Massey musicians take the stage at Orientation

The impressive line-up of live acts and DJs that the public and new students can experience in the university’s high-tech venue the Great Hall will help kick off the university year with full noise.

Friday night live acts – Wet Denim with Dani Josie, Sofia Machray & Adult Friends 

Wet Denim, a four-piece indie-rock band which formed at Massey, is headlining on Friday 21 February.

Wet Denim blossomed from jamming and recording in a Massey hall of residence and have now supported Drax Project on a national tour. The band released their latest project On The Line, a seven track EP in September 2024 and recorded many elements of the songs in the Massey undergraduate studios. Band member Joe Ledword says being a student at Massey was great for meeting likeminded musicians.

Performing on Friday alongside Wet Denim is Wellington pop-punk-country artist Dani Josie, indie-rock artist Sofia Machray and hard rockers Adult Friends, who all have a Massey connection. Adult Friends say it was at Massey that they began to take their music career seriously.

“The facilities allowed us to rehearse and record regularly, and it’s where we laid down the tracks for our new album, Find Me In The Inferno. Even after graduation, Massey continues to provide amazing opportunities and we always look forward to returning to the most beautiful community in the world,” Adult Friends says.

Saturday night DJ sets – Mikeyy with LiminalWendy1 & Froth

Festival-goers on the second night will be treated to an epic line-up of DJs with Massey links along with well-known Wellington collectives.

Known for his genre-spanning, house-driven sets, DJ Mikeyy is headlining with a visual show fresh from Rhythm and Vines. Recently signed to Los Angeles-based Nightmode Records, Mikeyy has just released emotional, high-energy electronic dance music in his new EP “Breathe”. Mikeyy is excited to bring his music back to where it all began.

“I studied at Massey for the first two years of my university experience, and they were the most formative years. I met a family of musicians in my course that I still call my best friends. The staff and lecturers are some of my favourite people in the industry who I frequently come across at gigs and events,” Mikeyy says.

LiminalWendy1 and collective Froth are also performing on Saturday.

School of Music and Screen Arts Event Coordinator James Manttan says the event is a celebration of Massey’s vibrant community and the future success that awaits our students.

“Massey’s ‘Orientation: Next is Now’ is about being part of something bigger and experiencing the energy of a university that’s shaping the next wave of artists and creatives. It’s a chance for new students to see where they could be in just a few years,” James Manttan says.

Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts Project Manager James Coyle says that the development of the Great Hall in the former Dominion Museum Building has enabled Massey to become a premiere performance venue in Wellington city.

“It’s so cool to have a state-of-the-art venue right on campus where we can welcome new students and present our emerging talent in such a high-tech environment. It helps springboard this amazing talent to the highest levels of Aotearoa’s music industry and beyond,” James Coyle says.

This general admission public event is open to all and tickets are available now.

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Fun, safety and inclusion are priority outcomes for all student events at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University. Read more about our Student Wellbeing and Safety Shared Commitments in the terms and conditions when purchasing a ticket.