Spotlight: FORAGE FEST at Tāmaki Makaurau's Basement Theatre ft. Nauti, Pocket Money, Club Ruby, Dollhouse + More

Now's the time to dig your fingers deep into our shared soil of multi-cultural arts, to unearth new local treasures to foster and cherish. No need to fossick about aimlessly though, as Tāmaki Makaurau's inaugural FORAGE FEST has you sorted with a carefully curated, sonically diverse lineup to experience and explore over three evenings at Basement Theatre, and best of all it's entirely FREE to attend by registering in advance HERE — capacity is limited so do not dawdle.

An intimate-scale extravaganza co-produced by Alex de Vries (ADV), FORAGE FEST is envisaged as "a way of recognising the role of young, new and emerging artists in rejuvenating the city in the same way seedlings emerge from the forest floor... an opportunity for audiences to build mycelial connections and discover something new, while providing a sustainable and rewarding experience for artists".

Happening from 21st to 23rd November, each evening of FORAGE FEST is structured around a distinct theme — FRESH FINDS ("A rowdy celebration, a clamour, a crash") on the Thursday, EGO TRIP ("There’s no shame in having a big ego) on Friday, and concluding with a big HYPHAE HOUSE ("Aren’t we all just tiny spores, dancing in the light, yearning to be stars in the heaven") bash on the Saturday. The lineup showcases a full spectrum of recently established talents and budding stars of tomorrow, scope out the programme below and head along to support this rejuvenating inner city arts initiative...

"This is an opportunity to highlight the new generation of hustlers and pioneers who are proving that we are resilient in the face of change. When the aesthetic of the city becomes road cones and chain link fences, we have to forage for new experiences to connect with one another and find meaning in the sounds of the underground." - Alex de Vries (ADV)

"(FORAGE FEST) uplifts a lot of different types of emerging artists, all at different stages. I really think it's important to support artists that are finding their footing in different ways, in a diverse way – it’s quite a diverse lineup as well." - Jade 'President Ruby' Lewis (Club Ruby)

FORAGE FEST 2024
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Avenue, Auckland

Thursday 21st November - FRESH FINDS (doors 7.30pm, show starts 8pm)
A rowdy celebration, a clamour, a crash
Featuring... Pocket Money, Club Ruby, Thinking Foxes, Napoleon Baby

Friday 22nd November - EGO TRIP (doors 7.30pm, show starts 8pm)
There’s no shame in having a big ego
Featuring... Nauti, ADV, Kahu, Spdrtwnbby, Tyrun

Saturday 23rd November - HYPHAE HOUSE (9pm till late)
Aren’t we all just tiny spores, dancing in the light, yearning to be stars in the heaven
Featuring... Dollhouse ft. Blush.mp3, Vercetti, Left Hand Loz

FREE but capacity is limited, register in advance HERE

Watch the video for Pocket Money's new single 'Go Outside'...

Hit play on Nauti's 2024 smash hit title track to his new collection CRASH DUMMY MUZIK, featuring Duke Deuce...

Check out Club Ruby's house party clip for 'Wearing Me Out'...

Shake your stuff to DOLLHOUSE RADIO on George FM, featuring the full team of Blush.mp3, Vercetti and Left Hand Loz...

Press release:

FORAGE FEST is bringing music back to Basement, celebrating the young, new and emerging artists of Tāmaki Makaurau’s underground scene.

FORAGE FEST is a brand new, small-scale music festival bringing the growing voice of Tāmaki’s underground to the heart of the city! FORAGE FEST is crafted and curated by musicians to be an immersive, interactive and inclusive experience, showing the full breadth of the local music scene.

Co-produced by local musician, Alex de Vries (ADV), FORAGE FEST was dreamed up in the face of impending construction impacting the arts precinct, and has become a way of recognising the role of young, new and emerging artists in rejuvenating the city in the same way seedlings emerge from the forest floor. “This is an opportunity to highlight the new generation of hustlers and pioneers who are proving that we are resilient in the face of change. When the aesthetic of the city becomes road cones and chain link fences, we have to forage for new experiences to connect with one another and find meaning in the sounds of the underground.”

FORAGE FEST is an opportunity for audiences to build mycelial connections and discover something new, while providing a sustainable and rewarding experience for artists. Best of all, the entire festival is completely FREE to attend, but registrations are required due to limited capacity.

Jade “President Ruby” Lewis from local punk darlings, Club Ruby, highlights that FORAGE FEST “uplifts a lot of different types of emerging artists, all at different stages. I really think it's important to support artists that are finding their footing in different ways, in a diverse way – it’s quite a diverse lineup as well.” Spanning various genres and cultural backgrounds, FORAGE FEST looks, feels and sounds like the Auckland that we all know and love.

With such a slick lineup, FORAGE FEST simply can’t be missed!