Three of the fastest - and frilliest - guitar slingers in the world are heading to New Zealand for an axe-wielding frenzy.

Yet another incarnation of the Barnaby Weir-led musical supergroup Fly My Pretties returns for its fourth tour of duty around New Zealand. Lydia Jenkin was at their first show in Dunedin.

Rounding out the announcements for next year's Splore festival is the addition of powerful Texan neo-soul diva Erykah Badu.

Rotorua's Raggamuffin 2012 festival has expanded - and has got quite a bit deeper, in a bass frequency sense - with the addition of three more international artists to its line-up.

Fresh from his run-in with Neil Finn on a BBC music show, American singer-songwriter Ryan Adams has confirmed two New Zealand dates in March 2012.

Assuming he survives the rigours of the Cold Chisel reunion, which ends with New Zealand dates in early December, Jimmy Barnes will be hitting the country's holiday hotspots for his annual post-Christmas summer tours.

Lydia Jenkin's week of TV, movies and music.

R&B singer RIA loves the whole musical process, from writing to performing to recording, and can even get a bit Diva-ish in the studio, writes Scott Kara.

Tim Finn is hitting the road in support of his latest album The View Is Worth The Climb - and he will also be performing songs from his Split Enz and Crowded House days and his solo career.

A quick word with the original line-up of 1990s band the Mutton Birds who are reuniting for a 16-date summer winery tour with Avalanche City and Gin Wigmore.

The hit musical about his group is hitting town in April, and American pop veteran and falsetto king Franki Valli is also heading over to perform in Auckland.

English punk stalwarts the Damned return to New Zealand for the first time in more than 25 years.

Wellington-born Dean Wareham is bringing his quintessential New York rock back home. He talks to Russell Baillie.

There's something about it feeling like it could all fall apart that makes it exciting. Six60 didn't plan for the success they have had, writes Lydia Jenkin.

A third veteran act has been added to the double-header of Dragon and Hello Sailor at the Powerstation on November 4.

Keeping their fingers crossed for resource consent (c'mon Super City Council), the organisers of the annual Auckland Anniversary Day St Jerome's Laneway Festival have announced the details for next year's shindig on Monday January 30.

Heading here for Laneway, Canadian star Feist talks to Nekesa Mumbi Moody about her new album, Metals.

A new local music festival might be going head-to-head with the Big Day Out but it has a very different target market.