GREAT SOUNDS GREAT 2025 First Lineup Announced - The Bats, The Phoenix Foundation, JessB, Anthonie Tonnon, Reb Fountain, Jen Cloher + More

Pōneke's Eyegum Music Collective have been busy cooking up a humungous all-star lineup for GREAT SOUNDS GREAT 2025 festival, a multi-venue extravaganza lighting up nine inner city venues (and ten stages) on 6th September. The guest list for this year's edition includes beloved Flying Nun favourites The Bats (who have maintained the same lineup unchanged for over four decades) up from Ōtautahi and the capital's The Phoenix Foundation (who have just released a 20th anniversary edition of Pegasus on vinyl LP), alongside such award-winning talents as JessB, Anthonie Tonnon, Reb Fountain, Jim Nothing, Jazmine Mary and Milk! Records co-founder Jen Cloher.

Today's first lineup runs deep, with special guests from out of town converging on the capital including Baby Zionov, Bathysphere, Cindy, JHL, LEAO, Louisa Nicklin and Space Bats Attack!, plus even more acts to be revealed in the coming weeks. Best get in quick while early birds are still available — revisit our 2024 interview with Eyegum explaining the kaupapa of GREAT SOUNDS GREAT HERE (and their ongoing projects including the Scenic Tours and free Eyegum Wednesdays) and read the official lowdown on this year's fest below...

"Eyegum has worked hard to curate a programme that is sure to offer something for everyone, from first time gig-goers to seasoned live music obsessives. The eclectic lineup includes perennial indie maestros The Bats, capital hometown heroes The Phoenix Foundation, hip hop superstar JessB, troubadour-turned-party starter Anthonie Tonnon, captivating genre-bender Reb Fountain, the incredible local-by-way-of-Naarm Jen Cloher, plus a selection of up-and-coming artists handpicked from Eyegum's Free Wednesday weekly showcase series, and everything in between. There will also be plenty more to be announced soon including more music, poetry, live-scored cinema, and a travelling DJ stage curated by Tonic Collective.

Excitingly for 2025, we will be adding three new venues: St Peter's on Willis, Flying Nun Records and 13 Garrett Street. This means more artists and music to experience in a variety of special and unique spaces throughout the night.

Get in quick to grab a discounted early bird ticket to Pōneke's biggest inner-city bash. Ticket holders will receive a wristband that will give them access to each of the participating venues throughout the event. Information on how to pick up wristbands will be provided to ticket holders closer to the time."

GREAT SOUNDS GREAT 2025
Saturday 6th September - San Fran, Meow, Valhalla, Rogue & Vagabond, Bedlam & Squalor, Hotel Bristol (2 stages), St Peter's on Willis, Flying Nun Records and 13 Garrett St, Wellington (4pm start)

Featuring... Anthonie Tonnon, Baby Zionov, Bad Taste, BADTAB, Bathysphere, The Bats, Cindy, Eveline Breaker, Goya, Half/Angel, Iris Little, Jazmine Mary, Jen Cloher, JessB, JHL, Jim Nothing, LEAO, Louisa Nicklin, The Phoenix Foundation, Reb Fountain, Sig Wilder & Friends, Space Bats Attack!, Star Time + more artists to be announced

Limited early bird tickets are on sale now at eyegum.co.nz

Hit play on 'Loline' by The Bats, their first official single in five years...

Sing along with 'Damn The River' from The Phoenix Foundation's 2005 album Pegasus...

Hit play on 'Power' featuring Sister Nancy and Sampa The Great, from JessB's 2024 debut album Feels Like Home...

Experience a tantalising highlights reel capturing the sights and sounds of GREAT SOUNDS GREAT 2024...

Press release:

Eyegum Music Collective presents GREAT SOUNDS GREAT, a multi-venue music and arts festival taking over Pōneke's Cuba Street precinct for one night only on Saturday 6 September 2025. Showcasing 40 of Aotearoa's best artists across 10 neighbouring venues, this is one big party you shouldn't miss.