Quartet in 1955 and secured a place in the nation's hearts with songs such as his 1981 single, How Great Thou Art. He was awarded an OBE in 1976 and knighted in 1990.

Another shock for New Zealand music was legendary Flying Nun artist Chris Knox's life-altering stroke in June. The musician, cartoonist and author was left unable to speak.

Since the late 70s, Knox's can-do attitude had inspired a long list of musicians both here and overseas.

When they heard of his condition, they rushed to assemble a tribute album with covers of their favourite Knox songs. The 35 contributors included Boh Runga, Don McGlashan, the Finn family, Jordan Luck, the Mint Chicks and Jay Retard. The first pressing of Stroke sold out in weeks.

Knox was also announced as one of five Arts Foundation Laureates.

On the live-music front, the country enjoyed visits from a range of big international artists, most notably a succession of musicians with decade-long careers. Canadian Neil Young started the musical year with his performance at the Big Day Out.

He was followed by Simon and Garfunkel, Alice Cooper, the Who, Leonard Cohen, Lucinda Williams, the Buzzcocks, Pearl Jam and Fleetwood Mac.

Younger fans celebrated acts such as Lady Gaga, the Pussycat Dolls, MGMT and Green Day.

Although next month's Big Day Out line-up may be missing a really big drawcard, 2010 already shows promise.

Australian rockers AC/DC are finally coming to New Zealand in February, Tim Finn, Dave Dobbyn and Bic Runga will tour the country's vineyards, American supergroup Them Crooked Vultures has announced gigs in Auckland and Wellington next month, The Pixies are due to play in Auckland in March and there are a lot more events still to come.

- NZPA