Heads in the Cloud

Heads in the cloud

Saturday July 20th

5pm – 1am

Boxed Quarter – 270 St Asaph St

Christchurch Central

Ōtautahi

Heads in the Cloud – Featuring an all-star Deejay lineup – including returning veterans:

K8 (AUS), STEALTH (AUS), CODA (WLG), OB1 (AKL), CRYBABY (ALK), JEN KYLE (WLG), RANGE (WLG)

Joining local legends:

PYLON, SOLIDSTATE, ARAGORN, LUSH, KING AL, MARTIN JAY

with new school Heads:

REACH, WAEWAEXPRESS, JAGĀ, MR MEATY BOY, HARVO, INFORDIN, MATTE, MC JENNALYNN

On the 20th July – Boxed Quarter will host a homecoming.

A celebration of origins. Of electronica. Deejays. Rave. A return to the source. Christchurch, Ōtautahi.

This sleepy city has an undisputed historical reputation around the world, as a powerhouse for dance music. The history of this story about dance music has been relatively obscured but while the 2011 earthquake lay waste to the bricks & mortar, memories remain crystal about how highly regarded this city was and still is, for dance music.

Throughout the1990’s, audiences and fans regularly congregated in Christchurch to absorb the best and the freshest sounds being produced from around the globe. New genres forming as each year unfolded. House, Jungle, Trance, Progressive, Techno, Drum&Bass. We heard it here, first.

Deejays had broken down the traditional notion of music composition and arrangement. Conduits for transformation. Creating dynamic new pathways through tempo, genre and sound pressure. Influencing nearly every popular artist we know today. The art of mixing gave rise to a range of new, exciting sounds, genres and techniques, some of which we call our own.

As a result, deejay culture permeated through nearly all other genres of music, elevating electronic music to becoming one of largest cultural phenomenon of the past century.

Purpose-built venues here in Christchurch such as the Ministry were the largest of its kind, becoming home to an impressive list of first and repeat performances by the very best deejays and acts from around the world. All making their pilgrimage to take centre stage in one of the finest nightclubs in the Southern Hemisphere.

And as weekends extended into weekdays, the appetite and capability of the community expanded. Local deejays rose to the occasion and in many respects excelled. Hunters of the latest white labels, promos, bootlegs and releases with which to feed the hungry audiences bent on dance floor annihilation.

This event features names who were there. When it all began. Origin deejays. Vinyl deejays. Digital deejays. Leaders in their genres. Making it happen.

For those of you that were there —— this is your nostalgia trip.

For those who wished they were there ——- this is as close as you will get. A reboot.

And for those who are still wondering what it is all about —— then consider this THE lesson you needed.

Two of the 3 zones will be stacked with a lineup of Ōtautahi’s original, rave and dance DJ legends. And a third zone will be especially curated to include a selection of the rising local Heads to give you a fresh earful of todays flavours. Some haven’t ever played on the same bill. Most won’t have been in contact since the beginning of the millenium.

It’s time to…reunite!

RDU50 – FUNDRAISING FOR RDU’S 50TH IN 2026

RDU. The community platform championing local music since 1976. This event marks the lead into RDU98.5FMs 50th anniversary. After expenses, all ticket proceeds will be donated to the fund. We encourage you to do likewise to show your support for this legendary little broadcaster.

Special thanks to our supporters: Fluxx, Boxed Quarter, Three Boys Brewery, Main Divide Wines, Inner Phase Laser Systems, Subtle Sound, Eyes Down Sound, Boomcandy and Pixel Productions.

Tune in to RDU985.FM www.rdu.org.nz

Heads in the cloud… feet on the ground.

headsinthecloud.nz