Amazing Auckland party band Spring Break have released a new video for their song I Am Me. Comprised for the Ruby Suns' Ryan McPhun and the Sneaks' James Dansey, the song actually borrows (or vice versa) lyrics and a melody from a recent Ruby Suns track - Desert of Pop (off their album Christopher). But where that song is a bit of a slow burner about falling in love with Swedish pop singer Robyn, I Am Me turns the lyric on its head and makes it about falling in love every time you look in the mirror. Appropriately it sees the duo trading Prince-influenced vocals over a stupidly big beat and some pretty spectacular retro footage of an American beach party.

Ryan McPhun's other band the Ruby Suns are on tour this April and you can buy tickets here from Under The Radar.

12th April: Puppies, Wellington
18th April: Kings Arms, Auckland
26th April: Darkroom, Christchurch - FREE
27th April: Chicks Hotel, Dunedin

Less than three weeks until Christmas Day! Franklin Road is looking brighter, the tree is shining in the Viaduct, and Santa's taken up residence at Smith & Caughey's!

At Auckland Libraries we're sending out Christmas songbooks for ukulele, music CDs of Johnny Cash's Christmas collection and much more. Check our catalogue to see what else we have.

And check out the Council website here for your local Christmas events!

Here are our song picks for the last four days of Advent:

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Thanks to groups like the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestraand the Play It Strange Trust the ukulele is becoming more and more prevalent in New Zealand. It's easy to see why, as ukes are lightweight, small, and pretty easy to learn quickly. Unlike recorder lessons in primary school, songs learnt on the ukulele are worth remembering and fun to play.

It really is super easy to play the uke, and websites like Ukulele Huntmake it easy to find the music for songs you want to play (yes, they've got 'Hey Ya').
It's not just here in New Zealand, either. Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls) has been touring round the world these last two years doing Ninja gigs on her days off which she announces on Twitter. She just shows up with her uke and does songs for whoever showed up for as long as they feel like it. A ukulele is perfect for this kind of thing, because it's small enough and light enough to take it with you.