Great Sounds Great festival

Since the release of her first single Drive in 1996 – Bic Runga (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine) has been awarded almost every musical honour in New Zealand. It is a massive understatement to say that we are excited to be hosting this bona fide national treasure at GSG!

Bri Louise is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist emerging from slow burn and sensual sounds, blending sultry grooves with smooth love and undeniable groove. Their sound has roots in Gospel and Neo-Soul, evolving into a rich fusion of Jazz, Hip-Hop, and R&B.

A Grungegaze/Noise-Rock quad from Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Cruelly carry a juxtaposition of screeching feedback to harmonic mellows with all the anger in-between on their sleeves, Inspired by the Alternative Rock scene in Aotearoa.

Beloved by the Tokyo punk underground, DEATHRO combines new wave, post-punk, and J-Rock into high-energy BEATROCK in the 1980’s Japanese tradition. Their performance is ecstatic and powerful, while the lyrics are grounded in working class politics. DEATHRO has a punk mind and expresses it.

Dream Chambers uses modular synthesisers and her voice to craft iridescent patterns of melody that refract and brim toward the ineffable - somewhere between a lucid dream and cosmic transcendence.

Fighting purgatorial angst with emotionally immediate, warm and witty songs about living honestly in the face of inevitable uncertainty. Uplifting and catchy guitar lines betray that it might all be okay in the end.

When it comes to the dancefloor, Te Whanganui-a-Tara based delegation Groove Council means business. On their agenda is an uninterrupted dose of live jazz-house dance music guaranteed to keep feet moving and approval ratings high all night long.

Description goes hereThe Goth Cowboy of Pōneke, the Synth-Soaked Crooner of Newtown; Hemi Hemingway returns home from his jaunts in the USA and Europe for a special, intimate performance with his beautiful bandistas at Great Sounds Great '26.

Pōneke's Hihi & The Stitchbirds bring their own version of Aotearoa folk. Rich vocal harmonies and relatable lyrics - you'll feel soothed and seen. Think ballads, sea shanties and dance-pop bops. Original music for everyone.

MĀ is a Māori artist from Te Whanganui-a-Tara blending rap, neo-soul and ambient sound. A self-produced musician and bandleader, she’s toured internationally, sold-out shows, and is developing a reo-rua, dance-driven third album in 2026.

Mokotron is a Tāmaki-based Māori producer from Ngāti Hine, who spreads seismic waves of low frequency Indigenous electronic music. Exploring ancient futurism through music, Mokotron imagines a reality without colonisation.

A classic duo like pie and chips, Naakz & Babyzoot are a Pōneke-based Hip-Hop duo focused on decolonising through fat beats and straight-up bars.

Hailing from Auckland by way of Dunedin, Office Dog is led by the critically acclaimed songwriter Kane Strang. They fearlessly explore the depths of complex emotions through layers of tension and release, serving an introspective view on profound experiences, turmoil, and hopeful prospect.

Pearly* are an indie rock band from Ōtepoti Dunedin. Since releasing their debut record via Flying Nun, Leather Jacket and, Pinacolada Records they’ve been stress testing new material around the country.

Savage is a multi-platinum, multi-genre artist behind global dance anthems "Swing" and "Freaks." With over 2 million records sold and more than a billion streams, he's earned worldwide acclaim and support from Steve Aoki, Skrillex, Hardwell, W&W, Baauer, and more.

So So Modern emerged from Aotearoa’s underground music scene in late 2004. Shaped by their collective experiences, the places they've been and the people they've met, So So Modern have refined and expanded their early post-punk and electronic influenced sound into haptic meditations of rhythm, melody and noise.

Soft Bait are a four-piece from Tāmaki Makaurau making sharp, off-centre post-punk. Restless rhythms, wiry guitars and sharp lyricism turn everyday absurdities into songs built for loud, energetic live shows.

Tāmaki Makaurau-based four-piece The Sour are a band of wāhine bonded by a shared love of grunge, punk, and all things loud and heavy. The Sour bring together decades of collective experience from some of the country’s most beloved underground and alternative acts.

Unsanitary Napkin are an anarchopunk three-piece from Te Whanganui-a-Tara and Ōtepoti, vomiting political rage like a sped-up Rudimentary Peni with the joyful energy of Devo and the anti-patriarchal vitriol of Emma Goldman.

One of the newest and most important additions to the Wellington music scene, Meow Nui brings together the perfect mix of high capacity, incredible acoustics, and an impeccable audience experience. We we are so excited to welcome it to the GSG venue lineup in 2026.

Tucked away down alley-like Edward St, Meow is a stalwart of the Wellington music scene, a hallowed space for serial gig-goers. Some of the biggest names on the line-up will perform here, and the night will also end at Meow as it hosts the unofficial afterparty with DJs playing long into the morning.

Another big name among capital venues. San Fran sits in prime position, right in the heart of Te Aro and of the festival, its famed balcony looking out over central Cuba St. This grand old dame, one of the largest venue of the festival, will again feature a stellar roster of amazing artists.

Valhalla holds a special place in the heart of Wellington live music lovers. It is unique, sounds incredible, and is 100% original. Fittingly, the vibe here will be heavier, the programme skewing more punk/post-punk/post-rock, so get amongst.

These twin bars are not only important music venues, particularly for those of a jazz persuasion, but also some of our most beloved watering holes. They will feature alternating sets from an incredible list of performers, including some of our top local poets performing live. We are also very proud to be partnering with RadioActive.FM who will be sponsoring the Rogue stage, and have curated a killer lineup up especially.

Not normally a live music venue, but a beautiful space for performances and an integral part of Cuba Mall, Hotel Bristol will be hosting two stages during the festival. Within the stacked programme, you can catch exciting indie stars, both local and from round the motu.

A standout venue in 2025, three amazing artists will be performing in the breathtaking St Peter’s church, sitting proud on the corner of Willis and Ghuznee streets. A stunning space in which to experience live music, we have carefully curated a lineup to fit this unique venue. You are in for a treat.

The flagship Wellington record store for legendary label Flying Nun has been a welcome addition to Cuba St and our music community in recent years. For Great Sounds Great, they will be hosting a series of in-store performances that will not disappoint.

Returning after successful addition to the festival last year, this ambitious undertaking is a roaming venue takeover orchestrated by electronic music collective Tonic. They will be hosting pop-up DJ and electronic performances at several different spaces, armed only with a PA system and a trolley. Punters are encouraged to grab a map, choose your adventure, and dance your way around Te Aro.