8TH WONDER Unveils Lineup For Inaugural Rotorua Festival
by 8TH WONDER · SCOOP8TH WONDER - a new boutique festival of Sound & Culture - is set to make its debut in Rotorua this January, with the lineup confirmed for the debut instalment.
Launching in Rotorua and Brisbane, 8TH WONDER is a new one-day festival bringing together leading artists from across Aotearoa, Australia and the wider Pacific. Built around reggae, roots, soul, dub, R&B, and contemporary Indigenous sounds, 8TH WONDER is designed as a celebration of music, culture, place and connection.
8TH WONDER – A Festival of Sound & Culture
Saturday January 23, 2027 - Village Green, Rotorua
Saturday January 30, 2027 - Eatons Hill Outdoors, Brisbane
Tickets on sale 12pm, Friday July 3
8thwonder.live
8TH WONDER will take place at the Village Green in Rotorua, on the shores of Lake Rotorua. Located at the feet of Eat Street in the centre of Rotorua, 8TH WONDER will showcase the incredible destination alongside some of the very best music from Aotearoa and beyond. 8TH WONDER Brisbane takes place at the newly expanded Eatons Hill Outdoor Precinct, a spectacular new festival destination set amongst towering trees on the former Eatons Hill Golf Course, just north of Brisbane. Spanning 14 hectares, it provides the perfect backdrop for world-class music in one of Queensland's most exciting entertainment venues.
Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
The all-ages event (Under 18’s to be accompanied by parent / legal guardian) will provide an opportunity for everyone to enjoy the power of live music, and embrace the elements of our culture that make Rotorua truly one-of-a-kind. Under 5s free with a paying adult.
With more hotel nights than any regional destination in New Zealand and a vision of becoming an entirely bilingual city, Rotorua is the perfect home for 8TH WONDER. The festival aims to celebrate te ao Māori, showcase the region's unique identity and create a welcoming experience for everyone.
Led by L.A.B, the 8TH WONDER lineup celebrates the best of New Zealand music across generations. From legendary artists who have shaped the nation's sound to today's biggest names and tomorrow's rising stars, the festival brings together an extraordinary collection of talent. With one Sir and two Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit among the artists, 8TH WONDER features a collection of artists who have dedicated their lives to sharing New Zealand music around the globe.
Tickets on sale at 12pm, Friday July 3
8thwonder.live
All ages (Under 18’s to be accompanied by parent or legal guardian).
Ticket prices:
GA Early Bird - $127.50
GA First Release - $147.50
Limited VIP - $287.50
Under 5 years free
After Pay available
8TH WONDER features an eclectic mix of artists including:
L.A.B
Te Wehi
Sir Dave Dobbyn
A to Z:
Aaradhna
Betty-Anne (voice of Ardijah)
Che Fu & The Kratez
Corrella
The Elovaters (USA)
Ladi6
Son & Water
Supported by RotoruaNZ, 8TH WONDER comes from Loop, the team behind music, culture, festivals and live shows across Australasia for more than 20 years. 8TH WONDER is being created with the goal of continuing on the ethos started with the first Loop compilations from the early 2000’s - taking the best music from Aotearoa to the world. The lineup combines a range of acts that not only honours the legacy of Kiwi music, featuring multiple-time Hall of Famers, but also captures the current heavy-hitters and the future wave.
8TH WONDER will expand the festival experience with a range of stalls and instalments on the boardwalk alongside Lake Rotorua. The team at Little Big Events and Lucky Star will bring a range of food vendors and stall holders from across the Bay Of Plenty to the event.
“We’re really excited to be a part of 8TH WONDER. It’s been over 10 years since L.A.B played our first festival, and in that time we’ve been lucky enough to play at festivals across the world. We think this lineup and what 8TH WONDER is going to offer is going to be a really special day out. There’s not many festivals where you can bring your kids along, and whānau is a really key part of L.A.B, so for this to be all ages means it’s going to be magic.” - Joel Shadbolt, L.A.B.
"8TH WONDER has been built as an artist-led festival from day one. We wanted to create the kind of event we'd love to go to ourselves – incredible music, room to breathe, artists you can actually get close to, and a day that feels welcoming for everyone. It's boutique by design, and we think that will make it something really special." - Michael Tucker, Loop.
"Loop’s 8TH WONDER is a welcome addition to Rotorua's events calendar. Rotorua has a proud history of hosting great live music, and an outdoor festival of this calibre is a natural fit for our destination. The event will bring visitors into the region, generating economic benefits for local businesses while showcasing Rotorua to new audiences and reinforcing our reputation as a leading destination for world-class experiences." - Andrew Wilson, CEO RotoruaNZ.
The annual festival will bring an unforgettable day of Sound & Culture to the Lakes District. Be there for history as 8TH WONDER announces itself as a must-see addition to the summer calendar.
Presented by Loop, thanks to Kirin Hyoketsu, Go Media, RotoruaNZ and Mai FM.
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.
Advertisement - scroll to continue reading