Holiday Breakfast

Formed in 1996 and named for the California-Mexico border town, the indie rock band Calexico is returning to New Zealand once more for three shows this February. 

Frontmen Joey Burns and John Convertino originated the band, the shows they’re playing a part of their 20th anniversary tour for their original album: ‘Feast of the Wire.’ 

Joey Burns told Tim Dower that back when they first created the album, they had no idea that it could be an anniversary tour twenty years on. 

“We were all so focused on the next project,” he told Dower.  

“We don’t often take the time to pause and reflect back and celebrate an album.” 

Burns said that it feels really good to reflect back on the album, their lives, and their friendships through the lens of this tour. 

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Dire Straits Legacy are bringing rock to NZ stages for ‘A Summers Day Live’, drawing songs from the British rock legends’ six platinum albums. 

Alan Clarke was the original keyboardist and co-producer for Dire Straits and has reprised his role for Legacy. 

The original band played their last gig in 1992, and Clarke told Tim Dower that he didn’t think they would perform again. 

It was another 25 years before he had the opportunity to perform, as an “obsessive Dire Straits fan” by the name of Marco Caviglia invited both Clarke and bass player John Leslie to join his band and open the ski season in Northern Italy. 

This performance, Clarke said, is what lead to the creation of the Dire Straits Legacy. 

“It started as a bit of fun on top of the mountain, and it’s continued as fun now.” 

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People shouldn't hold their breath for sunshine on Christmas.

There'll be a mixture of muggy and wet days as people travel in the lead up to the 25th.

But MetService Forecaster Heath Gullery told Tim Dower the big day is looking overwhelmingly rainy, with exceptions for the east coasts of the North and South islands.

He says it's likely to be warm and rainy in central and northern New Zealand.

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The Health Minister believes falling immunisation rates come down to access, and trust.

The government's aiming to lift immunisation rates at Maori health providers, with a 50-million dollar package.

Shane Reti says told Tim Dower that this will prevent children ending up in the emergency department with measles, mumps, and rubella.

He says Maori health providers carry mana, and have trust, which it's looking to also re-build.

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Gin Wigmore, Kiwi indie singer songwriter, will be back in the country in April to perform at the Harvest Moon Festival in Napier alongside Welsh singer Tom Jones and the Magnificent Seven.

Wigmore Spoke to Tim Dower to discuss her upcoming performances and how she has adjusted to life outside the country now she lives in Los Angeles.

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After a busy year of making music kiwi indie-folk singer Mel Parsons is joining the Tesky Brothers on tour. 

She released her latest single ‘Offer Down’ in 2023, the first track for her upcoming album. 

The song describes the journey that indie artists go through, the hustle and persistence they have to have to make it in the music industry. 

Parsons told Tim Dower that the song is specifically about herself, but about the “sheer bloody mindedness” of artists coming up and through the industry. 

She said that she feels lucky that she's been able to make music her career, and puts her success down to her determination and passion. 

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Before you finish up your summer roadie, take a stop at the Crimson Coast. 

The Pohutukawa are in flower right through Thames and up the coast to Coromandel, Mayor Len Salt calling the sight “absolutely spectacular.” 

He told Tim Dower that any tour of the Coromandel starts with a stock up, and there’s no better place the heritage and history filled town of Thames. 

Once you’ve had your fill, follow the Crimson Coast north to Coromandel, taking in all the bays along the way including the iconic Cathedral Cove. 

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Satellite technology has been launched as a backup to bolster mobile coverage. 

SpaceX successfully launched a rocket containing Starlink satellites to go alongside One New Zealand's mobile network. 

One New Zealand Chief Executive Jason Paris told Tim Dower that it's a layer of resilience in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle. 

He says power to cell towers was a problem, and it was a safety issue that some couldn't get in touch with emergency services or tell loved ones they're safe. 

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A woman is facing numerous fraud charges in relation to an alleged wedding dress scam in Queensland, Australia. 

70 people have been allegedly defrauded by the woman; the situation called a 'wedding disaster' by some. 

Australia Correspondent Murray Olds told Tim Dower that she's accused of re-cutting wedding dresses and selling them as new, selling fake designer frocks and selling off dresses handed over for dry-cleaning. 

He says a lot of people are disappointed and unhappy, and the woman's due in court at the end of the month. 

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More than 170 people are named in court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein. 

A thousand pages of documents have been released from a court case involving the convicted sex offender and associate Ghislaine Maxwell. 

In 2022 Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment after being convicted of sex trafficking. 

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Tim Dower that one of the most famous names in the document is former President Bill Clinton. 

He says the new documents show there was an effort by the court to depose the former president. 

He says dozens of famous figures are named in these documents, all deny knowledge of Epstein's crimes, and none have been charged with any offences. 

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