I sorta swore off going to any music festivals this year. The reasons for that went: too expensive (everything), the beer lines are too long (Laneway), no beer lines/very little interesting bands (Parachute), asking myself 'do I even really like live music/do I really like being in the midst of 20,000 people?' (Big Day Out), intense social anxiety (Camp A Low Hum). I know that most of these reasons can be overcome by the right combination of bands and good company, but I'm generally OK with my summer of (not) music watching. Whenever someone would ask me about what music things I was going to this summer, I'd just say I was too broke and vaguely speculate about trying to find a spare comp ticket floating around without any real plan to do that.

Funnily, while a lot of festivals these days increasingly feature folk revival artists, I'd completely forgotten about the Auckland Folk Festival itself. I'd never been before and wasn't familiar with more than a few names on the lineup, but I had an opportunity to go for free. I was curious, but had no idea what to really expect.

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Yumi Zouma are a New Zealand trio with former Bang! Bang! Eche! guitarist Charlie Ryder in their ranks. 'The Brae' is their second single and they're set to release a self titled debut EP next month via Cascine. The song's a dreamy bed of synthesiser and angelic vocals, and if it takes your fancy, you can preorder the EP via the link on their Soundcloud widget below.

It's been a six year hiatus for the notoriously prolific Nick Harte of the Shocking Pinks, but the former Flying Nun and DFA artist is set to release a forthcoming triple (!) LP titled Guilt Mirrors.

Featuring Gemma Syme (Holiday With Friends, 47 Diamantes) on guest vocals, hear 'St Louis' from the forthcoming record via the Soundcloud widget below. The album comes out on February 18 on the Brooklyn based record label Stars & Letters.

Auckland rockers Clap Clap Riot have been working away on a new record set to come out in February. Produced by Kody Nielson of the Mint Chicks, the early returns on Nobody/Everybody show a different sonic palette and a welcome 1960s flavour. Check out Sweet Patricia via the Soundcloud widget.

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This is ostensibly a music blog, but truth be told a couple of us here are big comic book fans too. So any chance to combine those two loves, we'll jump for it.

Wagner's Flying Dutchman anyone? South Island comic book artist has been commissioned to create a comic based on the famous work, and to celebrate 200 years of Richard Wagner. Check it out here.

Elsewhere, Kieron Gillon's Phonogram series is a favourite of mine. Mixing music-scene lore and fantasy in a very modern way, he tells a surreal and personal story about the music he loves and the Mod-Godess of Brit-Pop in this one. And if you're like me and mostly hate Brit-Pop but like girl bands, his second volume is over here and it rules.

And of course, who could forget the story of a part-time musician who lives in Toronto and plays in a band called Sex-Bob-Omb.

If you like the sound of a nasty (but fun) mash-up of fictional characters of the 1900s and Brecht's Three Penny Opera with surprisingly effective musical numbers on the page, check out some of Alan Moore's typically amazing work here.