We'd like to say a big sorry to anyone who has tried to visit our site in the last week. We had some problems with our webhost that took them a week to identify. Trying to deal with a large US company when you're living in New Zealand can be, it would seem, a nightmare. Needless to say we've had very little sleep since it went down. We'll have some updated Brunettes show dates/times up sometime later today. Thanks again for your support!

The Nudie Suits are celebrating the release of their new album, "Sweet Acres," with two shows:

The Nudies will be playing never-before heard songs such as the album title track, "Sweet Acres," so don't miss the opportunity to see the band at its best.

The Brunettes are pleased to announce that after years of scraping together change from under the couch cushions, touring in borrowed vans, pasting up their own photocopied posters, playing shows without monitors or sound people, driving all night and sleeping on floors - they have finally signed a record deal with a US record label…. Sub Pop Records!

Sub Pop Records are based in Seattle, Washington and their current roster includes some of the major names in American Pop Music – including the Shins, the Postal Service, Sleater-Kinney, and Wolf Parade.

Jonathan Poneman of Sub Pop Records says: "Having shimmied, curtsied and barnstormed their way into the hearts of North America, I was left no choice but to sign The Brunettes. That's not to say that I am anything less than overjoyed. I am, in fact, thrilled! But it's their unerring ability to captivate, both on stage and in the studio, that inspired me to purchase their souls. Oh, I mean that inspired me to sign 'em to Sub Pop. Seriously though: I'm so excited to be working with The Brunettes. These youngsters know how to - in the words of a beloved pop band from my youth - shake some action!"

Currently Jonathan Bree and Heather Mansfield are recording the new album in the New York. Following the Brunettes extensive US tours earlier this year they have remained there and will return to New Zealand in summer when the Brunettes will play The Big Day Out as well as tour Australia.

In March 2006 with the recording complete they will return to North American and plan to tour there as much as possible.

The Brunettes first release on Sub Pop Records will be their third album and it will be available in the US in August 2006. The Brunettes earlier recordings Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks (2002), The Boyracer EP (2003), Mars Loves Venus, (2004) and their latest EP When Ice Met Cream (2005) will also be available in North America through Sub Pop Records.

Ryan McPhun & the Ruby Suns

After a successful tour of Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington, the Ruby Suns have returned to Auckland to play this weekend with Ghostplane (Sat Nov 5th at the Odeon Lounge). They also have a show planned at that same venue for Dec 10th so Auckland fans will have two chances to catch up with this road-hardened band (well, Ryan's van driving skills have been improved at least).

The Reduction Agents and the Nudie Suits

These two bands are playing a show at the King's Arms in Auckland on Nov 17th. Both bands have nearly completed their new albums, though we are currently planning to hold off the release of these albums until February 2006 so that we can relax and go to the beach every day in the meantime.

Shaft

Bob Cardy is playing a show with his new back-up band, the Situationalist Experience (which includes the entirety of local band the Situations) at the Odeon Lounge on Nov 19th. The Nudie Suits will also be playing, so the foot-stomping and yelling will go on all night!

We are pleased to announce that the brilliant Brunettes EP "When Ice Met Cream" is now out in stores around New Zealand, and is available to both New Zealand and International customers through this website. Furthermore we are taking preorders for Ryan McPhun's "Ryan McPhun and the Ruby Suns" album, which will be out in stores around New Zealand next week. An album release party is scheduled for Sept 10th, see the upcoming shows section for details.

Ryan has returned from the Brunettes tour of the US in order to promote the release of his new album under the name "Ryan McPhun and the Ruby Suns" An album release party is scheduled for Sept 10th, see the upcoming shows section for details.

James, Ryan, Harry, and Amee have now returned to NZ. Heather remains in NY, while Jonathan is in LA preparing to record a new album. Back home, James is putting the final touches to a Reduction Agents album, while Harry has formed his own Carter-Family-esq group, "White Collar Hollar."

We now have someone helping us with orders from within the US and we have therefore reduced our prices, see our overseas shop section for details. We plan to reduce prices for Canadian customers too soon, we promise!

The Brunettes have been invited to join the Shins on their American/Canadian tour in April. See the upcoming shows section for details.