Down Under Currents

30/09/2026

🇳🇿 This week on Down Under Currents, we kick things off with The Bright Ideas and their new track Bayonet from the Bright Sharp Things EP, before diving into another eclectic collection of independent music from around Aotearoa - including Blisster, Crook, Oscar Dowling, Moon Unit, Model, TAKATAPUNANI, Louis Baker, Eo, Summer Vee, reb fountain, The Datsuns and Conrad Wedde (from The Phoenix Foundation).

🇳🇿 Down Under Currents is a music discovery show celebrating the best independent music coming out of Aotearoa. In each episode, host Gary Farrow plunges into the currents beneath the mainstream, featuring emerging artists, new releases, local scenes, and the stories behind the songs. From indie rock and alternative to surf, garage, dream-pop, and everything in between, Down Under Currents is your guide to finding your next favourite New Zealand band.

All episodes available from
📻 Free FM:
https://freefm.social/DownUnder
🍏 Apple Podcasts:
https://freefm.social/DownUnder-Apple

Broadcast in the Free FM 🎵 Music Zone 🎸 – Thursdays at 10pm
📻 89.0 FM Waikato-wide
💻 Livestream: freefm.org.nz
👉🏽 ask your smart speaker to play ‘Free FM eighty-nine point zero’
Tuia ngā reo o te hapori - Bringing together the voices of our community. Kirikiriroa, Aotearoa / Hamilton, NZ. Supported by NZ On Air and part of CAMA - Community Access Media Alliance.

23/09/2026

🇳🇿 On this week's Currents - Nicholas Josepp, Luna and the Aether, DARTZ, Bryony Matthews, Gareth Thomas, Isabella Jane, Wet Denim, Warner Emery, Juniper May, Princess Chelsea, The New Existentialists and Somniium.

🇳🇿 Down Under Currents is a music discovery show celebrating the best independent music coming out of Aotearoa. In each episode, host Gary Farrow plunges into the currents beneath the mainstream, featuring emerging artists, new releases, local scenes, and the stories behind the songs. From indie rock and alternative to surf, garage, dream-pop, and everything in between, Down Under Currents is your guide to finding your next favourite New Zealand band.

All episodes available from
📻 Free FM:
https://freefm.social/DownUnder
🍏 Apple Podcasts:
https://freefm.social/DownUnder-Apple

Broadcast in the Free FM 🎵 Music Zone 🎸 – Thursdays at 10pm
📻 89.0 FM Waikato-wide
💻 Livestream: freefm.org.nz
👉🏽 ask your smart speaker to play ‘Free FM eighty-nine point zero’

Tuia ngā reo o te hapori - Bringing together the voices of our community. Kirikiriroa, Aotearoa / Hamilton, NZ. Supported by NZ On Air and part of CAMA - Community Access Media Alliance.

16/09/2026

🇳🇿 Down Under Currents is now being broadcast on ARTFM in Taranaki as well as Free FM in the Waikato! Kia ora, Taranaki! In celebration, we're focussing on Taranaki music in this episode. From the sounds of Patea Maori Club (Official) and Midge Marsden to contemporary indie, soul, punk, electronic, blues and heavy music, we’re exploring the artists who have helped shape Taranaki’s musical identity — and the artists carrying that story forward today.

🇳🇿 Down Under Currents is a music discovery show celebrating the best independent music coming out of Aotearoa. In each episode, host Gary Farrow plunges into the currents beneath the mainstream, featuring emerging artists, new releases, local scenes, and the stories behind the songs. From indie rock and alternative to surf, garage, dream-pop, and everything in between, Down Under Currents is your guide to finding your next favourite New Zealand band.

All episodes available from
📻 Free FM:
https://freefm.social/DownUnder
🍏 Apple Podcasts:
https://freefm.social/DownUnder-Apple

Broadcast in the Free FM 🎵 Music Zone 🎸 – Thursdays at 10pm
📻 89.0 FM Waikato-wide
💻 Livestream: freefm.org.nz
👉🏽 ask your smart speaker to play ‘Free FM eighty-nine point zero’
Tuia ngā reo o te hapori - Bringing together the voices of our community. Kirikiriroa, Aotearoa / Hamilton, NZ. Supported by NZ On Air and part of CAMA - Community Access Media Alliance.

09/09/2026

🇳🇿 We head over the Kaimāīs to Tauranga for a musical road trip through the city's independent music scene. Featuring midwavebreaks, Ayla Gold Music, The Knids, We Will Ride Fast, HOICK, Threat.Meet.Protocol., Brain Squash and Matt Bizzle - Sax Player/DJ/Producer.

🇳🇿 Down Under Currents is a music discovery show celebrating the best independent music coming out of Aotearoa. In each episode, host Gary Farrow plunges into the currents beneath the mainstream, featuring emerging artists, new releases, local scenes, and the stories behind the songs. From indie rock and alternative to surf, garage, dream-pop, and everything in between, Down Under Currents is your guide to finding your next favourite New Zealand band.

All episodes available from
📻 Free FM:
https://freefm.social/DownUnder
🍏 Apple Podcasts:
https://freefm.social/DownUnder-Apple

Broadcast in the Free FM 🎵 Music Zone 🎸 – Thursdays at 10pm
📻 89.0 FM Waikato-wide
💻 Livestream: freefm.org.nz
👉🏽 ask your smart speaker to play ‘Free FM eighty-nine point zero’

Tuia ngā reo o te hapori - Bringing together the voices of our community. Kirikiriroa, Aotearoa / Hamilton, NZ. Supported by NZ On Air and part of CAMA - Community Access Media Alliance. Cheers to NZ On Air Music

02/09/2026

This week, Down Under Currents heads south to Ōtautahi Christchurch for a special episode celebrating the music coming out of Canterbury. Inspired by Gary’s recent visit to Plains Media in Ōtautahi, this episode takes a trip through the region’s wonderfully diverse independent music scene. Featuring music from The Response, CAITLIN Music, pickle darling, Monotones band, MEL PARSONS, Wurld Series, Yumi Zouma and plenty more, it’s a snapshot of a city and region with a huge musical history and an equally exciting future. Ōtautahi, Canterbury — this one’s for you.

⬇️⬇️ LINK IN COMMENTS ⬇️⬇️

🇳🇿 Down Under Currents is a music discovery show celebrating the best independent music coming out of Aotearoa. In each episode, host Gary Farrow plunges into the currents beneath the mainstream, featuring emerging artists, new releases, local scenes, and the stories behind the songs. From indie rock and alternative to surf, garage, dream-pop, and everything in between, Down Under Currents is your guide to finding your next favourite New Zealand band.

All episodes available from
📻 Free FM:
https://freefm.social/DownUnder
🍏 Apple Podcasts:
https://freefm.social/DownUnder-Apple

Broadcast in the Free FM 🎵 Music Zone 🎸 – Thursdays at 10pm
📻 89.0 FM Waikato-wide
💻 Livestream: freefm.org.nz
👉🏽 ask your smart speaker to play ‘Free FM eighty-nine point zero’

Tuia ngā reo o te hapori - Bringing together the voices of our community. Kirikiriroa, Aotearoa / Hamilton, NZ. Supported by NZ On Air and part of CAMA - Community Access Media Alliance. Cheers to NZ On Air Music

Free FM is the home of real community radio in the Waikato and nz podcasts.

27/08/2026

Ep 10 - 🇳🇿 The Southland Special

This week, Down Under Currents heads south for a special episode celebrating the music of Southland and the wider Deep South. Inspired by Gary’s recent visit to Invercargill and Free FM partner station Radio Southland, we explore indie rock, folk, country, blues and experimental sounds from artists connected to Invercargill, Gore, Dunedin and beyond. Featuring Anna Van Riel, Daniel Fletcher, Filth Wizard, Hoodaki, Jenny Mitchell, Lachie Hayes and more. A musical trip to the bottom of Aotearoa — no thermals required.

⬇️⬇️ LINK IN COMMENTS ⬇️⬇️

🇳🇿 Down Under Currents is a music discovery show celebrating the best independent music coming out of Aotearoa. In each episode, host Gary Farrow plunges into the currents beneath the mainstream, featuring emerging artists, new releases, local scenes, and the stories behind the songs. From indie rock and alternative to surf, garage, dream-pop, and everything in between, Down Under Currents is your guide to finding your next favourite New Zealand band.

All episodes available from
📻 Free FM:
https://freefm.social/DownUnder
🍏 Apple Podcasts:
https://freefm.social/DownUnder-Apple

Broadcast in the Free FM 🎵 Music Zone 🎸 – Thursdays at 10pm
📻 89.0 FM Waikato-wide
💻 Livestream: freefm.org.nz
👉🏽 ask your smart speaker to play ‘Free FM eighty-nine point zero’

Tuia ngā reo o te hapori - Bringing together the voices of our community. Kirikiriroa, Aotearoa / Hamilton, NZ. Community Access Media supported by NZ On Air and part of CAMA - Community Access Media Alliance. Cheers to NZ On Air Music

19/08/2026

🇳🇿 This week, Down Under Currents takes another trip through Aotearoa’s independent music scene, with sounds ranging from hip-hop and indie rock to experimental and atmospheric territory. Featuring Big Sima x Boomtown, a new single from Kirikiriroa’s Nicholas Joseph, Debt Club, Jennie La Bombe, Vanessa Tottle Music and more — twelve tracks and plenty to discover from around the motu.

🎧 Listen right here 👉🏻 https://freefm.social/DownUnder-Apple
Down Under Currents - discovering the best independent music from Aotearoa — new releases, emerging artists, local scenes, and future favourites from New Zealand's indie underground.

All episodes available from
📻 Free FM:
https://freefm.social/DownUnder
🍏 Apple Podcasts:
https://freefm.social/DownUnder-Apple

Broadcast in the Free FM 🎵 Music Zone 🎸 – Thursdays at 10pm
📻 89.0 FM Waikato-wide
💻 Livestream: freefm.org.nz
👉🏽 ask your smart speaker to play ‘Free FM eighty-nine point zero’

Tuia ngā reo o te hapori - Bringing together the voices of our community. Kirikiriroa, Aotearoa / Hamilton, NZ. Community Access Media supported by NZ On Air and part of CAMA - Community Access Media Alliance.

12/08/2026

🇳🇿 From scrappy punk and indie rock to electronic experimentation, episode 8 of Down Under Currents features Miriam Clancy & Dion Lunadon, Greta O'Leary, Dick Move, MEL PARSONS, Mokomokai & Troy Kingi, Hazsari, Liquid Lucy, Hannah Everingham and plenty more discoveries from around the motu.

🎧 Listen right here 👉🏻 https://freefm.social/DownUnder-Apple

Down Under Currents - discovering the best independent music from Aotearoa — new releases, emerging artists, local scenes, and future favourites from New Zealand's indie underground.

All episodes available from
📻 Free FM:
https://freefm.social/DownUnder
🍏 Apple Podcasts:
https://freefm.social/DownUnder-Apple

Broadcast in the Free FM 🎵 Music Zone 🎸 – Thursdays at 10pm
📻 89.0 FM Waikato-wide
💻 Livestream: freefm.org.nz
👉🏽 ask your smart speaker to play ‘Free FM eighty-nine point zero’

Tuia ngā reo o te hapori - Bringing together the voices of our community. Kirikiriroa, Aotearoa / Hamilton, NZ. Community Access Media supported by NZ On Air and part of CAMA - Community Access Media Alliance.

Free FM is the home of real community radio in the Waikato and nz podcasts.