HOCKEY DAD

What began as something to do while there was no surf has become so much more for Hockey Dad. In 2013 the two, who have been friends since early childhood started jamming in their parent’s garage because there were no waves. With Zach on guitar/ vocals and Billy behind the drum kit the two quickly progressed to writing their own songs and had a set together to start playing some shows locally across Wollongong. Ten years on and Hockey Dad now have an EP, three full length albums and a live record under their belt and have headlined tours across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Canada, the USA and UK as well as played main stage sets at some of the worlds biggest festivals.

With a fourth album now recorded, the band have been getting back to the stage over recent months with tours around the world ahead of the first taste of the new album due in the back half of 2023.

SAMMY VIRJI

The man of the moment, Sammy Virji has firmly imprinted his distinctive sound into the UK Bass and Garage scenes, particularly over the past year. Landing regular sets events across the UK including Printworks, London - Sammy is set to keep on rising, so grab your chance to see him at Tea Party ’23!

SUMMER THIEVES

Known for their ability to start the party with their indie-pop inspired tunes, Summer Thieves have gone from playing Dunedin house parties to NZ’s biggest stages.

Cutting their teeth as a “Scarfie” covers band in the deep-south, Summer Thieves quickly began performing originals as their fanbase expanded. After releasing a run of singles, they released their debut album, Warped, a 12-track journey laced with catchy hooks & hypnotic rhythms produced by Tiki Taane.

Their second album, Paradise Down The Road, was released November 2021. Featuring the single ‘Saturday Night’, the album showcased all aspects of their sound, bringing together elements of pop, rock, blues, indie & even tinges of hip-hop & gospel. The following summer saw them perform a number of sold-out headline shows & festival performances, plus their first trip to Australia, including headline shows in Brisbane, Melbourne & Byron Bay, plus support slots for L.A.B.

The band instantly continued their work in the studio after the release of Paradise Down The Road. The first taste of new material came in the form of the two-track single ‘Tongue & Cheek / Pieces’, and was quickly followed up with ‘Funny How The Mind Works’, a track which maintains the playful & cheeky sound that has seen them gain fans across Australasia, while showing a maturation in their songwriting.

Cigarettes In Space is their third album, and is an eclectic blend of infectious melodies and genre-bending sounds. Featuring 13 tracks, the album weaves together vibrant indie rock with elements of pop, and heartfelt lyricism. Produced & recorded largely by the band themselves, the album shows the band stepping up in all aspects of their creation process.

DICE

DICE are a alt-rock four piece hailing from Perth, WA. With a sound that has been likened to the first day of summer, the band have spent the past 12 months bringing their good vibes to sold out shows across WA and are quickly becoming one of the Australia’s most exciting up and coming groups.

DICE’s have received accolades from fans and industry alike, with Triple J filing the track next to their favourites from The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys. Last year saw the band release their debut EP followed by a string of singles preparing the people of Australia and beyond with the perfect soundtrack to the 2023.

Their highly anticipated sophomore EP ‘Time Will Tell’ is due for release in May 2023 accompanied by a sold out Australia tour including the renowned Corner Hotel in Melbourne. The first single ‘Eyes Ahead’ received rave reviews and placed DICE on Triple J’s ‘Ones to Watch’ for 2023.

YOLANDA BE COOL

Let's not beat around the bush here, Yolanda Be Cool is a household name. You may not know what they look like (hot dudes alert), and you may not even know their names, but you will most certainly know their music. In fact, your grandma probably does too.

They didn't mean to write a worldwide number one hit in 2010 when they produced "We No Speak Americano" with their brother DCUP… they just wanted to make a fun party track that their DJ peers would play. But the song ultimately fast tracked a road to the top for Yolanda Be Cool, a road the pair was uncomfortable with at times, but look at where it’s taken them.

The guys feel equally at home on the main stage at festivals, as they do in the small sweaty basements of clubs. They pride themselves on their ability to walk the line between cool and crossover, underground and overground, not too serious but never silly. “Fun with thought” is how they like to think of their sound, leaning on their vast sample knowledge and knack for twisting the unusual out of the unexpected into something special for all to enjoy.

ZERO

British DJ and producer, ZERO, is rapidly rising in the electronic music industry on a fastpaced trajectory into the global bass music scene. His unique and distinguishable auditory watermark is woven seamlessly between an array of UK bass, bass house, and drum & bass productions. Forging the ability to wield a variety of bass genres, ZERO has paved the way for his most recent growth; a testament of his relentless dedication to the craft. – “Prepare yourself to be bludgeoned by a thick wall of wavetable bass and sub flexing kicks.

AUNTY EL

AUNTY EL (Ellie Jeurissen) is becoming a familiar face within the NZ dance music community. She found her love for DJing in the local bars and nightclubs of Pōneke before branching out into festivals and events across Aotearoa. AUNTY EL runs 1 on 1 DJ coaching for those wishing to learn within her local community whilst also working for the DJ software company Serato. Her DJ sets consist of high energy dance tracks within the 110-140bpm umbrella. A trusted conductor of the dancefloor, one not to be missed.

From the bars and nightclubs of Poneke’s, courtenay place to festivals across Aotearoa, AUNTY EL brings a variety of dance music to her local communities.

BECCIE B

Beccie B is a self-confessed lover of all things four/four and beyond.

Party curator, promoter and DJ, Beccie B has taken Aotearoa by storm. Whether it be with her own high-energy, lovingly curated DJ sets, or in her role as a promoter with Sugar and Spice, her collective that pushes the sound of local and international female, femme and non-binary musical artists within the music industry.

No two sets from Beccie are ever the same. With her on stage presence and wide array of tune selection she moves the crowds at every party, keeping her audience on their toes. With support credits to her name from Mall Grab, Skin On Skin, Chaos in the CBD to Frank Booker and CC:Disco!, her catalog runs deep.

The Summer of 2022/23 saw Becca take things to a new level, playing multiple festival shows throughout Aotearoa including Hidden Lakes, Rhythm & Vines, the Golden Run, as well as promoting her own Sugar & Spice stage at Rhythm & Alps. Outside of festivals, she also supported Fatboy Slim on multiple dates, and supported Flume at their sold-out Spark Arena show.

BOASTEEZE

Boasteeze is addicted to the bass. Raised here in Christchurch, she is definitely one to watch.

She began mixing in November 2021 whilst hanging out with friends & could not resist the urge to dive in head first into the world of djing. Supporting acts such as Skantia, Jappa, Amplify, Disrupta and T95.

Boasteeze has always had an interest in being a DJ but had only recently taken the leap thanks to being surrounded by like minded & supportive friends Boasteeze’s unique sound comes from a mixture of Garage, 140 & various styles of deep dark drum & bass, focusing on crazy blends inspired by artists such as Alix Perez, Drone, Interplanetary criminal, Chase & Status & Waeys.

Boasteeze aims to inspire & uplift fellow females into taking up opportunities to learn, to bring something unique to the scene & to remind others that you can do anything you set your mind to!

CAITLIN

Caitlin has opened for New Zealand music industry legends such as Jon Toogood (Shihad, The Adults), Jordan Luck (The Dance Exponents), Hollie Smith, and Jamie McDell. She has built a strong community of fans in NZ with many in Christchurch, attributing to the success of her show at Space Academy in August 2022. This year she opened for Wax Mustang at Mono - one of Christchurch’s largest live music events for students in Otāutahi (Christchurch) - earlier this year. She also played a successful co-headlining show in at Darkroom (Christchurch) which was highly regarded by the venue and concert-goers.

CONVEX COLLECT

Freshly formed and from either side of the cook straight, MONT, LUCA, FLEET & MDMJ combine to form the multi genre collective Convex Collect. House, Techno or Garage, the boys throw down whatever Otautahi needs moving from the flats to the main stage.

DJ SPINAL

It wouldn’t be Tea Party without the man, the myth, the legend - DJ SPINAL. He has been a staple over the past few years, throwing down bangers old and new to keep the students happy. Make sure you get your tickets to see this man in the flesh!

NORTY CLUB COLLECTIVE

Based in Ōtepoti, Nörty Club is an electronic music collective and events brand aiming to diversify the scene in Aotearoa.

Under the collective, composed of three DJs: Evo, CANDI and Jousey, they never fail to create a greatly mixed style of selections.

From curating their own events to playing festivals & supporting industry greats such as Hospitality DnB, Paige Julia & Mardi Gras After Party - the Nörty crew leave every stage shaking, with no genre left unturned. Bring your best-fitted dancing shoes and biggest smiles to their dance floors - you will leave feeling happier than ever imagined.

SLICE

Alice, also known as Slice (as per her autocorrect name!) is an aspiring house DJ based in Ōtautahi/Christchurch and in her first year of uni studying a Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability.

Slice has many different hobbies which include Djing and singing as she has always been involved with music. Recently, however, Slice has learnt there are lots of different ways for music to be performed and she is excited to explore her love for music on a higher level!

TUSEKAH

Tusekah is a South-African born singer/songwriter and University of Canterbury Student. She releases music with the sounds of RnB/Neo-Soul. Tusekah started her career in music in 2021 by doing gigs in Dunedin and ended the year off with the release of her first single, 'Childhood'.

Friends'. Since then, Tusekah has performed all over New Zealand delivering what have been described as spine-tingling performances. As a live act, Tusekah's highlights so far have been opening for Niko Walters and Deva Mahal in Christchurch. In addition, performing a full-capacity headline show in Wellington, which was opened by Wellington musician MĀ.

Tusekah's music has received support from radio stations BBC Radio 1 in the UK and Triple J in Australia. Tusekah's recent release 'I ain't waiting around' was described by Triple J's Tyrone Pynor as being "joyous and anthemic". The song was described also as having "commanding soul melodies and transparent songwriting" by Sniffers magazine's Laura McInnes and has been praised as being "well executed" by Escopia magazine in South Africa. Tusekah's Tea Party set will include a performance of her next single "I've changed" which features infectious lyrics and instrumentation.