A brand-new boutique festival celebrating the best of Aotearoa music, culture and connection is set to make its debut in Rotorua this summer, with an all-star lineup led by L.A.B and featuring some of New Zealand’s most iconic performers.
8TH WONDER – A Festival of Sound & Culture will take place on Saturday 23 January 2027 at Rotorua’s Village Green before expanding across the Tasman with a Brisbane event the following weekend. The one-day festival will showcase reggae, roots, soul, dub, R&B and contemporary Indigenous music, bringing together artists from Aotearoa, Australia and the wider Pacific.
The inaugural lineup features L.A.B, Sir Dave Dobbyn, Te Wehi, Che Fu & The Kratez, Aaradhna, Betty-Anne, Ladi6, Corrella, Son & Water, and American reggae favourites The Elovaters. Together they represent generations of New Zealand music, from Hall of Fame legends to emerging artists shaping the future of the industry.
Festival organisers say Rotorua was chosen because of its unique cultural identity, its vision of becoming a bilingual city and its reputation as one of New Zealand’s leading visitor destinations. Set on the shores of Lake Rotorua beside the popular Eat Street precinct, the Village Green will provide the backdrop for what is planned to become an annual celebration of music and te ao Māori.
The festival has also been designed with whānau in mind. It will be an all-ages event, allowing families to experience live music together, with children under five admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Alongside the performances, festival-goers can enjoy local food vendors, market stalls and cultural experiences highlighting the Bay of Plenty region.
Presented by Loop, which has produced music festivals and live events across Australasia for more than two decades, 8TH WONDER aims to continue its tradition of promoting New Zealand music to the world while creating an intimate, artist-led festival experience at home.
Tickets go on sale at 12pm on Friday, 3 July, with Early Bird, General Admission and limited VIP options available. Afterpay will also be offered, making it easier for fans to secure their place at what promises to be one of the standout events of the 2027 summer festival season.
With its combination of legendary performers, rising stars, te ao Māori, family-friendly entertainment and Rotorua’s unique setting, 8TH WONDER is aiming to establish itself as one of Aotearoa’s premier music festivals and a celebration of the sounds and stories that connect communities across the Pacific.
ABOUT EACH ARTIST:
L.A.B
L.A.B are not simply another act bringing their live show to 8TH WONDER, they are also a foundation partner in the festival. A record breaker across charts and radio, their catalogue features 20 multiple-times Platinum singles, 12 Gold singles and 6 multiple-times Platinum albums. Their legendary live show has seen them sell out shows across the globe, and this will be their first performance in Rotorua in nearly seven years. With new music on the way, this will be a rare chance to catch L.A.B in Aotearoa in the next year.
Te Wehi
Joining L.A.B at 8TH WONDER is a list of contemporaries and influences that showcase a diverse range of music from Aotearoa and beyond. Armed with a number one album and a swag of Aotearoa Music Awards, Te Wehi will arrive in Rotorua with a star continuing to rise. 2025 saw him share the stage with L.A.B and perform his first live shows. 8TH WONDER will see him return to the stage a conquering hero, after selling out his debut tours in both New Zealand and Australia. Winner of the 2026 Aotearoa Music Award for Breakthrough Artist, his breakthrough will continue this summer at 8TH WONDER.
Sir Dave Dobbyn
Few artists have had the impact on the Aotearoa music scene and beyond as the legendary Sir Dave Dobbyn. He is an artist who has soundtracked generations of Kiwi’s lives over his 45 years as a recording artist. A live performance from Sir Dave is always a treat, playing with his longtime band and still selling out shows across the country. With an unrivaled catalogue of classic tunes, Sir Dave will be taking to the stage alongside a range of artists who he has directly influenced.
Che Fu & The Krates
A two-time inductee to the NZ Music Hall Of Fame, Che Fu is another artist whose impact on Aotearoa and Pasifika music cannot be overstated. The legendary combination of Che Fu & The Krates will blow the roof off of 8TH WONDER, just as they did with an incendiary performance at the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards. Celebrating 25 years since the release of his iconic album THE NAVIGATOR, Che Fu’s unique blend of South Pacific-soul will be right at home on the 8TH WONDER stage.
Betty-Anne
One of the defining voices of the Polyfonk sound and the longtime voice of Ardijah, the one and only Betty-Anne will bring tracks from her acclaimed new solo album SLOW BURN to 8TH WONDER, alongside the tracks that made her an artist with more than 40 years experience performing across the globe. Betty-Anne is an artist who truly encaptures the whānau vibe of 8TH WONDER, with her new album featuring her four children. With a legacy that will stand the test of time, Betty-Anne will be performing tracks from her catalogue, plus capturing this exciting new chapter in her career – going solo for the first time.
Ladi6
Five albums deep with a voice that is as relevant and vital as ever, Ladi6 will arrive at 8TH WONDER armed with her acclaimed new album LE VĀ, an album which has seen her pick up four Pacific Music Award nominations, to go alongside three Aotearoa Music Award nominations. An artist in every sense of the word, Ladi6’s most recent tour saw her sell-out shows across Aotearoa, and saw Radio New Zealand accurately labelling her “an actual queen”. High energy and captivating, Ladi6 live will bring the soul to 8TH WONDER.
Aaradhna
Known for her raw, emotive vocals and deeply personal songwriting, Aaradhna has created some of Aotearoa’s most enduring modern soul records. Her unique sound and inimitable style has seen her become a treasure beloved across the globe. Constantly working on new material and performing with her killer live band, 8TH WONDER will be a rare chance this summer to catch another queen in action.
Corrella
One of the most-loved new-favourites in the NZ music scene, Corrella are another act who have gone from strength to strength over the past several years. With a growing catalogue which includes the record-breaking hit ‘Blue Eyed Māori’, the band are currently hard at work recording their third album. After countless tours across NZ and Australia in the last 18 months, 8TH WONDER will see them bring their sun-soaked blend of reggae, soul & funk to Rotorua.
Son & Water
A fast-rising new addition to the NZ music scene, Son & Water are a band who come loaded with talent, and the pedigree to back it up. Featuring co-founder of the legendary Katchafire, Jamey Ferguson, alongside his son Diamond Porima-Ferguson, they have quickly labelled themselves as an act to watch. With just a handful of tracks to their name, they are already a staple of the charts, with them holding five places in the Aotearoa Top 20 Singles Charts, alongside strong radio play. With their blend of soulful roots, smooth melodies and infectious grooves, Son & Water are yet another act rooted in the values of whānau who will take to the 8TH WONDER stage.
The Elovaters
Rounding out the bill is an artist who may be unfamiliar to audiences in this part of the world, but the sound is one that feels just at home in the South Pacific as it does in their home of Boston. The Elovaters have spent the past 10-years honing their blend of sound – a genre-blending mix of soulful-reggae with tinges of alternative rock and pop. Their latest album, SHARK BELLY MOTEL, drew acclaim globally, and saw them sell out the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado two days after its release. Heading to Aotearoa for only the second time, this is a chance to catch an act who have a killer live show and a hunger to bring it to Kiwi audiences.
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