
Mikhail Laxton Announces Debut Aotearoa Show
Laxton has been steadily rising in Canada's Americana and roots scene since relocating from Mossman, Queensland to Ottawa. A proud Aboriginal (Kuku Yalanji) artist, he has built a reputation for his rich, honeyed vocals, heartfelt songwriting, and deeply resonant live performances. His 2023 self-titled debut album drew critical acclaim and positioned him as a powerful new voice in what he calls 'outlaw soul' – blending classic Americana with the raw emotion and groove of soul music.
Now, with a new album on the way, Laxton is leaning further into the soul and roots influences that have long shaped his sound. His single 'I Like The Way', a tender love song written for his wife, has found unexpected popularity with a New Zealand audience after a short teaser video went viral on TikTok.
' I actually visited New Zealand when I was 12 and I fell in love with the place,' explains Laxton. ' I was actually a little obsessed back in the day. So to have Aotearoa showing the kind of love it has been showing is really kind of like a little bit of a full-circle thing. Absolutely stoked that it is panning out this way and I can't wait to get down there with the people and have a great time.'
Known for his emotional authenticity and connection with audiences, Laxton's live show has already seen him open for heavyweights like The Teskey Brothers and Kathleen Edwards. His first New Zealand appearance promises to be something truly special.
Don't miss Mikhail Laxton's debut Aotearoa show at The Tuning Fork this October.
Tickets available Monday 16 June at midday from Moshtix.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scoop
5 hours ago
- Scoop
Michael Reid Art Gallery To Present Major Exhibition Of First Nations Artworks In Washington, D.C.
Leading contemporary art gallery Michael Reid Sydney + Berlin has today announced The Stars Before Us All, a major exhibition of First Nations artworks to be presented in Washington, D.C., USA, from 15–25 October 2025. A bold articulation of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, The Stars Before Us All will present more than 30 works by 20 artists, including Gaypalani Wanambi, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Regina Pilawuk Wilson, Owen Yalandja, Djirrirra Wunuŋmurra Yukuwa, Nici Cumpston OAM, Dr Christian Thompson AO, Betty Chimney and more. This presentation in Washington, D.C.'s vibrant downtown Golden Triangle district honours the enduring cultural legacy of Indigenous Australia spanning more than 65,000 years. It will mark the United States debut of several exhibiting artists, including this year's Telstra Art Award-winner Gaypalani Wanambi, whose work will be presented to American audiences for the first time. The Stars Before Us All will be Michael Reid Galleries' first foray into the US market in advance of the opening of a new Los Angeles location later this year. The exhibition will bring together leading contemporary First Nations practitioners working across diverse disciplines and spanning the breadth of the Australian continent, including the Tiwi Islands, Arnhem Land, Far North Queensland, the Torres Strait, the Central Desert, the Kimberley, and beyond. With most works being shown publicly for the first time, the paintings, photography, sculpture, weaving and bark works comprising the show are drawn directly from living artists, respected community custodians, and distinguished private collections. Each stroke, mark, and woven thread in the exhibition offers an intimate revelation – an exploration of the profound visual and cultural impact of First Nations contemporary art within the Australian landscape. Michael Reid OAM, Chairman and Director of Michael Reid Galleries, said: 'Michael Reid Sydney + Berlin is delighted to present The Stars Before Us All in Washington, D.C. and celebrate First Nations art and culture in the United States. This exhibition will coincide with the National Gallery of Victoria's landmark touring exhibition, The Stars We Do Not See at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, emphasising new and collectable works as a contemporary counterpart to the NGV's historical survey. As the world recognises the rightful place of Indigenous voices in art history, we are privileged to share the work of these remarkable artists as a powerful celebration of Australia's cultural roots and living heritage.' At the forefront of the exhibition is Gaypalani Wanambi, a Yolŋu artist from Yirrkala in northeast Arnhem Land and recent winner of the prestigious 2025 Telstra Art Award at the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, valued at $100,000. The daughter of the late, great Mr. Wanambi (1962–2022), with whom she worked for many years, Gaypalani is the pre-eminent practitioner within the Found Movement, which reimagines scrap metal road signs salvaged on Country as raw surfaces for extraordinary works of art. Gaypalani's intricate etchings on metal explore themes relating to Wuyal, the ancestral honey hunter, and the life cycles of bees and stringybark blossoms – elements vital to the Marrakulu clan's homeland of Gurka'wuy. Currently showing at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in the historic exhibition Yolŋu Power: The Art of Yirrkala, Gaypalani's art embodies resilience and renewal, situating her at the forefront of an ascendant generation of Yolŋu artists advancing cultural knowledge and contemporary visual practice. Also on the program is Indigenous art luminary Emily Kam Kngwarreye, who began painting in her late 70s, drawing on her cultural life as an Anmatyerre elder and custodian of women's Dreaming sites in Alhalkere. Over an extraordinary eight-year period, she laid the groundwork to become Australia's most celebrated and sought-after artist of the late 20th century. Her lyrical, gestural paintings reflect the cycles of nature and the spiritual significance of her Country, shaped by the desert environment. Kngwarreye's work redefined the global perception of Australian art, making her a fitting candidate to join the show. In 2025, her work is the subject of a landmark solo exhibition at Tate Modern – her first in Europe – further cementing her legacy as one of the most important artists Australia has ever produced. Award-winning painter, master weaver, and 2025 Sir Sulman Prize finalist Regina Pilawuk Wilson adds to the line-up with her captivating paintings, which channel the core tenets of a generations-spanning weaving tradition into complex painterly compositions that pulse with reverberating, rhythmic movement. Born in 1948 in the Daly River region of the Northern Territory, the Ngan'gikurrungurr artist's paintings and weavings are held in leading collections throughout Australia, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Gallery of Victoria and National Gallery of Australia, as well as a significant number of international institutions, including The Seattle Museum and The British Museum. Her contribution to contemporary Indigenous art is significant, as she continues to blend ancestral knowledge with modern materials, ensuring cultural continuity through visual storytelling. Wilson is regarded as a leading figure in the preservation and elevation of First Nations art traditions on a national and global stage. Regina Pilawuk Wilson will travel to Washington, D.C., for the opening of The Stars Before Us All. This will be the first occasion for the artist to visit the room named in her honour at the Australian Embassy to the United States, where architects Bates Smart commissioned a custom golden carpet based on her painting, Syaw. Other artists participating in The Stars Before Us All include Owen Yalandja, Timo Hogan, Charlie Tjapangarti, Rover Thomas Joolama, Wik and Kugu Arts, Djirrirra Wunuŋmurra Yukuwa, Nici Cumpston OAM, Dr Christian Thompson AO, Betty Chimney, Maningrida Weavers, Danie Mellor, Emily Cullinan and Vicki Cullinan.


Scoop
9 hours ago
- Scoop
Tinā Sails Past Whale Rider At The New Zealand Box Office
Press Release – New Zealand Film Commission Tin made waves across the Pacific, with the widest ever release for a New Zealand film. Released across 132 locations, its impressive debut also claimed the third-highest opening week of all time for a local film, just behind Hunt for the Wilderpeople … The runaway film success of 2025, Tinā, has hit another milestone by taking $6,498,469 at the New Zealand box office, overtaking Niki Caro's Whale Rider, and securing the fifth spot on the Top Ten Most Successful Kiwi Films list. Tinā made waves across the Pacific, with the widest ever release for a New Zealand film. Released across 132 locations (Aotearoa, Papua New Guinea, the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Samoa), its impressive debut also claimed the third-highest opening week of all time for a local film, just behind Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Sione's 2: Unfinished Business. Annie Murray, New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) CEO, says the incredible response to Tinā shows just how deeply audiences connect with stories that reflect their own lives and communities. 'Breaking into the top five most successful New Zealand films of all time, and surpassing a beloved classic like Whale Rider, is no small feat. Tinā's success in Aotearoa, combined with cinematic release in Australia and the United States, proves a distinctly local story can resonate globally. Its themes of grief, community, hope, and love speak to the human condition. Crucially, Tinā also shows that commercial and critical success are not mutually exclusive. When we invest in stories that speak to who we are, audiences show up in force.' Tina 's director, producer, and writer, Miki Magasiva, continues to be overwhelmed by how strongly the film has performed. 'What a huge milestone for the team, and we're incredibly proud to reach this significant achievement. We want to sincerely thank everyone who helped us bring this film to life.' These sentiments were echoed by co-producer, Dan Higgins, 'To surpass the legacy of Whale Rider is both humbling and surreal. The success of Tinā belongs to our extraordinary cast and crew, and to the audiences who filled cinemas in their hundreds of thousands—this milestone is truly yours.' The film has been distributed in New Zealand and Australia by Madman Entertainment, Andrew Cozens, General Manager NZ, has been impressed with how local audiences have embraced the film. ' Tinā has shown the magic of the big screen is alive and well, capturing the hearts of New Zealand audiences with its incredible 24-week uninterrupted run. It has crossed cultural and generational lines to become a true phenomenon – with many audiences making repeat visits to the cinema.' Since its release, Tinā has carved out a place in New Zealand film history, landing at number five on the Top Ten Most Successful Kiwi Films list: Hunt For the Wilderpeople (2016) – $12,207,699 Boy (2010) – $9,322,000 The World's Fastest Indian (2005) – $7,059,147 Once Were Warriors (1994) – $6,801,471 Tinā (2025) – $6,498,469 Whale Rider (2003) – $6,496,371 Sione's Wedding (2006) – $4,075,000 What Becomes of the Broken Hearted (1999) – $3,201,000 What We Do in the Shadows (2014) – $2,595,000 Footrot Flats (1986) – $2,400,000 A moving and uplifting drama, Tinā follows Mareta, a grieving Samoan teacher who finds unexpected purpose at an elite school. With standout performances from Anapela Polataivao and rising star Antonia Robinson, the film also features Beulah Koale and Nicole Whippy. Directed, written, and produced by Miki Magasiva, Tinā was produced by Dan Higgins and Mario Gaoa. The film was made with investment from the New Zealand Film Commission, the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate, and NZ On Air, with financing support from Kiwibank Limited. Madman Entertainment is distributing the film in New Zealand and Australia, and Rialto Distribution have acquired the global rights, including the United States. About the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) is the government agency responsible for supporting and promoting New Zealand's vibrant screen industry. It invests in the development, production, and marketing of New Zealand films, both locally and internationally, and works to grow the country's reputation as a world-class destination for screen production. The NZFC provides production financing for New Zealand feature and short films, offers talent development initiatives, and administers the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR) – a key driver in attracting major international productions. It also supports official co-productions and offers resources to connect New Zealand filmmakers with global partners. Through its dual focus on nurturing local storytelling and bringing international productions to New Zealand's shores, the NZFC plays a vital role in the economic and cultural growth of the screen sector.


NZ Herald
17 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Book of the day: Reacher: The Stories Behind the Stories
Tom Cruise: His Reacher movies paid for author Lee Child's English country house. Photo / Supplied New Zealand is, as Lee Child says, 'the world capital of Reacher madness'. Per capita we buy more Jack Reacher novels than anywhere else. As Child said in one TV interview, New Zealanders probably like his giant vigilante hero because he's a bit like the archetypal Kiwi: 'quiet, undemonstrative, not