Hi there blog rockers!  We’re back in the land of Aus’ after an all-too-brief visit to our kiwi neighbours earlier this month.  I realise this post is a bit late, but it takes a while to get back to reality after a week on the picturesque South Island.

The reason for our visit was to perform live at the A.R.E.A 9 Festival near Lake Ohau, (20 minutes from Twizel).  This 48 hour non-stop-music event was held over the Waitangi Day long weekend and featured some of New Zealand’s finest acts, including Salmonella Dub, Rhombus, Kora, Katchafire and many more.  Most of you probably know that Nitidus began with Patrick ‘PC’ Clemenger as a cover band in Christchurch, so it was an amazing ‘pilgrimage’ flying over the pond to see where all this madness began.

For myself and Adam, this was our first time in the South Island, so we spent the week leading up to the event acclimatising to the people and the places.  This was also the first time we met up with PC in almost a year!  Don’t worry folks, he hasn’t changed, he’s still the same rocker he ever was.  Much drinking was involved.

After a week of site seeing, it was time to get the show on the road.  We picked up Marki from the airport and drove direct to Twizel with only a few hours to kill before we were to hit the stage at 4:30am on Saturday 7^th February (when they said 48 hours of music, they weren’t kidding).  It was awesome to be back on stage, a FESTIVAL stage no less, with PC, Marki, Adam and myself cranking out the songs we’re proud to have created: The Taste, 21 Alibis, What’s It Gonna Be, Echoes, Don’t, Red Morning, So Long and more.  The only thing that sucked was that the show ended!  Big props to Mission Controlled for flying us over for their awesome event, have us back anytime!

We’re back in Melbourne, narrowly missing the 40+ degree heat wave (Celcius, which is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit), only to find half of Victoria burning to the ground in the tragic bush fires.  Our hearts go out to those who have lost property and loved ones in this disaster… but more on that in my next post.

For now, enjoy these pictures from New Zealand (more to come).

It’s 2009 so we thought it was time to do something big.  Nitidus will be making a rare once-in-a-lifetime performance at this year’s A.R.E.A 9 festival in New Zealand, the land where it all began!

Here’s the low down from the A.R.E.A 9 Myspace:

A.R.E.A 9 Music Festival will be held Waitangi weekend (6-8 Feb) 2009. It will feature some of New Zealand’s top musicians and entertainment personalities, as well as featuring some of New Zealand’s favourite extreme sports. Here at A.R.E.A 9 we are proud kiwis and want to celebrate our great New Zealand lifestyle but also want to contribute to the preservation of one of New Zealand’s rarest birds, the Black Stilt. Held “somewhere” in the heart of the MacKenzie Country, South Canterbury A.R.E.A 9 is preparing to be a festival that kiwis will look forward to and embrace with extreme dedication. So watch this space for more info as we create an event not to live without.

Marki, Doctor K, Adam and PC will reunite on stage at 4:30am on Saturday 7^th February 2009. We’re super excited and can’t wait to meet all our kiwi fans there.

Early bird tickets have already sold out, but tickets are still on sale for $200 plus booking fee.  48 hours of non-stop music at picturesque Lake Ohau, it’s certainly going to be a weekend to remember!

A.R.E.A 9 is presented by the The Mission Controlled Events Company Ltd.

If you answered yes, then there’s something you can do to make that happen.  Jump onto their website www.grazzhopperfestival.com.au and register for updates.  When you do, leave a comment and tell them how much you want to see Nitidus crank it up at the Grazzhopper Festival.  Every request counts, so get your friends and family to register too.

We really appreciate all your help guys, and hope to see you at the event. The line-up so far includes Grinspoon, Faker, Shihad, Operator Please, Dukes Of Windsor, Mammal, The Galvatrons, Trial Kennedy, Horsell Common, Young And Restless, Freestate, Calling All Cars and heaps more.

Grazzhopper Festival is an annual one day outdoor music festival held at Beckley park, Geelong on Saturday 4th October 2008, featuring 27 artists across 3 stages.Tickets are available from Capricorn Leading Edge Geelong, Torquay Hotel Torquay, Lorne Hotel Lorne and Whalers Inn Warnambool. EARLYBIRD TICKETS ONLY $76 PLUS B/F. GET IN QUICK!

We love a win-win situation, and UncharTED are serving up the goods! Jump onto their website and vote to see Nitidus perform live at the Splendour in the Grass music festival, plus every vote you make puts you in the running to win some kick-ass prizes too!

Each vote gives you a chance to win tickets to Splendour in the Grass. UncharTED have 2 double passes up for grabs each week up until 16 June 2008. If that wasn’t enough, UncharTED are also giving away one CD every hour to voters from now until 21 July 2008. The CDs up for grabs are:

• AC/DC – Back in Black
• The Strokes – First Impressions of Earth
• MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
• Good Charlotte – Good Morning Revival
• The Ting Tings – We Started Nothing

If this sounds good to you, then sign up at the UncharTED website and start voting for your favourite indie bands! The more votes you make, the more chances you have to win!

To get started, click this banner to place your votes for Nitidus and good luck!

Be sure to check the terms and conditions. UncharTED is an initiative to support independent Australian artists sponsored by Tooheys Extra Dry and Sony BMG.