Simon Grigg
@opdiner.com
Wanderer, scribe, street photog & music obsessive. Photos: http://opdiner.com Founder: http://audioculture.co.nz Me: http://simongrigg.info
Pinned
Simon Grigg
@opdiner.com
· Mar 17
A photography starter pack I put together a while back. Will update ASAP. go.bsky.app/2yfaZzi
Reposted by Simon Grigg
Who's been to Rhythm and Vines? The first one happened when Otago Uni students Hamish Pinkham, Tom Gibson & Andrew Witters wanted to hold an event for their friends in a safe location. They approached Andrew’s Dad, Dean Witters, who owned Waiohika Estate... www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/rhy...
Rhythm and Vines - Article | AudioCulture
From the original concept as a one-night party for friends, Rhythm and Vines has evolved into the country’s biggest multi-day New Year festival, annually drawing around 30,000 concert-goers and attrac...
www.audioculture.co.nz
December 30, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Who's been to Rhythm and Vines? The first one happened when Otago Uni students Hamish Pinkham, Tom Gibson & Andrew Witters wanted to hold an event for their friends in a safe location. They approached Andrew’s Dad, Dean Witters, who owned Waiohika Estate... www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/rhy...
It's not perfect yet by any means but this time last year BKK air was in the midst of dark red. Mostly, this seems to be the result of public anger confronting official failures. Going in the right direction hopefully.
December 30, 2025 at 5:26 AM
It's not perfect yet by any means but this time last year BKK air was in the midst of dark red. Mostly, this seems to be the result of public anger confronting official failures. Going in the right direction hopefully.
Reposted by Simon Grigg
Some sad news: on December 21st, Jimmy James Stephenson, aka David James Stephenson, aka Jimmy James, passed away. James was in Bygøne Era and The Beads, and joined The Chills from 1988-1991. He played sold out shows with them in Australia, North America... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/the-...
The Chills - AudioCulture
Flicking back between New Zealand and Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, they toured relentlessly, gathering more fans as they went, pu...
www.audioculture.co.nz
December 27, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Some sad news: on December 21st, Jimmy James Stephenson, aka David James Stephenson, aka Jimmy James, passed away. James was in Bygøne Era and The Beads, and joined The Chills from 1988-1991. He played sold out shows with them in Australia, North America... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/the-...
Reposted by Simon Grigg
"With Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD out of the picture his USDP is all but guaranteed to win. In the last, free election in 2020, the USDP won only six percent of parliamentary seats."
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Myanmar election: Fear and intimidation ahead of vote held by military rulers
This is the first election since the army's coup in early 2021 - and it is being widely condemned as a sham.
www.bbc.com
December 27, 2025 at 11:25 AM
"With Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD out of the picture his USDP is all but guaranteed to win. In the last, free election in 2020, the USDP won only six percent of parliamentary seats."
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Simon Grigg
Glyn Tucker Jnr (Mandrill Studios) was the teenage singer, rhythm guitarist and songwriter for 1960s pop group The Gremlins. Hev wanted to gain extra experience playing with other musicians. Christmas 1959 is memorable for Tucker as he he met his wife Carole... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/glyn...
Glyn Tucker - AudioCulture
In the 1980s, the studio recorded the big-selling debut albums by The Dance Exponents and The Mockers and the milestone album Dave Dobbyn’s Loyal. Tucker had success with his record labels Mandrill an...
www.audioculture.co.nz
December 25, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Glyn Tucker Jnr (Mandrill Studios) was the teenage singer, rhythm guitarist and songwriter for 1960s pop group The Gremlins. Hev wanted to gain extra experience playing with other musicians. Christmas 1959 is memorable for Tucker as he he met his wife Carole... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/glyn...
Reposted by Simon Grigg
As a recovering catholic, I can say that this is easily the coolest fucking priest I’ve ever seen.
December 25, 2025 at 4:27 AM
As a recovering catholic, I can say that this is easily the coolest fucking priest I’ve ever seen.
Reposted by Simon Grigg
Everyone else does it, so here's a list of records I liked a lot in 2025. open.substack.com/pub/opdiner/...
December 23, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Everyone else does it, so here's a list of records I liked a lot in 2025. open.substack.com/pub/opdiner/...
Everyone else does it, so here's a list of records I liked a lot in 2025. open.substack.com/pub/opdiner/...
December 23, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Everyone else does it, so here's a list of records I liked a lot in 2025. open.substack.com/pub/opdiner/...
I love the image. It looks like the cover of a Revell kitset or a Commando war comic from the '60s. Complete with the 'fight, fight, fight' pic.
They will never be built, but the budgets will be allocated and spent.
They will never be built, but the budgets will be allocated and spent.
December 23, 2025 at 9:47 AM
I love the image. It looks like the cover of a Revell kitset or a Commando war comic from the '60s. Complete with the 'fight, fight, fight' pic.
They will never be built, but the budgets will be allocated and spent.
They will never be built, but the budgets will be allocated and spent.
Reposted by Simon Grigg
Here's the AudioCulture Quiz for our evening crowd.
Have you finished work for the year, or plaoughing on?
Let us know how you scored :)
Have you finished work for the year, or plaoughing on?
Let us know how you scored :)
Meri Kirihimete week! Are you working today, or have your holidays begun?
Either way, the AudioCulture Quiz is here for you, with questions by Simon Grigg @opdiner.com. How did you get on?
www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/aud...
Either way, the AudioCulture Quiz is here for you, with questions by Simon Grigg @opdiner.com. How did you get on?
www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/aud...
AudioCulture Quiz - Article | AudioCulture
Welcome to the weekly AudioCulture Quiz. Clue: answers are on the site or, for those in a hurry, at the link below.
AudioCulture Quiz, 22 December 2025
1. She was the first New Zealander to appear on ...
www.audioculture.co.nz
December 22, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Here's the AudioCulture Quiz for our evening crowd.
Have you finished work for the year, or plaoughing on?
Let us know how you scored :)
Have you finished work for the year, or plaoughing on?
Let us know how you scored :)
Reposted by Simon Grigg
Perfect.
December 21, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Perfect.
It’s hard to believe it’s been six months since Brian left us.
This deep dig into his catalogue was such a pleasurable thing to do.
opdiner.substack.com/p/she-knows-...
This deep dig into his catalogue was such a pleasurable thing to do.
opdiner.substack.com/p/she-knows-...
She Knows Me Too Well
A sideways glance at the Brian Wilson catalogue that avoids Pet Sounds and Good Vibrations, but, first, some words.
opdiner.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 10:45 AM
It’s hard to believe it’s been six months since Brian left us.
This deep dig into his catalogue was such a pleasurable thing to do.
opdiner.substack.com/p/she-knows-...
This deep dig into his catalogue was such a pleasurable thing to do.
opdiner.substack.com/p/she-knows-...
Reposted by Simon Grigg
If you want to know what Trump released from the Epstein Files tonight I am happy to summarize it for you in one image:
December 20, 2025 at 3:20 AM
If you want to know what Trump released from the Epstein Files tonight I am happy to summarize it for you in one image:
Reposted by Simon Grigg
Today is the day the Epstein Files should be released.
Here’s what to expect.
Here’s what to expect.
December 19, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Today is the day the Epstein Files should be released.
Here’s what to expect.
Here’s what to expect.
Reposted by Simon Grigg
To think that Fifa gave that piece of garbage a peace prize
December 18, 2025 at 1:38 PM
To think that Fifa gave that piece of garbage a peace prize
Reposted by Simon Grigg
Brand new: Hastings-raised beatmaker 9lives blew up before most people had ever heard of him. People found his music on TikTok & YouTube, and he's had millions of streams – he's even been on Billboard’s dance chart and had 2 gold-certified singles in the US... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/9lives
9lives - AudioCulture
Maxwell Jardine’s interest in production kicked off after his Year 10 music class at Hastings Christian School was assigned to create an eight-bar loop/instrumental. He was soon spending all his spare...
www.audioculture.co.nz
December 18, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Brand new: Hastings-raised beatmaker 9lives blew up before most people had ever heard of him. People found his music on TikTok & YouTube, and he's had millions of streams – he's even been on Billboard’s dance chart and had 2 gold-certified singles in the US... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/9lives
December 17, 2025 at 1:49 PM
December 16, 2025 at 11:03 AM
OMC - How Bizarre (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by OMCVEVO
youtu.be
December 15, 2025 at 9:35 AM
What an extraordinary triumph for Marlon (and te reo). (We can forgive the error about the first te reo commercial recording being by Ana Hato and Dean Waretini in Sydney – it was recorded in Rotorua the same year, appropriately.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctk1...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctk1...
Marlon Williams | Live at Sydney Opera House
YouTube video by Sydney Opera House
www.youtube.com
December 14, 2025 at 4:09 PM
What an extraordinary triumph for Marlon (and te reo). (We can forgive the error about the first te reo commercial recording being by Ana Hato and Dean Waretini in Sydney – it was recorded in Rotorua the same year, appropriately.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctk1...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctk1...
Oh god, I just saw this. How horrible, beyond words.
"Ten dead, 12 injured in Bondi shooting" www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12... This is awful.
Live: Multiple fatalities, two in custody after shooting at Bondi Beach
Police say there have been multiple fatalities following a shooting near a Jewish gathering at Sydney's Bondi Beach. Follow live.
www.abc.net.au
December 14, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Oh god, I just saw this. How horrible, beyond words.
Reposted by Simon Grigg
Kristi Noem claimed a few months ago that they arrested the girlfriend of the leader of Antifa and that was going to lead to the prosecution of the entire “organization.” What happened with that? Any updates?
December 13, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Kristi Noem claimed a few months ago that they arrested the girlfriend of the leader of Antifa and that was going to lead to the prosecution of the entire “organization.” What happened with that? Any updates?
Reposted by Simon Grigg
“Trump rages in the dead of night” should be on his tombstone.👇 www.mediaite.com/online/trump...
Trump Rages In Dead Of Night At Republicans Who Defied Him On Election Map — After Claiming He Hadn’t ‘Worked Very Hard’ On It
Trump raged in a dead-of-night social media post at Republicans who defied him on a plan that would have given the GOP more seats in Congress.
www.mediaite.com
December 13, 2025 at 4:53 PM
“Trump rages in the dead of night” should be on his tombstone.👇 www.mediaite.com/online/trump...
I bumped into this and Andrew took me down a number of fascinating Xmas song threads which embrace Spector, Kennedy, inevitably the Beatles, Slade and a whole lot more.
I think it's actually down to the way in the 1960s Britain caught on to American culture at a bit of a time-lag, plus the breakup of the Beatles. I shall explain in a thread.
I wonder how much of this difference comes from American Christmas being rooted in German culture?
December 13, 2025 at 4:57 PM
I bumped into this and Andrew took me down a number of fascinating Xmas song threads which embrace Spector, Kennedy, inevitably the Beatles, Slade and a whole lot more.