Cross St Music Festival is back this Saturday.
The annual block party heads to the titular Tāmaki Makaurau street on Saturday, March 9th 2024. A wealth of established artists and up-and-comers have been announced for this year’s edition, led by art-pop star Princess Chelsea (read her recent Rolling Stone AU/NZ interview here).
She’s joined on the bill by dream-fuzz band Mirror Ritual, who impressed at The Others Way last year, Balu Brigada, who released their genre-hopping EP, Find a Way, last July, local electronic producer deepSTATE, and more.
Ahead of the 2024 edition, here are five artists we’re eagerly anticipating seeing on the night.
Tickets to the festival are available via the official website.
Mirror Ritual
Mirror Ritual, previously known as Transistor, has been garnering attention with their dreamy fuzz-rock sound. Their music, which captivated audiences at The Others Way 2022, unfolds with a hypnotic allure, drawing listeners into a meditative state. Led by Lochie Noble, the band’s atmospheric compositions bear echoes of John Cale and Stereolab, yet they’ve managed to carve out a unique sound of their own. Their latest track, “Fear In All”, is a shining example—a blend of psych-pop goodness featuring groovy basslines, vibrant guitars, pulsating drums, and lush orchestration.
Princess Chelsea
Princess Chelsea is set to headline at the upcoming festival, flaunting her shimmering pop prowess. Fresh off winning the prestigious Taite Music Prize for her latest album, Everything Is Going to Be Alright, last year, the art-pop sensation will take the stage for a full-length set. Following a whirlwind North America tour and a memorable performance at the Auckland Town Hall for Save the B, Princess Chelsea and Friends are ready to deliver an eagerly awaited set at the Cross Street Music Festival. Princess Chelsea was also nominated for Best Record and Best Single at the 2023 Panhead Rolling Stone Aotearoa Awards, further solidifying her status as a favourite within the industry.
Balu Brigada
Kiwi alt-pop duo Balu Brigada will undoubtedly bring the boogie to Cross Street. Now based in New York City, the band of brothers are returning home for the festival slot, with a shiny new EP under their belts for homegrown crowds. The multi-instrumentalists – Henry and Pierre Beasley – released their genre-hopping six-track collection EP, Find a Way, last July, which includes viral sensation “Designer”, the title track, and the moody “OH! Not Again”. Fans can expect a mix of their classic hits and maybe even some new music from this talented duo.
Te KuraHuia
Pasifika-Māori rapper and multidisciplinary artist Te KuraHuia brings fresh and fiery flows. With high-energy performances at Welcome to Nowhere and Newtown Festival, Te KuraHuia is steadily building her stage presence nationwide. She was nominated for Best Wahine Māori Artist at The Waiata Māori Music Awards last year. For a preview, check out the the super fun “PRETTY GAL CLUB” from her latest EP, ASTRO-TĪPUNA.
deepState
Tāmaki Makaurau’s own electronica artist, deepState, will be a must-see on the decks at Cross Street. Under the alias deepState, Jessica Morgan ventures into electronic experimentation, exploring genres from house to downtempo, garage, breakbeat, and everything in between. Her superb second album, Dreams, was released in September.
