Flight of the Conchords swoop on the Tuis

Flight of the Conchords swoop on the Tuis

The 2008 Tuis have been handed out tonight (Oct. 8) at the biggest-ever production in the 43-year history of the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.

Flight of the Conchords and Opshop have cleaned up at the star-studded event at Auckland’s Vector Arena with each group bagging four Tuis.

Flight of the Conchords has taken out the coveted Nokia Album of the Year with the duo’s debut self-titled album. The record also netted the superstar duo the Steinlager Pure Best Group and the Kiwi FM Breakthrough Artist of the Year awards.

Popular favourite Opshop is back in force for 2008 adding four more Tuis to its bulging trophy cabinet. Opshop knocked back strong competition from Tiki Taane and Shihad to win the prestigious Vodafone Single of the Year for the super hit One Day.

Opshop also won Highest Selling NZ Single (One Day), Highest Selling NZ Album (Second Hand Planet), and NZ On Air Radio Airplay Record of the Year (Maybe).

International Achievement Awards were presented to Savage and Flight of the Conchords.

Savage’s single Swing has been a huge hit on the US Singles chart with sales topping half a million and the track has been remixed by international hip-hop superstar Soulja Boy. Meanwhile, Flight of the Conchords’ debut album and popular HBO show has seen the comedy duo receive a Grammy, the highest ever place for a New Zealand artist album on the US Album chart (#3) and numerous Emmy nominations.

Firm favourite Tiki Taane was nominated for a formidable eight Tui awards and was a popular winner of the Best Aotearoa Roots Album.

Straitjacket Fits has been honoured for its contribution to New Zealand Music, receiving the New Zealand Herald Legacy Award and being inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. The band was at the forefront of the second wave of the Dunedin sound in the late ‘80s that propelled it to international stardom.

Star-studded super group The Fast Women – Julia Deans (Fur Patrol), Anika Moa, Lani Purkis, (Elemeno P) and Greta Anderson (Superette) – paid homage to Straitjacket Fits. The all-girl band, who came together especially for this performance, delighted a packed Vector Arena with a rendition of the popular Straitjacket Fits’ hit She Speeds.

Tuis also went to:

The Vodafone People’s Choice Award, voted by New Zealand music fans: Parachute Band

Best Male Solo Artist: Liam Finn for I’ll Be Lightning

Mazda Best Female Solo Artist: Anika Moa for In Swings The Tide

C4 Best Music Video: Ian Hart for Her Hairagami Set (The Brunettes).

PPNZ Best Rock Album: Shihad for Beautiful Machine

Best Urban / Hip Hop Album: Scribe for Rhymebook

Best Dance / Electronica Album: Recloose for Perfect Timing

Best Maori Album: Ruia for 12:21 Tekau Ma Rua, Rua Tekau Ma Wha

Best Gospel / Christian Album: All Left Out for The Conquest

Best Classical Album: Michael Houstoun for Inland.

New Zealand Music Awards spokesperson Campbell Smith says the awards again reflect the outstanding quality and variety of New Zealand Music in 2007 and 2008.

“There was some outstanding music made and released in New Zealand over the period and what is most pleasing is the variety. We are making great music across all genres - and even more encouraging is the fact our music is being heard around the world. If you look at our list of winners this year you’ll see many of them have earned considerable international recognition.

“We’re also thrilled to honour Straitjacket Fits with The New Zealand Herald Legacy Award and NZ Music Hall of Fame induction. We wouldn’t be celebrating such a diverse array of New Zealand music without the musical heritage that icons such as Straitjacket Fits created.”

Edited highlights of the 2008 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards screen tonight (October 8) on C4 from 8.30pm and on TV3 on Saturday at 10.30pm.

For more about the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards go to www.vnzma.co.nz

• Click Here for the FULL LIST of winners and finalists

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About the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards: The Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards took place at the Vector Arena Auckland on October 8 and were bigger and better than ever. Thousands of fans enjoyed the event which was also televised live on C4 from 8.30pm.

The sponsors who lent their support to the awards this year were Vodafone, NZ On Air, Auckland City, Mazda, Nokia, Steinlager Pure, Vector Arena, Langham Hotel Auckland, Gravity Coffee, MAC Make Up, Schwarzkopf Professional, KIWI FM, NZ Herald and C4.

About Rianz: The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand Inc (RIANZ) is a non-profit organisation representing major and independent record producers, distributors and recording artists throughout New Zealand. RIANZ works to protect the rights and promote the interests of creative people involved in the New Zealand recording industry.

About Vodafone: In 2007 Vodafone’s music store was New Zealand’s number one seller of digital music and the biggest overall seller of digital singles. Vodafone will be naming rights sponsor of the awards until at least 2010 after signing a three-year agreement with RIANZ.

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