You saw them at Orientation Week before they were big
Orientation Week isn’t just about toga parties.
It is also an opportunity for music fans to sample some fresh talent and see and hear acts that may turn out to be the next big thing.
Waikato University has played host to many notable Orientation Week shows over the years, including gigs by prefame Split Enz and INXS in the 1970s and early ’80s, The Datsuns, Yo La Tengo and perennial favourites such as The Exponents, Shihad, Kora and Headless Chickens.
This year’s line-up could be an opportunity to see some acts with the potential to become very big names indeed.
Among them are former X-Factor contestant Eden Roberts, who is due to release her debut EP Crying Birds in a matter of days, under the name Eden.
Eden – who can perform on guitar,
Harry Parsons was the solo/duo section winner in last year’s Smokefreerockquest competition. Photo: Dave Thomson/Cambridge Edition banjo, kalimba, glockenspiel, piano and panpipes – will perform at the university’s ‘‘village green’’ on Wednesday afternoon.
Croatian/New Zealand DJ duo MayaVanya – aka sisters Maya and Vanya Milinovic – are among the musicians performing at Waikato University’s Orientation Week this year.
Also playing on Wednesday is Smokefreerockquest solo/duo section winner and Cambridge native Harry Parsons, who recently released a single titled You’ll be Fine.
Possibly the best known of this year’s O-Week artists are MayaVanya – aka sisters Maya and Vanya Milinovic – who X-woman: Multi-instrumentalist Eden Roberts will play at Waikato University on Wednesday afternoon. will take to the stage on Tuesday afternoon.
The duo from Croatia, who have spent half of their life based in New Zealand, MayaVanya are one of the country’s most in-demand DJ acts thanks to their eclectic and fun sets, vast knowledge of music and fresh mixing style.
Their latest two singles, Run and Turn Me Out – a collaboration with P Money – received critical acclaim, with the latter hitting number 16 in New Zealand’s Top 40 chart.
Another rising star and a former Hillcrest High School student, hip-hop artist Raiza Biza, performs on Monday, as do Strangely Arousing, a five-piece reggae/ ska band who cover everything from Cab Calloway to Kimbra.
Hamilton acoustic duo Looking For Alaska – aka Aaron Gott and Amy Maynard – hit the stage on Tuesday and Auckland’s all-girl pop/rock band Vivid wrap up the musical entertainment at midday on Thursday.
For more information about the bands as well as other O-Week activities, visit wsu.org.nz/events-2014/