Tour news: Noel Gallagher, Proclaimers, Bic Runga & Tiny Ruins

Noel Gallagher.

Former Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher is returning to Auckland to play a solo show in March. The Britpop star is playing at the Aotea Centre's ASB Theatre on Thursday, March 24.

He talks about his career in the wake of quitting the band - one of the biggest of the 1990s - in today's Summer Music Special issue of TimeOut.

In other tour news, twin Scottish folkies The Proclaimers are also returning for shows in the New Year.

Craig and Charlie Reid will be playing a four-date national tour including shows at Hamilton's Claudelands Arena on Sunday, April 24 and Auckland's ASB Theatre the following night.

They will be supported by veteran New Zealand singer-songwriter Greg Johnson, who has just released his new album Swing the Lantern.

The pair recently released their tenth album in the wake of Sunshine on Leith, the recent hit movie inspired by their songs.

Meanwhile, Auckland Zoo is getting some new songbirds - Bic Runga and Tiny Ruins have joined the list of acts playing shows at the institution this summer.

Runga and Tiny Ruins - the band led by singer-songwriter Hollie Fullbrook - toured together earlier in the year and will cap off the excursion with a concert at the zoo's band rotunda on Saturday, February 20.

Other acts on the zoo programme include Stan Walker (February 5) and Fly My Pretties (February 13).