Dukes
There was no escaping Dukes song 'Vampires' over the last year — it received airplay and video rotations for an incredible 14 months, delivering a gold Top 10 single. Formed in Christchurch by brothers Matt and Jo Barus, the 5-piece Dukes' music is infectious, unpretentious and steeped in tradition. Dukes have gone from winning MTV's Kickstart competition to supporting Gomez and INXS on their NZ dates. They toured as support to Dave Dobbyn, Gin Wigmore, Midnight Youth, Th'Dudes, Blondie and The Pretenders. Dukes are a band that cares about the craft of songwriting and the art of performing. Dukes album 'Still Life' was released in November 2010 and the single 'Time Is A Train' is already a regular of radio playlists. Singer Matt Barus is a born frontman, an infectious personality and his band are ready to step firmly into the limelight headlining the 15th Summer Hummer.
Street Chant
Street Chant is a band going places, with some big industry 'buzz' around them. They have been described as fierce, irreverent, passionate and obsessed. They at two girls and a guy with a sound directly linked back to the Buzzcocks, The Pixies and Sonic Youth. They have just released an album called 'Means' that is rated the best NZ album of 2010 by the web site Amplifier.co.nz. The song 'Scream Walk' has taken on 'classic' status already and Street Chant are playing the Auckland Big Day Out 2011. They won the Critics' Choice Award at the NZ Music Awards this year, beating out the Naked & Famous and they have played showcase gigs at the CMJ New York showcase and were handpicked to support The Dead Weather on their Australasian tour. And they want to come and 'rip it up' in Masterton.
A Kiss Goodbye
A Kiss Goodbye are four teenage boy, best of mates, fresh out of school and in search of rock'n'roll nirvana. They already feel like the luckiest teenagers in New Zealand. They play high energy guitar-driven quirky pop, they have played 70 shows in the last year, including at Vector Arena supporting Panic at the Disco. They have played support slots for All American Rejects, Fall Out Boy, Nysian Mystik and Midnight Youth. For lead singer and guitarist Rory Malone aged 18, playing Summer Hummer will be an extra buzz. He spent 5 years growing up in Masterton, attending Solway Primary School and seeing Zed, Fur Patrol and the Feelers rock the Summer Hummer stage. Those early music experiences have inspired him to form a band and head towards a career in the music industry. A Kiss Goodbye are gigging through the summer at various music festivals, they release their second album in March and are heading to the UK in April.
SKAper
SKAper are a hardworking Masterton band that have been itching to play the Summer Hummer big stage. 2011 will be a chance to show off their summer-fresh mix of high energy, good-time reggae-rock sounds.
Mega Shark Vs Giant Octopus
Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus started out as a thrown together band to play at school functions, but the combined talents of the 4 members have gelled into an exciting unit. The 3 girls and a boy from St Matthews and Rathkeale won the Smokefree Rockquest Peoples Choice Award at the Masterton heats in 2010. They are stoked to be opening the 2011 Summer Hummer.
