The Necks

“Greatest Trio on Earth.”

The Necks, put simply, are one of the cult bands. The New York Times calls them the “Greatest Trio on Earth.” Described as not quite avant-garde, minimalist, ambient or jazz, they’re really a genre unto themselves — proudly their own thing in a world of trendsetting and attention seeking, which is a huge part of their enduring charm. If you know The Necks, you just know. But if you’ve never heard their music, prepare for obsession. Touring to promote their new album Bleed, the Sydney-based group last played here in 2008, making this long-awaited return to Aotearoa a big deal for fans and the Festival alike.

The Necks are an Australian band. Chris Abrahams (piano), Tony Buck (drums) and Lloyd Swanton (bass) are the original members and have been performing together for more than 30 years. They’re critically acclaimed by music tastemakers MOJO, The Wire, The Quietus and Pitchfork, and are revered by the likes of The New York Times’ Geoff Dyer and Nick Cave collaborator Warren Ellis.