Marty Duda

Mebourne-based band Wagons is led by charismatic front man Henry Wagons. Since their first album release back in 2002, the band has been producing their own brand of American country-rock featuring… Audio

Kristin Hersh started her musical career as the chief singer and songwriter in Throwing Muses back in the 1980s. Like The Pixies, The Muses were based in the American Northeast and the group seemed to… Audio

In addition to producing a wide array of other artists - Bonnie Raitt, Aaron Neville, Loudon Wainwright III, Bettye LaVette, Allen Toussaint - Joe Henry is an accomplished songwriter and singer who… Audio

Shihad is one of New Zealand's most successful and longest-running bands, with a history that dates back to the late 1980s. Their first album, Churn, was produced by Killing Joke frontman Jaz Coleman… Audio

Nicole Atkins is from New Jersey and released her first album, Neptune City, in 2007. She has a big, full voice, similar to Mama Cass Elliott and the production and songs on her first album are… Audio

Irma is officially "The Soul Queen Of New Orleans". Although she's never had a big hit, she's been making fantastic records since 1960. Among her most well-known recording are It's Raining from 1963… Audio

Although they are known as a 1990's Britpop band, Pulp's origins actually date back to the 1970s, when front man Jarvis Cocker was a 15-year-old schoolboy. After years of struggling, the band finally… Audio

Australian artist Sia Furler started making noise at the beginning of the millennium, not down under, but in the UK with her post-trip hop single Taken For Granted and her contributions to the chilled… Audio

Old Crow Medicine Show formed in the late 1990s with an ear to reviving traditional folk and bluegrass and other forms of early 20th century Americana music. Tracks: 1. Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine… Audio

Manchester's James formed in the mid-1980s in the wake of The Smiths' popularity, even scoring an endorsement from Morrissey himself in their early days. As the band's sound evolved, comparisons to U2… Audio

Jimmy Scott was truly a unique vocalist. Born with a condition known as Kallmann's Syndrome, which kept him from experiencing puberty, Little Jimmy Scott (as he was known early in his career) had a… Audio

Sharon Van Etten, has released her fourth album, Are We There, this week. Having grown up in New Jersey, Sharon Van Etten made the move to Brooklyn, NY, where she became part of the local music scene… Audio

Passenger is about to release a new album, Whispers, this week. These days Passenger is English singer-songwriter Mike Rosenberg although the act began as a duo (with fellow songwriter Andrew… Audio

Soul diva Gladys Knight celebrates her 70th birthday on Wednesday. Gladys and her Pips began performing in the 1950s and scored their first hit in 1961. Audio

Synth-rock pioneer Gary Numan returns to New Zealand this week for a show in Auckland, supporting his latest album, 'Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind)'. Audio

Marty Duda reviews two early T. Rex early albums which have just been reissued. Led by Marc Bolan, T. Rex helped usher in the era of glam rock in the UK in the early 1970s with singles like Jeepster… Audio

Lily Allen's new album, "Sheezus", marks the return of the British singer after a five year hiatus. Audio

Esther Phillips' career began in the early 1950s with string of R & B hits produced by Johnny Otis and ran through the 1970s. Esther Phillips is the subject of a new reissue titled, Baby, I'm For… Audio

Hailed as her generation's Emmylou Harris, Tift Merritt made waves in Nashville with her stunning debut album, Bramble Rose, in 2002. Since then, she's dabbled in country-soul, lived in Paris and… Audio

Marty Duda will feature the music of New Zealand singer-songwriter Flip Grater. Christchurch native Flip Grater has just released her fourth album. Pigalle is named after the district in Paris that… Audio