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11:00am
Crash Bandihoot is a colourful 7 piece New Orleans style brass band based in Wellington. They play a version of Jazz that they call 'Hornfunk'. The members of this band enjoy dressing up and climbing on things around the parade, not taking anything too seriously. Crash Bandihoot were working on getting their first EP together in 2022, and have gone to Australia for a tour in that year as well. Nowadays, they are jumping around gigs in different clubs and festivals, within Wellington, and all around New Zealand.

11:45am
Self-taught artist and producer, InDuna, takes flavours straight from his homeland and incorporates them into his Afro-Dance-Pop sound. He expresses himself and his experiences of growing up in a third-world society through music. Born in the slums of South Africa, he had a rough childhood. After moving into an orphanage at the age of eight, he was given the opportunity at 14 to move to NZ. InDuna has utilised his music production as an emotional outlet, and to process his past and present. His music ranges in genres from Hip-Hop, R&B, and Pop - with a focus on his vocals, and the sounds of Africa.

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12:20pm
Mel Stevenson is an award-winning teenage, brass-based funk band from Wellington. Growing a reputation in the Wellington music scene, while also being Cuba Street regulars, they draw in huge crowds by busking on Friday and Saturday nights. With a mix of originals and beautifully crafted covers, they’ve won best band and best instrumentalist prizes at competitions across the country. Their latest album is: I Love Mum, and they played this at Hataitai Bowling Club in December of 2023 to celebrate the release of the album. 

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1:10pm

"The Divorcees" are Wellington's singer-songwriter"super group" comprising Don Mackay,  Beans Maries and Hollie Wright.  All are performers in their own right, but in The Divorcees they pool their repertoires are operate as a trio - Crosby Stills and Nash style.  Two "test drive" gigs in mid 2023 their early gigs at both the Wellington Folk Club (aka Acoustic Routes) and Mainly Acoustic Upper Hutt were smash hits.  The absence of members overseas has meant a bit if a break since, but in 2024 we are taking the world by storm. All three were previously members of Newtown country-folk band "Scattered Wreckage".

2:40pm
Danica Bryant is a pop-folk musician with a twist of rock under her belt. Bryant’s music ranges from juicy celebrity culture and the topic of mental health, to gender and the body. “All hard guitar and pain-filled howl” (The Hook NZ). Her career consists of many milestones, including ‘Smokefree Rockquest’, ‘Play It Strange’, mentorship with Kiwi legend Bic Runga, and support slots for Elton John, Robbie Williams and Foreigner. Her 2020 debut EP ‘Cider’ got her a placement in APRA’s Songhubs course, whilst ‘Heart Eyes’ and ‘Ready to Bite’ saw her introduction to the ‘NZ Hot Singles’ Chart. 

2:45pm
Having a history of being on the keys for many bands, Louis TM now has his own place in the industry. Inspired by modern soul revival, classic soul cannon, R&B, funk and indie sounds, he brings his style of NZ soul to the rest of the world. Based in Wellington, Louis Thompson-Munn is a Piano player and vocalist who performs in a variety of ensembles from Wellington and New Zealand. He performed with Ria Hall, when opening for L.A.B, to a 20,000 person crowd; as well as performing with The California Honeydrops (USA) at Wellington’s Rogue & Vagabond, and appearing at CUBA DUPA, the Wellington Jazz Festival, WOMADelaide in Australia, and many other festivals.

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3:45pm
“If you like Kurt Vile, or Father John Misty, or The Phoenix Foundation, you might quite like this” (Charlotte Ryan, RNZ Music 101). Singer-Songwriter, Miles Calder, Released his self-reflective psychedelic folk-rock (much like The Beatles) debut solo album, ‘Autopilot Life’, in 2021. This album caught the attention of both critics and fans, which led to a nomination for a Aotearoa Music Award (Best Folk Artist 2022). His five-piece band presents a dynamic live show with a psychedelic palette of synths, atmosphere, and searing guitar solos. Miles has worked with Flynn Scott from the Phoenix Foundation as a producer, recording with his band at The Surgery studio with Tui-award winning engineer, Lee Prebble (The Phoenix Foundation, L.A.B, The Black Seeds). ‘Pushing & Pulling’ was released in May 2022, showing off summery guitar pop with catchy melodies, with the topic of new love. The single made the SRN Radio Hit Picks and saw Calder play an 11 day tour all throughout NZ.

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4:40pm
Wellington-based Balkan band, Balkany, brings the sounds of Eastern Europe to you through brass, percussion, strings, and a squeezebox. Performing upbeat gypsy-style music to the venues and festivals of Wellington and New Zealand, they get the audiences moving and thriving to a mix of traditional and original melodies. Many of the band members are also part of Wellington’s 25 piece orchestra, ‘The Balkanistas’ orchestra; Balkany is the 'logistically-friendly' version of the mighty orchestra. Balkany has been seen in the popular ‘Moon Bar’ in Newtown, Wellington, as well as New Zealand’s ‘WOMAD’ in New Plymouth, and many places.

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5.30pm
‘DJ Junk’ aka Island Bay Pharmacy’s, Duncan Sutherland, will be spinning grooves high energy to keep you dancing until the close of the day.

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10:55am

Latitude are a teen band from Wellington and have been hatching some new songs especially for this Day in the Bay unveiling. They play pop/rock and are as excited to play at the festival as we are to have them!

11.20am
Tom Kane is a UK-based singer-songwriter, who recently moved to Wellington. For 10 years, he released and performed music under the name of ‘No man's health’. His music is personal and vulnerable, aiming to be as real and soulful as possible. He believes that everyone is complex, and therefore it takes time to understand a person, which is reflected in his music. In 2017 he released a new album called ‘Ball of String’, which is a collection of songs that represents the transition of him moving to Wellington - leaving friends and family behind to make for uncharted territory. The album was recorded by Scott Pilgrim, who is a member of the Polly Johnson Set, and a Solo performer. Kane’s process in songwriting often begins with the guitar part, and then adds lyrics over it. Tom Kane enjoys playing shows at Moon Bar in Newtown, Wellington; as well as San Fran, Cuba St, Wellington - but he also likes to perform at open mic gigs, and small shows in living rooms.

11:50pm
Rob Whelan is a local Wellington Singer-songwriter, with a sound of acoustic alternative rock-pop; through the use of guitar, vocals, harmonica, bass, and synth. Rob released his heartfelt debut album “New Day Dawning” in April of 2021, consisting of twelve songs, with the aim to give people a sense of hope, joy, and inspiration during the lockdown period when Covid-19 hit the world. Rob Whelan recently played a short solo set at Brooklyn Twilight Festival in November 2023, and before that played at the Palmerston North Light Party, as well as Homegrown, the Winter Vibes festival - and many more.

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12.30pm

Locals Rachel France and Tom Callwood are delighted to perform their repertoire of French Chanson at the Island Bay Festival this year. Having performed around the Wellington region and Aotearoa over the last 20 years, Sans Souci will entertain you with their soaring vocals, playful arrangements and repartee, drawing on the extensive songbook of French Chanteuse, Edith Piaf. Vocals, double bass and accordian.

1.055pm
The Footnotes are Wellington’s first ever 4-piece band with only 2 members featuring the inimitable talents of local legends, Theo Sekeris (guitar and bass, simultaneously) and Vorn Colgan (accordion and drums, simultaneously). Demonstrably the best pound-for-pound party band in the land!

1:40pm
Dirty Spoons is a two person band from Wellington that showcases country, pop, and indie rock - discussing topics such as death, fishing, internet dating, lost dogs, goblins in trees, etc. Dirty Spoons are a fun little duo who have recently made a comeback to music after being on a bit of a hiatus. This band has done many gigs since then, such as appearing at the Hastings Fringe festival, ‘Fringe in the ‘Stings’, at Common Room Garden Bar. Recently they had a gig at Moon Bar in Newtown, Wellington, with Topdresser. Before that, they were seen at the Brooklyn festival, Poquito Cafe and Bar, and many more gigs.

2:45pm
Agatha Pantha are a two piece band for this festival, that plays original songs that are acute observations of life and relationships.

3.30pm
JQIME is an independent music and art creator who is a local from Wellington High School. JQIME is gathering a reputation for creative and passionate song writing, and you should catch her set!.

4.10pm
Originally from Norway and the tiniest lighthouse-island, Hanne Jøstensen feels right at home in Island Bay with its rough coastline, salty air and fishing boats. With songs ranging from upbeat acoustic pop to soulful ballads, Hanne sings heartfelt performances conjuring the beauty of the south coast where she lives.

5:30pm

The Side Characters are a Wellington five-piece youth band. They regularly busk in Cuba Mall to delighted audiences. They play an assortment of rock covers and jazz standards, and in 2023 started developing their own music, with the hope of recording songs in 2024.

They are a joy to watch, inspiring many young (and old) musicians, and would love for you to join them and show your support at the Island Bay Festival.

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10.45am - 6pm
Sounds Almighty is a reggae sound system consisting of five Djs and other guests/lovers of Jamaican music. The crew is known for their parties at Newtown Festival, the Roots and Culture show Sundays on Radio Active and their dances at the Island Bay football club. Experience reggae tunes the way they were supposed to be played, on a 4000 Watt bass heavy, carnival style speaker set!

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