2.12 Friday (Reggae) Nectar & Solid Sound present: L.A.B. with Seven Suns 8pm, 21+ Nectar Lounge 412 N 36th St www.nectarlounge.com Formed by Brad Kora, L.A.B comprises his brother Stu Kora, Ara Adams-Tamatea, Miharo Gregory & frontman Joel Shadbolt. Featuring former members of two of New Zealand’s premier acts Kora & Katchafire, L.A.B have staked their claim as the best live act on the stages of New Zealand & Australia. A formidable live act, the band have made their name with a relentless touring schedule, and an ever-expanding catalogue of reggae, soul, rock & funk-inspired tunes which create a sound all their own. The band released five studio albums in five consecutive years, whilst building their audience through constant touring across Australasia. With each release, L.A.B’s following continued to grow, with more people taking notice as the band cemented themselves on the NZ charts. The singles ‘In The Air’ & ‘Why Oh Why’ both reached Number One in NZ, with every album in their catalogue reaching multi-Platinum status, alongside 22 multi-platinum singles & 16 gold singles. Along the way, the band also picked up Best Group, Best Song & Best Album two years in a row at the Aotearoa Music Awards, Best Record at the 2022 Rolling Stone Awards, Best Song at the 2023 Rolling Stone Awards and were voted New Zealand's Best Live Act by Radio NewZealand. Their electric live show has seen them become a staple on the festival circuit, performing at every major festival across NZ & Australia, alongside multiple sold-out tours in both countries. The past years have seen them spread their wings globally, with their first sold-out performances in the USA at venues such as the Roxy and House of Blues San Diego. The USA run was capped off with a performance at the iconic California Roots Festival & a sold-out debut Hawaiian show. The band also sold-out their first European shows at Amsterdam’s Paradiso & London’s O2 Forum. Their most recent album L.A.B VI arrived after a two year-long period of writing, recording, tweaking & finessing. The album was acclaimed by fans & critics alike, described as “full of songs of formidable prowess” & “the band’s most cohesive & ambitious record to date”, while being named by Rolling Stone as one of the Best New Zealand Albums of 2024. The band are hard at work on new material, with fans eagerly awaiting new music for the first time in over two years.