“I’m dipping out, I’m off to Naarm.” That’s the cry on the latest DARTZ single, and if you take them at their word, Wellington’s favourite punks are packing up their crates and speedboating across the ditch.
Their new single, “Moving to Melbourne”, taps into the familiar mood of many young New Zealanders jumping ship in search of opportunities overseas.
“I didn’t wanna do it,” they sing. But who can blame them?
DARTZ have been on a roll lately. Just today, they were nominated for Best Group at the Aotearoa Music Awards. Their second album Dangerous Day to Be a Cold One, also made the shortlist for the 2024 Taite Music Prize, scored a four-star review in Rolling Stone AU/NZ (“It’s always a dangerous day to be a cold one when The Band From Wellington are around,” we wrote), and landed on our Best New Zealand Albums of 2024 list.
But are DARTZ actually moving to Melbourne?
Well, sort of. They’ve announced a one-off Naarm show at The Tote Hotel on Friday, April 18th, before they’re jetting off on a mammoth UK and European tour running through to June. The show’s excellent promo poster sees DARTZ tearing across the Tasman in a flame-licked waka, flanked by a Māui dolphin and a croc puffing a dart.
Before the great escape, though, they’re playing in Wellington this Friday, then teaming up with Daffodils for a hometown blowout at Double Whammy in Tāmaki Makaurau on Saturday, April 12th. Get tickets here.
“Moving to Melbourne” was produced by James Goldsmith, with a charming DIY video directed by Joe Curtis (with support from NZ On Air). The band thanked fans “who’ve been waiting patiently for new music,” promising, “we have a lot more to share in 2025.”
DARTZ’s “Moving to Melbourne” is out now.
