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Ringlets band photo

Ringlets

Auckland post-punk quartet formed in 2021, signed to Flying Nun Records and Leather Jacket Records. Known for their energetic, intelligent sound and acclaimed debut and sophomore albums.

RDU 98.5FM

RDU 98.5FM is Christchurch’s independent alternative radio station, founded on 23 February 1976 as Radio U under the University of Canterbury Students’ Association. It became the first FM station in Christchurch in 1986 as UFM, and rebranded as RDU 98.5FM in 2002. Controversially privatised in 2006 when sold to James Meharry and Karyn South for $2, the station survived the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes by broadcasting from a converted horse truck, and moved to its permanent home in the Boxed Quarter in 2015. In 2026 RDU marks its 50th anniversary as a cornerstone of Christchurch’s independent music culture.

Vera Ellen artist photo

Vera Ellen

Wellington indie rock singer-songwriter on Flying Nun Records. Winner of the 2024 Taite Music Prize for Ideal Home Noise. Albums include It’s Your Birthday (2021), Ideal Home Noise (2023), and Heaven Knows What Time (2026).

Psych Tigers

Christchurch bedroom pop project of teenage musician Sam Perry, who went on to front Zen Mantra and join Yumi Zouma before forming DOG Power with Henry Nicol.

Reb Fountain

Reb Fountain is an American-born New Zealand singer-songwriter raised in Christchurch, blending folk, country and pop-rock across a career that spans three decades, most notably winning the 2021 Taite Music Prize with her Flying Nun Records debut Reb Fountain.

Volcano Cafe and Lava Bar

Cafe and bar at 42 London Street in Lyttelton, run by Lois Ogilvie and Pete Llewellyn Evans from 1988 until the 2011 earthquakes. A creative hub for Lyttelton’s arts community — painter Bill Hammond designed the iconic 1994 LAVA poster for the venue.

George FM logo

George FM

George FM is a New Zealand dance and electronic music radio station founded in 1998 by brothers Thane and Richard Kirby from a spare bedroom in Grey Lynn, Auckland. Starting as a volunteer-run low-power FM station, it went city-wide in 2001 through a partnership with the Manukau Urban Māori Authority, became commercial in 2003, and was acquired by MediaWorks in 2009. Now broadcasting nationally — including on 95.3FM in Christchurch — George FM is New Zealand’s leading dance radio brand, drawing around 202,000 weekly listeners with a presenter-led format that gives DJs full control over their music selection.

Pearly

Pearly are a Dunedin (Ōtepoti) indie rock band who released their debut vinyl EP Pearly* EP in 2024 through trace/untrace, followed by their album Not So Sweet in 2025.

MAINZ Christchurch students working on Avid S6 mixing console in the immersive audio studio

MAINZ

The Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand — MAINZ — operated in Christchurch from 2002, training audio engineers, live sound technicians and electronic music producers at its High Street campus. Alumni include Joel Little, The Naked and Famous and Gin Wigmore. Its programmes transferred to Ara Institute of Canterbury on 1 January 2026.

C93FM

C93FM was a Christchurch independent FM radio station that broadcast on 92.9MHz from 1986 to 2001. Founded as a classic rock station, it passed through several formats — 93FM Gold, Classic Hits, Adult Contemporary — before closing in April 2001. Its most significant contribution to New Zealand music was the 1988 Rockquest, a local band competition conceived by station employee Ron Kjestrup that grew, under new organizers, into the national Smokefreerockquest.

Heka

Heka is a New Zealand duo comprising Stephen Kilroy and Heath Te Au, who released their debut album Last Spiritual Gas Station Before The End Of Civilisation on Arclife Records in 2004.