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Since their debut, Opshop has become one of New Zealand’s best-loved bands, crafting a constant stream of massive hits across three albums, You Are Here, Second Hand Planet and Until The End Of Time.

Opshop found early success with singles such as No Ordinary Thing, Secrets, Levitate and Saturated, from the platinum-selling album You Are Here, released in 2004.

Three years later, their sophomore release Second Hand Planet catapulted the band from rock radio darlings to mainstream icons thanks to songs like Maybe, Waiting Now, Big Energy in Little Spaces, and One Day.

Maybe went on to make history, becoming the most played single of 2007, holding the #1 radio play spot longer than any other Kiwi artist ever had, and One Day has become the band’s signature tune, garnering them a Silver Scroll Award in 2008.

Second Hand Planet went on to achieve triple-platinum status along the way, picking up four Tui Awards, Single of the Year (One Day), Highest Selling NZ Single (One Day), Highest Selling NZ Album (Second Hand Planet), and NZ On Air Radio Airplay Record of the Year (Maybe).

Opshop's third and final album was released in 2010 and featured huge hits Pins & Needles, Madness and Other Allergies, Sunday's Best Clothes, and Love Will Always Win.

Emerging from deep in the suburbs of Auckland’s North Shore in the mid-1980s, Push Push was forged by a group of young music lovers obsessed with everything loud and vivid. Vocalist Mikey Havoc, guitarist Andy Kane, bassist Steve Abplanalp, and later drummer Scott Cortese and guitarist Shayne Silver, forged their path playing any gig they could find, and selling cassettes of their demos in local record stores and mail order.

Their breakthrough came in 1991 with the hyper-charged single Trippin'. Together with a hallucinogenic video and rip-roaring refrain, the song spent six weeks at No.1 on the charts – an extraordinary achievement at a time when local rock acts rarely broke into the mainstream. 

Debut album A Trillion Shades of Happy arrived in early 1992, peaking at No.3, staying in the charts for months, and earning them the Best Group and Best Live Act award at the 1992 New Zealand Music Awards.

Fast forward to February 2026, and Push Push return with a brand-new five-track EP, signalling not just a reunion but a reinvention.

The release coincides with live dates in New Zealand celebrating the 35th anniversary of Trippin', and underscores the band’s legacy as pioneers of Kiwi rock who never lost sight of the blood-pumping thrill of music, reaffirming their place in New Zealand music history.

One of the defining New Zealand rock bands of the 2000s, PLUTO built their reputation on sharp songwriting and commanding live shows, sharing stages with Duran Duran, Crowded House, Muse, Gomez and The Dandy Warhols, playing SXSW twice, and becoming Big Day Out regulars.

Their double-platinum 2005 album Pipeline Under the Ocean spawned the smash Long White Cross (2006 Tui Song of the Year) and fan favourite Dance Stamina.

Formed by Milan Borich and Tim Arnold in London in the late ’90s, PLUTO returned to Auckland to release their acclaimed debut Red Light Syndrome, before breaking big with EMI. After 2009’s Snake Charmer, the band went quiet - but not for good.

Now back performing again, PLUTO continue to add to a catalogue that’s already left its mark.

There’s A Tuesday are the Ōtautahi-born indie rock band of best friends Minnie Robberds and Nat Hutton, joined by drummer Gus Murray and bassist Joel Becker. Blending thoughtful lyricism, spellbinding harmonies, and anthemic softness, they’ve become a rising force in Aotearoa’s alternative scene.

Following the release of their acclaimed debut album BLUSH, which landed in the Top 20 on release week, and a sold-out national tour, the band is fresh from a cultural exchange trip to Seoul and gearing up for their Australia Tour, including showcases at BIGSOUND in Brisbane, solidifying their reputation as one of Aotearoa's most exciting live acts.

Volts are a high-energy, alternative rock band with a sound that can be best described as emotive powerhouse rock. The band have delivered a string of successful singles, including Wolves, Make Up Your Mind, and their latest track Tokyo, all gaining high rotation on rock radio.

They recently released their debut album with a limited-edition vinyl via Holiday Records, earning a place on the NZ Top 20 album charts.

Volts have played throughout the country with standout performances at some of Aotearoa's biggest festivals, including The Rock 2000 at Spark Arena, Electric Avenue, and Homegrown Festival.

With their unwavering commitment to their artistic vision and rapidly growing fan base, Volts continue to carve their own path in the music industry.

From the Awhitu Peninsula in South Auckland comes one of the most exciting and anticipated new bands, The Boondocks. A high-energy two-piece riff-rock act made up of Scott Parker and Branden Pritchard.

The band performed 80+ live shows nationally, supported top NZ acts including Shihad, Head Like a Hole and The D4. Their songs have spent over 60 weeks on the NZ Rock Radio charts.

Into the Void is an underground art-metal band from Ōtautahi Christchurch, celebrated for their ear-splitting volume, with a membership drawn from some of Aotearoa’s most respected visual artists.

Formed in 1987 by students orbiting the Ilam School of Fine Arts, the band’s origin story is that they met at art school, when in fact, by their own admission, “We met in a bar.” From those early beginnings, they evolved into one of Christchurch’s most enduring and defiantly uncommercial musical experiments.

The original line-up featured Jason Greig (guitar), Mark Whyte (drums), Paul Sutherland (bass, gramophone) and Ronnie van Hout (vocals). Over time, the configuration expanded to include Dave Imlay (bass) and James Greig (guitar), further adding to their layered, noise-driven sound.

Despite members living abroad or travelling extensively, the band has maintained remarkable continuity for nearly four decades.

Their unlikely longevity, fierce loyalty to one another, and refusal to temper their sound were captured in the 2014 documentary Into the Void, directed by Margaret Gordon. The film follows the band through earthquakes, relocations, ageing, and the odd miracle of survival, offering an intimate portrait of friendship and creative persistence.

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The Eastern are a string band that roars like a punk band, that swings like a gospel band, that drinks like a country band, that works like a bar band, that hopes like folk singers, and sings love songs like union songs, and writes union songs like love songs, and wants to slow dance and stand on tables, all at the same time.

Whether roaring as a thunderous seven-piece band or swinging the loud, lonesome sound as a smaller combo and having played over 2000 shows in their storied 15-year ramble, The Eastern can hold it down in all settings for all comers.

The Eastern have played in every nook and corner of the good isles of New Zealand, and have broken strings and dented floors in parts beyond, Australia, Europe and the United States. From Papanui to Portland, Shirley to Switzerland, they’ve seen more than their share of stages, street corners and bars.

They've toured with Steve Earle (twice), the Old Crow Medicine Show (twice) and the Lil' Band of Gold, as well as opening for everyone from Fleetwood Mac to the Jayhawks.

CAITLIN (Caitlin Bradley) is a New Zealand singer-songwriter making waves on the alternative music scene.

Known for her sharp lyricism, infectious energy, and magnetic live performances, she first caught attention with her 2024 EP Legacy, featuring the Alt-charting single ‘Light Leak’ and ‘What You Love’, which hit #1 on NZ Student Radio Charts.

Her recent indie-rock single Wash signals the next chapter of her sound, leading into new releases in 2026. A rising live draw, CAITLIN has played headline shows across New Zealand, performed at major festivals including Nostalgia, Single Fin Mingle, and Tea Party, and the main stage at Electric Avenue 2026. She has also opened for industry icons like Jon Toogood, Jordan Luck, Hollie Smith, and Jamie McDell.

Supported by Spotify and Apple Music editorial playlists (New Music Friday AUS/NZ, EQUALS) and recognised through NZ on Air Funding, APRA AMCOS mentorship, and a songwriting camp at Joel Little's Big Fan studio, CAITLIN is a bold voice in New Zealand music and one of the country's most exciting emerging artists.

"One unspectacular day, in an uninteresting room, 3 people collided and a bond was formed..." Saint Peter's Thursday is a grunge band from the swamp city of Otautahi.

Shifting through a kaleidoscope of moods, their live performances flow from cathartic to revealing, self-reflective to bombastic. The trio is made up of Aaron Wildermoth (bass), Anand Yoganathan (Vocals/Guitar) and Sam Lane (drums).

In 2023, they planted a flag in their hometown scene with the release of their debut album Death SALT. This album is filled with songs about growing pains, heartbreak and self-discovery.

In 2025, the noisy trio unleashed their most vicious release, an EP titled You've been talking in your sleep.

Lunar Intruder are a 4-piece psych indie rock band formed and based in Ōtautahi, consisting of frontman Cameron Buyers, guitarist Angus Mossman, bassist Sam Shore and drummer Ricki Allan.

Their music carries a profound emotional depth and a sweeping, introspective quality that immerses listeners in a realm of nostalgia and contemplation and has firmly established their brand across varying communities in Aotearoa and overseas.

The band began their journey back in 2019 with no more than a few friends and family members as followers, and steadily over the years have accumulated a loyal fanbase.

Back in 2020, they were awarded First Place at the annual University of Canterbury Battle of the Bands, and since then the band have gone from strength to strength; hosting a handful of memorable backyard gigs, featuring on TV shows and performing at a multitude of music festivals, including Golden Bay's Twisted Frequencies and UCSA's Summer Stein and Tea Party.

With a 4th EP underway, be prepared to immerse yourself in the evocative sounds of Lunar Intruder. They're not just a band; they're your ticket to a nostalgic journey.

Velveteen is a four-piece band from Ōtautahi, Christchurch, New Zealand and blends shoegaze, 90s alternative rock and elements of punk and electronica.

Velveteen's music carries an infectious raw energy, emotional depth and authenticity, and delves into themes of introspection, self-discovery, love, and the human experience.

Velveteen’s debut album Heavy Machinery was nominated for album of the year at the Aotearoa Alternative Music Awards and is a mix of fuzzy Corgan-esque guitars with heavy drums and emotional vocal melodies and lyrics. Showcasing a unique sonic identity with influences from 80s post-punk, goth, and 90s alternative rock.

In 2023, Velveteen released their first EP, Streamline. In 2024, Velveteen released five singles: Black Hole Above Cincinnati, Hypertrophic, the title song of their debut album Heavy Machinery and Codeine. These singles were consistently in the top 10 of NZ-wide Uni radio stations.

In 2025, Saturday Night in Vegas was released and quickly made the bNet top 10 chart. In March of that year, the debut full album, Heavy Machinery, was released to impressive reviews and reached number 16 on the official Aotearoa album chart. Featured in Rolling Stone Australia Magazine - Best new music article.