Massive Attack announces NZ show

Massive Attack fans can get a free album download with their concert tickets. Photo / Supplied

Trip-hop pioneers Massive Attack are back with a new album and New Zealand fans can be among the first in the world to hear it - and see them live.

The Bristol group, made up of founding members Robert Del Naja (aka 3D) and Grant Marshall (aka Daddy G), play Vector Arena on March 25 with a five-piece band and vocalists Martina Topley-Bird, Deborah Miller, and Jamaican singing great Horace Andy along for the ride.

The tour is in support of Heligoland, their fifth album - and the first since 2003's 100th Window - which will be released on February 5.

For the first time in New Zealand and Australia, punters buying tickets to the shows will also have the option of getting a free copy of the new album.

Ticket buyers will receive a digital download of the album, including bonus tracks.

Tickets will be on pre-sale for two weeks from tomorrow, from massiveattack.com.au, and those who buy tickets will be the first in the world to receive Heligoland.

Heligoland features guests Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz, Tunde Adebimpe of TV On The Radio, Portishead's Adrian Utley and long-time associate Andy, who has sung with the band since 1991's classic Blue Lines.

Though the band have been quiet in recent years, their song Tear Drop, from 1998's Mezzanine, is the theme tune to House, the most watched TV show in the world.

And for something a little different, crooner, entertainer and all-round smooth operator Harry Connick Jr returns to New Zealand for the first time in 10 years. He will perform three shows, including one at Auckland's Civic Theatre on March 11. His latest album, Your Songs, is his take on familiar and classic tunes such as the Carpenters' Close To You, Roberta Flack's First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Nat King Cole's Mona Lisa.

Connick started performing at the age of 5 in his hometown, New Orleans, and in a career spanning 30 years he has released 24 albums with sales in excess of 25 million. Tickets go on sale on January 29.

Meanwhile, Wu Tang Clan's RZA plays here on February 18 at the Studio and fellow disciple Raekwon plays at the Powerstation on March 20 in support of his latest Only Built For Cuban Linx Pt. II which was one of TimeOut's albums of 2009.

And with the Pixies' Vector Arena show in March all but sold out, watch this space next week for some exciting news.