When I have a spare half hour to browse in my local independent bookshop, it's usually a combination of the cover and the title that tempts me to pick up something new.

If you missed the live chat with Liam Finn, watch it back here.

Scott Kara's picks of the week's TV, movies and music.

Auckland's famed music store Real Groovy is celebrating its 30th birthday over the long weekend, after weathering financial troubles three years ago and the continued threat of digital downloads.

There seems to be a trend for long titles with meanings that remain obscure until you've read a decent chunk of the book.

New Zealand hip-hop soul artist Ladi6 remembers a revolutionary.

The Cure played their first show in the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday night as the centre-piece of Vivid Live

nzherald.co.nz is streaming the new Arctic Monkeys album, Suck It and See, now...

The loss of a close friend has helped inspire the sophomore set of Wellington's Family Cactus, writes Jacqueline Smith.

Though Rhian Sheehan's music may lull you to sleep, his live show will be nothing short of eye-opening, writes Scott Kara.

The final song from Nightchoir's Sundae Session. Recorded at York Street Studios

Thirty years ago this month, Smash Palace screened at the Cannes Film Festival. The first local feature to be sold in the US, it made Bruno Lawrence an almost-movie star and gave director, Roger Donaldson, a shot at Hollywood.

Recorded live at York Street Studios, Nightchoir perform R N R Star, the fifth of six songs performed for the Sundae Sessions.

To help celebrate NZ Music Month, TimeOut and nzherald.co.nz, in conjunction with Frequency Media Group, are giving away a free download EP every Thursday in May.

Recorded live at York Street Studios, Nightchoir perform Waters Rain Down, the fourth of six songs performed for the Sundae Sessions.

Recorded live at York Street Studios, Nightchoir perform Glass Tiger, their third of six songs performed for the Sundae Sessions.

Recorded live at York Street Studios, Nightchoir perform their second of six songs performed for the Sundae Sessions.

Hugh Sundae blogs on season two of Masterchef New Zealand

It's New Zealand Music Month, what better time to launch our latest commitment to local music.

Recorded and filmed for nzherald.co.nz at York Street Studios, Grand Rapids perform I Keep Dreaming Of You.

Recorded and filmed for nzherald.co.nz at York Street Studios, Grand Rapids perform Never Be Without You.

I often wonder how long a week is in Masterchef time. Surely they can't have one day shooting the weekly challenge, one day shooting Masterclass, and then five days off?

To help celebrate NZ Music Month, TimeOut and nzherald.co.nz, in conjunction with Frequency Media Group, are giving away a free download EP every Thursday in May.

Scott Kara talks to singer songwriter Andrew Keoghan about the evolution of his debut album.

British cinema chains could refuse to show major films in a showdown with two leading studios over home viewing.

A boozy Saturday night crowd wants easy gags. Thankfully Gordon Southern, the host of The Big Show - one of the more glamorous daily events at the festival - was full of them.

Personal time is too precious to waste on rotten reads. That's why our new book club, Fiction Addiction, will only be road-testing the most promising new novels.