New Zealand

New Zealand’s The Ruby Suns formed in Auckland in 2004, under the somewhat longer and inarguably more rhyming name Ryan McPhun and The Ruby Suns. The band is now shortly, sweetly and simply called The Ruby Suns, and principal Ruby Sun Ryan McPhun is currently and ably abetted by Amee Robinson. Although New Zealand is somewhat isolated in the southern most part of the Pacific Ocean, Ryan has remained true to his buccaneer instinct.

A band who have featured many of Dunedin's musical alumni in the line-up over the past three years, Chug's membership includes Norma O'Malley on organ and vocals (she was in Look Blue Go Purple) Alf Danielson on bass (of Goblin Mix and Stephen), Sean Broadley on drums (he's a scientist) and 3Ds guitar-dementist Dave Mitchell on six string stretching. Their sound is a mix of forceful rhythms and sweet Dunedin pop that blend into smart and chunky songs.

The 3Ds were an alternative pop/rock band from Dunedin, New Zealand, together from 1988 to 1997. The band was made up of: * Dominic Stones — drums, tea
* Denise Roughan — bass, keyboards, tambourine, vocals
* David Saunders — guitar, vocals
* David Mitchell — guitar, mandolin, vocals All had been in other New Zealand bands, Stones was in Snapper and Roughan had been in Look Blue Go Purple. The band drifted apart after releasing their final album, Strange News from the Angels in 1997. Mitchell and Roughan soon moved to London, where they went on to form the Ghost Club.

Forming in late 2005 this New Zealand six piece has created a sound that combines Eastern traditional instruments and psychedelic leanings with experimentation and musical liberation. Instrumental, thoughtful songs created by guitars, drums, sitars, violins, a Persian long necked lute, tabla, daabuka, piano and percussion found from various reaches of the universe. An Emerald City have gathered an excellent following in their home country and have spent much of late 2007 and 2008 playing shows...