Auckland's newest boutique indie music festival
The inaugural Last Stand Music Festival is set for Sunday 2nd April. A community event in the form of a boutique indie style festival featuring an eclectic mix of emerging local, National and established acts. The idea being that even if you haven't heard of any or all of the acts you should find something that you like.
The name was inspired by the 1930's remake of Rewi's Last Stand filmed in Waima, Titirangi and the fact that it will be one of the last festivals of the season. The idea was spawned during Covid and has had a great community response. Hopefully something to bring the community together after a tough few years. So, bring a picnic and come and enjoy a fun day of music.
Tickets are on a koha basis to make it as accessible as possible to everyone.
A Whanau friendly event.
Get in quick as tickets are highly restricted.
All profits go to the Titirangi Protection Group to protect our native forest.
Lawrence Arabia (Solo)
Lawrence Arabia is the pseudonym of Christchurch, New Zealand-born singer-songwriter James Milne. Since the
release of his first album in 2006, he has become one of the pre-eminent figures of New Zealand’s musical
landscape, releasing five critically acclaimed and garlanded solo albums alongside a variety of diverse collaborative work.
At the beginning of 2018, Lawrence Arabia ran a Kickstarter campaign for “Lawrence Arabia’s 2018 Singles Club,”
proposing a subscription service wherein he would write, record and release a digital single a month throughout the year. The twelve eventual singles featured collaborations with Hollie Fullbrook (Tiny Ruins), Heather Mansfield (The Brunettes), Liam Finn, Ryan McPhun (The Ruby Suns) and Van Dyke Parks. In March 2019, the singles were
compiled as an album entitled “Lawrence Arabia’s Singles Club,” a diverse work which runs through psychedelia,
chamber-pop, garage rock and 70s AM soft rock. The album acts as a summation of all the different strains and
strengths of Lawrence Arabia’s work up until this point, and a reminder of the vitality of this singular artist.
Arjuna Oakes
Arjuna Oakes is an accomplished singer/songwriter, pianist, composer and producer, based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa (Wellington, New Zealand). Following the release of his debut EP The Watcher - EP in 2019, Arjuna has released another five projects all to widespread acclaim, 2020’s Recovery, Pt. 1, 2021’s First Nights, 2022's Recovery, Pt. 2, Final Days and Future Lullaby. Both First Nights and Final Days are a collaboration with longtime friend and co-producer Serebii, released by LA-based record label Innovative Leisure (BADBADNOTGOOD, Allah-Las). First Nights debuted at #5 on KCRW's top 30 Albums chart and has had extensive play on BBC6 and BBC1xtra.
Arjuna's latest EP Future Lullaby was created with mentor and renowned Greek/Kiwi composer John Psathas. The pair are set to perform pieces from the EP with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in June this year. Aside from releasing recorded projects, Arjuna has also scored a Theatre show, composed for a string quintet and performed extensively around the New Zealand touring and festival circuit. Arjuna has opened for some incredible artists including Jordan Rakei, Moonchild and Allen Stone. Arjuna is currently working on his debut album.
Carnivorous Plant Society
Allow New Zealand’s favourite psychedelic jazz band to take you on a journey from the streets of Mexico City to the steppes of Asia then straight to the depths of hell!
The talented quintet of five of New Zealand's most accomplished musicians perform their original compositions that will ignite the imaginations of both children and adults alike.
Stories of dystopian futures, alien empires and trans-dimensional travel will unfold and your mind is guaranteed to melt.
Brother Sister
Electro-pop whiz kids Brother Sister, channel their passion for the sound and style of throwback 80s culture into their uplifting blend of electro-driven synth pop.
A band of siblings, Brother Sister are an energetic trio that have shared a womb and now share the stage - featuring Dave Thomson (synth & lead vocals), Taz Thomson (bass and lead vocals) and Ben Thomson (drums).
Their sound unapologetically references the rich, nostalgic sounds of 80s cartoons and cinema, but with plenty of surprising flourishes to keep it fresh. Pulsing keyboards, programmed drums, driving bass and duelling melodic hooks are expertly blended to take listeners back to the future. Their live performances are fun, punchy and irresistibly danceable.
Their latest single Space is a synth driven anthem giving voice to all the introverts who might be struggling in this noisy world - with the refrain “I need some space… can I get some?” With a clear nod to 80s and 90s production, the track features vocoders, driving synth bass, sliding synth leads and slamming 80s drum samples. It’s a track that would easily find it’s home on a Stranger Things soundtrack.
Alba Rose (Solo)
Wellington-based artist Alba Rose is known for her soul-infused vocals and her steller live performance. Together with her band she delivers shows that are atmospheric, intoxicating and playful. Since her debut in 2021, over the past few months Rose has played a number of music festivals and toured across New Zealand headlining sold-out shows with her debut EP ‘Silhouette’. She has recently released her single ‘Mountains’ inspired by her hometown in the Southern Alps, combining soul, indie and electronic influences. Stripping back her live performance, Rose performs blissful melodies original lyricism, sharing stories of love, life and all that makes us human.
