Tour news: Violent Femmes, Viet Cong, Shellac

The Violent Femmes are playing Auckland's St James Theatre on March 2. Photo / Supplied

The Violent Femmes might be hoping to catch a few rays when they perform here in late summer.

The Milwaukee hitmakers, known for their catchy 1983 single, Blister in the Sun, are returning for their first show in nine years, playing Auckland's St James Theatre on March 2. Hopetoun Brown will play in support.

Blister isn't their only indie-pop racket of note, with hits including Add It Up, Gone Daddy Gone and Kiss Off all stemming from a career that's lasted eight albums and 35 years.

Tickets are on sale from October 28. A pre-sale begins the day before.

Scott Munro, Matt Flegel and Mike Wallace of Viet Cong. Photo / Getty Images

Also from the noisier end of the scale is Viet Cong, the post-punk rockers who will perform here on January 21.

Their first New Zealand show, the Canadian rockers will perform at the Kings Arms and are bringing a style of music described as "frenzied, alive and different" by The Guardian. Tickets are on sale from October 26.

Shellac are planning a five-date tour of New Zealand at the end of the year. The post-rock noisemakers, co-founded by Nirvana producer Steve Albini, will perform at Chicks Hotel in Dunedin on November 29 and 30, Auckland's Kings Arms on December 1, Christchurch's Dux Live on December 2, and Wellington's Boega on December 3. Tickets on sale now.

Shellac. Photo / Getty Images

And next time A$AP Rocky hits Auckland he'll be performing in a stadium. The Harlem rapper, responsible for one of the year's best rap albums with May's At. Long. Last. ASAP, will perform at Vector Arena on February 24. Tickets are on sale October 29. Pre-sales begin October 27.

Finally, Arrested Development loved to make fun of these guys but Blue Man Group are planning a serious New Zealand tour next year.

A mix of music, dance, comedy and theatre, they'll perform at The Civic in Auckland from May 24 to June 5, Wellington's St James from June 7-19, and Christchurch's Isaac Theatre Royal from June 21 to July 3. Tickets go on sale tomorrow.