Performers 2016
*Full Performance Schedule
You can download a full schedule here
| Where: | All Newtown Festival |
| When: | 6th Mar |
*STAGE: Mainstreet Stage
Come one, come all! Some of the finest that the Newtown Festival has to offer are on display.
| Where: | North Riddiford |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
*STAGE: 'Nice Place' Curbside Cabaret
Soloists and bands with a street cafe vibe
| Where: | Emmett St |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
*STAGE: 'VUWSA' Newtown Ave
Featuring contemporary alternative electronic music.
| Where: | Newtown Ave |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
*STAGE: Circus Stage
Watch one of the exciting performances and then learn some moves to try out yourself.
| Where: | Newtown School |
| When: | 6th Mar 12:00pm |
*STAGE: Living Wage Stage
Wellington musicians and poets bring a message about poverty and inequality to this year’s Festival.
| Where: | Constable St |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
*STAGE: Newtown New World Community Stage
Some of the best and brightest stars from the Newtown community! At the corner of Constable and Riddiford St.
| Where: | Mid Riddiford |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
*STAGE: The Hits Buskers' Pitch
Come and be entertained by some of the best buskers around!
| Where: | McDonald's Car park |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
*STAGE: Wilson St
Newtown's favourite side street; with another bangin lineup for 2016!
| Where: | Wilson St |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
*Street Rides: Ghost Boards
Ghost Boards - freestyle riding by the Ghost crew + $5 rides
| Where: | Rintoul St |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
*Street Rides: Wishbone Bikes
FREE balance bike street rides for littlies!
| Where: | Gordon St |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
*Street Theatre: Gloria Bone Puppet Pavilion
An Intimate Evening With Gloria Bone And Friends
| Where: | Green St |
| When: | 6th Mar 12:30pm |
Aldous Harding
Gothic fairytales. This is folk music, simple and bleak.
| Where: | Wilson St |
| When: | 6th Mar 12:20pm |
Amba Holly: with Grove Roots
Māori Singer/Songwriter, passionate and determined to express life through music.
| Where: | Donald McLean St |
| When: | 6th Mar 12:40pm |
Amy Jean
Minimal-centric architect of dusty emotive dance music.
| Where: | Newtown Ave |
| When: | 6th Mar 11:45am |
Anne Kennedy (poet)
Artist for a Living Wage. Anne Kennedy is an inventive poet and fiction writer.
| Where: | Constable St |
| When: | 6th Mar 2:00pm |
Anything Left
More songs about the working peoples’ struggles, unions and democracy.
| Where: | Constable St |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:40am |
Aroha String Quartet
One of New Zealand's finest chamber music ensembles.
| Where: | Constable St |
| When: | 6th Mar 2:10pm |
Baobab Oasis - Nice Up The Dance
Reggae sound system at Baobab Courtyard
| Where: | Baobab Cafe |
| When: | 6th Mar 11:00am |
Basketball Jones (busker)
Fun entertainment for all ages and tastes, tricks and pure talent.
| Where: | McDonald's Car park |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
Bebemos GARAGE PROJECT Garden Party
Join us for the 20th Annual Newtown Festival & our second Garage Project Garden Party.
| Where: | Hall St |
| When: | 6th Mar 11:00am |
Biggest Little Circus
An action packed, high energy explosion of circus street theatre!
| Where: | Newtown School |
| When: | 6th Mar 5:15pm |
Borrowed Cs
Borrowed Cs: synthetic explorations through minimal dance forms.
| Where: | Newtown Ave |
| When: | 6th Mar 1:00pm |
Brannigan Kaa: with Grove Roots
Probably the most popular recording artist on the Maori Radio Network
| Where: | Donald McLean St |
| When: | 6th Mar 12:40pm |
Bunnies on Ponies
Ridiculously infectious explosive distorted 90s guitar pop.
| Where: | Wilson St |
| When: | 6th Mar 6:40pm |
Carcosa Saint Funeral
Playing what could be called ‘pop-indie-alt-country’.
| Where: | Emmett St |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
City Housing Choir
Enthusiastic singers Creating Harmony Optimistically In Rhythm – the CHOIR!
| Where: | Mid Riddiford |
| When: | 6th Mar 12:00pm |
Cookie Brooklyn and the Crumbs
Wellington psychedelia, 2 parts Orchestra of Spheres and one part Marineville.
| Where: | Wilson St |
| When: | 6th Mar 1:20pm |
Daniel Boobyer
A haunted ghost blues project by Wellington Daniel Boobyer featuring Mike Benton.
| Where: | Wilson St |
| When: | 6th Mar 3:05pm |
David Ladderman (busker)
2014 World Buskers Festival Critics Choice winner is back to cavort and contort at his favourite festival!
| Where: | McDonald's Car park |
| When: | 6th Mar 12:15pm |
Death and the Maiden
Melancholic synth arpeggios, reverb-drenched guitars, and sighing vocal melodies.
| Where: | Newtown Ave |
| When: | 6th Mar 1:30pm |
DJ No L
Atiawa Toa Fm breakfast show host is founder and member of the band Grove Roots from Waiwhetu
| Where: | Donald McLean St |
| When: | 6th Mar 3:15pm |
DJ Rhys B
DJing for over 30 years now - crowned NZs first ever DMC champion
| Where: | Donald McLean St |
| When: | 6th Mar 1:35pm |
Double Ya D
The man witch is about to get busy outside Death Ray. He'll be lickin his fingers and he'll be shakin his shit.
| Where: | Wilson St |
| When: | 6th Mar 5:15pm |
EPIC Newtown Festival After Party at Moon
Newtown's community venue. Come visit!
| Where: | Riddiford St |
| When: | 6th Mar 8:30pm |
Faith Wilson (poet)
Artist for a living wage. A writer and artist - 'forever learning how to talk.'
| Where: | Constable St |
| When: | 6th Mar 11:30am |
Flamenco Wellington
Flamenco - the passionate dance from the south of Spain, accompanied by guitar and cajon. Fiesta!
| Where: | Mid Riddiford |
| When: | 6th Mar 3:00pm |
Fortunes
Blending the gritty grooves of hip-hop with the raw emotion of R&B.
| Where: | Newtown Ave |
| When: | 6th Mar 2:45pm |
Frank Burkett Band
A unique blend of blues, country, bluegrass, swing and Scottish folk.
| Where: | Emmett St |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:45am |
Gamelan Padhang Moncar
Music from the courts and villages of central Java.
| Where: | Constable St |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
Glass Vaults
Psychedelic pop - songs of celebration, environment and love.
| Where: | North Riddiford |
| When: | 6th Mar 3:15pm |
Groeni
Complex textures and dancey beats are both captivating and engaging for listeners of all styles of music.
| Where: | Newtown Ave |
| When: | 6th Mar 5:15pm |
Grove Roots
A waka – a vessel for singers and songwriters to jam on.
| Where: | Donald McLean St |
| When: | 6th Mar 12:40pm |
Hawaiian Dance Wellington
Women (ages 25-75) who enjoy dancing hula to beautiful Hawaiian music.
| Where: | Mid Riddiford |
| When: | 6th Mar 11:45am |
Hypnos
Hypnos explore the murky world of Rebetiko, an urban folk music of the immigrant Greek underclass.
| Where: | Rintoul St |
| When: | 6th Mar 12:00pm |
Israel Starr
an important part of Aotearoa’s ever-growing Reggae, Dub, EDM and Hip-Hop scenes.
| Where: | Donald McLean St |
| When: | 6th Mar 4:10pm |
Jaded Nineties Raver (J9R)
Hardware-based and focused on maximising the capabilities of limited equipment.
| Where: | Newtown Ave |
| When: | 6th Mar 4:45pm |
Keely T
A regular performer at top Wellington venues and events.
| Where: | Donald McLean St |
| When: | 6th Mar 12:00pm |
Kirsten Te Rito
An award winning singer-songwriter from Wellington
| Where: | Donald McLean St |
| When: | 6th Mar 12:15pm |
Knights of the Dub Table
Expect a dynamic live journey with uplifting grooves, live dubs, featured guitar riffs and infectious sonic bass.
| Where: | Donald McLean St |
| When: | 6th Mar 3:20pm |
Kubatana & the Moringa Dancers
The percussive rhythms, sound and dances of Africa
| Where: | Mid Riddiford |
| When: | 6th Mar 12:15pm |
Maria McMillan (poet)
An Artist for a Living Wage. Two published collections of poetry.
| Where: | Constable St |
| When: | 6th Mar 12:20pm |
MC Hillsy
Wilson Streets official rock n roll MC for the 3rd year in a row.
| Where: | Wilson St |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
Mehana
Travel vicariously on the feverish rhythms and soulful laments across Balkan Peninsula
| Where: | Rintoul St |
| When: | 6th Mar 11:00am |
Mighty Ukes
We love to network and build happy fun communities. Our motto is "Uke & Spread the Love"
| Where: | Mid Riddiford |
| When: | 6th Mar 11:00am |
Miles Calder & the Rumours
Atmospheric Americana nestled somewhere between Ryan Adams, Bob Dylan and 70s Neil Young.
| Where: | Emmett St |
| When: | 6th Mar 1:30pm |
Mongo Skato
Mongo Skato is Thomas E Richards, an electronic music producer from Wellington.
| Where: | Newtown Ave |
| When: | 6th Mar 3:30pm |
Mono Sonic
The Baddass Fuzzed Out Primitive Trash Stomp Death Party Beer Lightning Chancellor.
| Where: | Wilson St |
| When: | 6th Mar 4:10pm |
Move It Danceworks
Dance school - Tap, Jazz and Ballet. For 3 year olds right through to adults.
| Where: | Mid Riddiford |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:01am |
Mr Fungus (busker)
Check out the latest nonsense from ‘New Zealand’s Loudest Mime’ MR FUNGUS.
| Where: | McDonald's Car park |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:45am |
Mr sterile Assembly
Outsider-punk noise experimental rock two-piece from Aotearoa New Zealand.
| Where: | Constable St |
| When: | 6th Mar 11:40am |
Newtown Rocksteady
Newtowns favourite sons - an infectious combination of mellow rhythms and upbeat dance tunes!
| Where: | Donald McLean St |
| When: | 6th Mar 5:00pm |
Orchestra of Spheres
Part Sun Ra otherworldiness, part Sublime Frequencies and part ESG.
| Where: | Constable St |
| When: | 6th Mar 3:00pm |
Pascal Ackermann (busker)
A Swiss clown has fallen off the mountain in his homeland and finds himself sailing the high seas.
| Where: | McDonald's Car park |
| When: | 6th Mar 1:00pm |
Pie in the Sky
NZ and UK based artists who design playful tournaments, mini-festivals and celebrations for people.
| Where: | Rintoul St |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
Pip Adam
An Artist for a Living Wage. Writer -short stories, novel.
| Where: | Constable St |
| When: | 6th Mar 2:50pm |
Rainbow Country
Keeping it strictly Roots as a reflection of New Zealand's beautiful landscape and culture.
| Where: | Donald McLean St |
| When: | 6th Mar 11:20am |
Raskolnikovs -cancelled
Drunken Russian polka-rock - a cross between some kind of Eastern European music and The Munsters.
| Where: | Wilson St |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:20am |
Raw Collective
This is Raw Collective: a funk, jazz, and hip-hop sound, born with a livewire.
| Where: | Moon |
| When: | 6th Mar 8:00pm |
Red Sky Blues
An awesome sludgy, psych, fuzz stoner band from Wellington and some of Newtown.
| Where: | Wilson St |
| When: | 6th Mar 5:35pm |
Richter City Rebels
A raw, heavy and soulful show with loads of singing, dancing and beads - come and join the Mardi Gras Party!
| Where: | Mid Riddiford |
| When: | 6th Mar 3:45pm |
Rick Sahar : MC
Community Stage MC: an award winning Wellington entertainer.
| Where: | Mid Riddiford |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
Roidz
Roidz are proving to be one of New Zealand's most exciting bands.
| Where: | 121 Skate Festival: Treetops |
| When: | 5th Mar |
Salvation Army
The Wellington South Salvation open their doors and showcase their style of music on their front door step, along with awesome activities for all ages!
| Where: | Mid Constable St |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
Sam Manzanza Afrobeat band
Hot, spicy rhythms to make you dance and feel good
| Where: | North Riddiford |
| When: | 6th Mar 12:15pm |
Secret Knives (solo)
Secret Knives write pop songs: scaffold for melancholia, effects-heavy guitar, ambient debris.
| Where: | Newtown Ave |
| When: | 6th Mar 11:00am |
Sendam Rawkustra
Turning madness on its head into something special, unique, and creatively rich.
| Where: | Mid Riddiford |
| When: | 6th Mar 1:00pm |
Sergio Velcro's Sexy Morning Workout Class
World renowned fitness guru and tantric healing master travelling the world promoting the life changing power of his sexy workout fitness DVD's.
| Where: | Rintoul St |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
Shocking Pinks
Shocking Pinks is the project of singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Nick Harte.
| Where: | Wilson St |
| When: | 6th Mar 7:45pm |
Shogun
his rap flow is of international quality and use of words are second to none
| Where: | Donald McLean St |
| When: | 6th Mar 2:50pm |
Shoutin' Preachin'
Auckland Hip Hop/ Brass crew, Shoutin' Preachin' are making the trip to Wellington to show us what we've been missing.
| Where: | Wilson St |
| When: | 6th Mar 4:30pm |
So Laid Back Country China
Self proclaimed Canyon Rock band from Wellington.
| Where: | Emmett St |
| When: | 6th Mar 3:00pm |
Só Samba
Wellington's first roots samba band: a high energy exposition of Brazilian culture.
| Where: | Rintoul St |
| When: | 6th Mar 12:30pm |
Street Sports - Hoop Club Wellington
Providing children the opportunity learn and develop key basketball skills.
| Where: | Arney St |
| When: | 6th Mar 11:00am |
Street Sports - Push Play
The Push Play team will be out with fun equipment and exciting games to keep everyone active and entertained – even the adults.
| Where: | Arney St |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:00am |
Street Sports - The First Tee Values Coaching
Local youngsters from all different backgrounds are getting the chance to learn the art of golf.
| Where: | Arney St |
| When: | 6th Mar 11:00am |
Street Sports - Wellington Floorball
Keen to try a new and exciting sport?
| Where: | Arney St |
| When: | 6th Mar 11:00am |
Super Duper Girl (busker)
Flying in to save the day with stupendous stunts and amazing escapes…
| Where: | McDonald's Car park |
| When: | 6th Mar 11:30am |
Taikoza Wellington
Passionate about Taiko Drumming, with beautiful, strong bass tones, powerful group rhythms and dynamic choreography.
| Where: | Donald McLean St |
| When: | 6th Mar 4:45pm |
Tape Wolves
100% Esoteric surf trash morphs from a one man haunted figure to 3 wolves
| Where: | Wilson St |
| When: | 6th Mar 7:25pm |
The Eggs
Roll up the rugs and stack the chairs - The Eggs are cooking once again.
| Where: | North Riddiford |
| When: | 6th Mar 11:15am |
The Spines
Playing a fiery brand of rock love songs, totally original and honest
| Where: | Rintoul St |
| When: | 6th Mar 1:15pm |
The Tyson Smith Band
Wellington based swampy roots blues folk band.
| Where: | Wilson St |
| When: | 6th Mar 3:25pm |
The Underground
Bringing The Underground party to the Bebemos back yard.
| Where: | Hall St |
| When: | 6th Mar 12:00pm |
TrinityRoots
A boil-up of ingredients that seem to embody the very essence of our home, land and sea.
| Where: | North Riddiford |
| When: | 6th Mar 1:45pm |
TUMA (Tu mau rakau, tu mau taiaha)
An old one and a good one taking Maori Martial Arts to a new level.
| Where: | Donald McLean St |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:30am |
Tyna Keelan
Tyna's music is a mix of the best - old school Soul to hardcore Hip Hop and more.
| Where: | Donald McLean St |
| When: | 6th Mar 2:15pm |
Vaa Nui Dance Group
Sharing experiences from all of the pacific cultures, expect a massive Aotearoa cultural experience.
| Where: | Donald McLean St |
| When: | 6th Mar 10:55am |
Wellington Batucada
Bringing the flamboyant world of samba from Brazil to Wellington.
| Where: | Parade |
| When: | 6th Mar 4:00pm |
Wellington Community Choir
Music from different choral traditions from the world's cultures, including New Zealand Aotearoa.
| Where: | Mid Riddiford |
| When: | 6th Mar 2:25pm |
Wellington New Chinese Friendship Association Dancing Group
A dancing group showcasing Chinese culture.
| Where: | Mid Riddiford |
| When: | 6th Mar 2:15pm |
Wellington Youth Circus
Watch talented young students performing at the Newtown School Circus Stage
| Where: | Newtown School |
| When: | 6th Mar 12:00pm |
