Overview
Exhibiting some of the most interesting, cutting-edge and up-and-coming bands under the indie, electronica, hip hop, and alt-pop banner, The Others Way festival returns to Karangahape Road on September 2. The festival-cum-street party takes a page out of international music mixers CMJ and SXSW, where attendees can map out their own trajectory across a multitude of venues. With 35 acts making up this year's lineup, schedule conflicts are a given. To help ease those decisions with the highlighter, we've rounded up seven acts worth seeing.
Cut Off Your Hands
It's a rare occasion when post-punk four-piece Cut Off Your Hands assemble for an onstage appearance. Led by Nick Johnston, the band are known for their frenetic onstage energy and infectious singles, including 'Expectations', 'Still Fond', 'Turn Cold' and 'You Should Do Better'. Stick around until 12.45am to catch COYH in the Galatos Main Room.
Miloux
Auckland-based songwriter Rebecca Melrose came out of nowhere this year with EP1, a tightly packaged collection of electro-pop gems. Infectious single 'Pocket' led the way and resulted in a call up for the latest Fly My Pretties ensemble, as well as a spot in the long list for this year's APRA Silver Scroll. Miloux will perform at 9.30pm in the Galatos Basement.
Grayson Gilmour
So So Modern member and Wellington mega-instrumentalist/composer Grayson Gilmour has been quiet of late, only showing his face to document the recording of his new album. The release will be his eighth solo offering following Infinite Life!, a cinematic collection of sounds and textures. For his appearance at The Others Way he'll be taking the stage with both new songs and a new band. Catch him at 9pm at Whammy Bar.
Merk
The solo project of Mark Perkins has had a great deal of success in its first few months. Off the back of tightly packaged alt-pop singles 'Manchuria' and 'No Better Reason' Merk was selected to attend this year's Red Bull Music Academy in Montreal. When not lending his talents on guitar and keyboard to local acts Fazerdaze and Tom Lark, Perkins can be found hunkered down in the studio fine-tuning the project. Merk's performance at The Others Way will be one of his first major public appearances. Catch him at 8.30pm at Thirsty Dog.
Courtney Hate
Earning their stripes in the Smokefreerockquest, and scooping accolades like People's Choice and National Finalist in 2015, Courtney Hate have spent the past few years navigating the all ages scene. The band will no doubt have equal success in the R18 realm given the jaw-dropping vocal prowess of frontwoman Jami Kerrigan and music ability of fellow members: Xanthe Brookes (drums), Marieke (bass) and Ruby Colwell (guitar). You'll have to arrive early to catch Courtney Hate. They perform at 7.45pm at Wine Cellar.
ENO x DIRTY
Hailing from Grey Lynn, ENO x DIRTY create an organic style of hip hop best described as 'poetry over music'. The duo are affiliates of Young, Gifted and Broke and regulars of the Red Bull Sound Select initiative. Catch them at 11.45 at Las Vegas Club.
Fazerdaze
It's been a busy year for Fazerdaze. The bedroom producer (real name: Amelia Murray) completed a tour of the UK alongside Big Deal, played a handful of solo shows in the US, was selected for this year's Red Bull Music Academy in Montreal, and will soon be jumping the ditch for Brisbane's annual music mixer Big Sound. For blissed-out guitar-pop, catch Fazerdaze at 10.15 in the Galatos Main Room.
In addition to the above there are several other brilliant acts taking the stage. See the full schedule for The Others Way below. For more information and tickets visit the Flying Out website.
Feature image by Claire R Foley.