ABOUT THE ACTS

Welcome to the OPSA SUPER SIZE ORIENTATION. This is the festival that welcomes you to Otago. It takes place over several weeks and includes eating competitions, some excellent bands and performers, free BBQs, comedians, hypnotism, a Roman style toga party with a foam machine, quizzes, Xbox on the BigScreen, something for every one...
This year’s Orientation certainly is super sized with living legends VIOLENT FEMMES as the main act, dj T ROCK from the USA, Melbourne six-piece the CAT EMPIRE, American post-punk garage rockers THE SHINS, top kiwi hip-hop stars DEI HAMO, MISFITS OF SCIENCE, FAST CREW, & FEELSTYLE, classic kiwi student bands THE CHILLS, & DIMMER, electronica from CONCORD DAWN, funk & reggae sounds from BLACKSEEDS & FAT FREDDYS DROP, and a bit of punk from THE MANAGERS, RITALIN, & BLISTERING TONGUES, and a whole heap more...
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Violent Femmes (USA)
(Alternative Rock)
Believe it or not it’s been over twenty years since the Violent Femmes first exploded onto the international music scene.
With songs such as Blister In The Sun, Add It Up, American Music and Used To Be the Violent Femmes were one of the most recognisable sounds to emerge from the US during the 1980s. They are the angst music of generations of students. They are the music you play loud and sing/shout when you want everyone to just fuck off and leave you along. The music that has got generations through high-schools, universities and polytechs around the world. They are true living legends - and they are playing right here in Dunedin this Orientation.
Never heard of them?
Then perhaps these lyrics might remind you - When I’m out walking I strut my stuff; Yeah, I’m so strung out; I’m high as a kite I just might stop to check you out; Let me go on, like I blister in the sun... Yes that band. Playing here in Dunedin. I recommend getting your tickets early. Very early.
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The Chills
(Pop Rock)
The Chills are one of the country’s seminal bands. It typifies, perhaps even defines, the Dunedin Sound. Their main hits include: Tally Ho, Kaleidoscope World, Pink Frost, I Love My Leather Jacket, Heavenly Pop Hit, to name a few. To be a real Dunedin student you must have to go to at least one Chills concert.
It all began in the very late ‘70s when Martin Phillipps was the crisp age of 15. Inspired by the punk movement, including local band The Enemy, he teamed up with Jeff Batts (vocals) and Craig Easton (guitar) one weekend and began to make noise. Since then there has been more ups and downs for The Chills that there is space to even start to mention - from an topping the charts and almost breaking into the UK & US, to being diagnosed with leukaemia and having no band members. Indeed it was expected that The Chills may never restart again.
Indeed the line-up has changed and reformed so often that I must be one of the few people who hasn't been a member of The Chills. However, this has not diminished from their appeal one little bit. Don’t miss this quintessential Dunedin band.

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Robert Scott
(Pop)
Robert Scott has written thousands of songs and his discography stretches over a dozen albums. In his prolific 20 year music career he’s travelled the world and recorded with several seminal New Zealand bands – as the bass player for Flying Nun’s original breakthrough band The Clean, singer/guitarist in The Bats, and the driving force behind The Magick Heads.

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The Shins (USA)
(Garage Rock)
The vast deserts of New Mexico are anything but barren, at least from a creative standpoint. Our story begins in Albuquerque around 1992. The Grunge Invasion has swept out of the Northwest and into the ears of every kid with a pawn shop guitar. It affects everyone differently.
For The Shins, there comes to pass a monumental distillation of post-punk garage rock, the indie sounds of Chicago and a healthy dose of pure, unadulterated pop from a time when Brian Wilson was at the helm. Melody is key. Hooks are aplenty and then some. Some stars are born. Call it a natural progression.
Nine years, 10 records, acclaimed tours with Modest Mouse and Califone, countless other live dates and three name changes later, The Shins have finally begun to get their just desserts. Why did it take so long? Who really cares? Just be glad you made it this far without them, and take comfort in knowing that the yearning is over. Just like that.
From the ashes of Flake, then Flakemusic, The Shins took shape in 1997 - same members, different instruments, different approach, culled from nearly a decade of playing together. Counterpoint guitars gave way to a single guitar pitted against calculated keyboard passages, swarming indie rock machinations to pop-based melodic endeavours.
The resulting sound germinates in a post-punk aesthetic with nods to a traditional pop ethos. There's nothing like it on which to base analysis. Nothing at all. Live sets deviate enthusiastically from recorded works – there’s just no telling. The Shins are a story that's still being written, edited.
With all 4 original members now residing in Portland/Seattle, the band are focusing on new material, and starting their 2005 tour off in New Zealand.

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Hypnotist - GUY CATER
GUY CATER is a fully trained and qualified Hypnotist and presents probably the funniest show you will ever see! Using just his voice and some beautiful music he gently lulls the volunteers into a hypnotic state - AND THEN THE FUN REALLY BEGINS.
You just will not believe the crazy antics your friends get up to in their sleep like state. The next couple of hours are a riot of fun and laughter.
During the show Guy will have his subjects riding a horse in the Melbourne Cup, meeting an Alien, playing musical instruments, laughing at a funny movie and crying at a sad one, becoming Elvis, Madonna or Michael Jackson, thinking they have won Lotto, watching a fast game of tennis, thinking their shoe is a delightful little puppy and some will think they are Mr or Miss World and all will just love looking through Guy’s X-Ray glasses! At the end of the show, all Guy's subjects awaken feeling calm and relaxed but also refreshed and they remember all that has happened.
ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS FROM ALL THIS?
The answer is YES. Many people complain of very sore cheeks and aching sides through so much laughter!
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Dimmer
(Pop Rock)
DIMMER star Shayne Carter began his career in music 20 years ago thrashing guitars in seminal Dunedin bands. New Zealand music history of the past 20 years is peppered with his classic tunes - from the Bored Games’ teenage proto-punk Joe 90, or the Double Happys’ Randolph’s Going Home, to the classic Straitjacket Fits’ She Speeds. Then DIMMER -Crystalator, Evolution, Seed...

After hiding out for a while DIMMER are back with a soulful vengeance. Both of the group’s albums were certified Gold, they have been finalists in the Silver Scrolls Awards and strolled off with the Tui Music Awards for Best Group and Best Rock Album with their second album, You've Got To Hear The Music.
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The Black Seeds
(Funk/Reggae)
With two Gold-selling albums in New Zealand and several years of successful touring, Wellington-based band The Black Seeds have received nationwide recognition as one of the country's best acts. A 8-piece live band, The Black Seeds produce a unique blend of funk, reggae, soul and dub that has set dance-floors alight throughout Aotearoa and sees them regularly sell out shows.

Their 2001 album Keep On Pushing was voted among Rip It Up magazine's Top 50 Albums Of The Year. In 2002 Coming Back Home remix reached No.1 on the New Zealand b.net charts and the album went on to sell well throughout the country. 2004 saw the New Zealand release of The Black Seeds' second studio album titled On The Sun through Capitol Records. The 11-track album debuted at No. 3 in the New Zealand album charts and reached Gold sales status within six weeks of its release.
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Tha Feelstyle
(Hip Hop)
From his first rap competition win in 1987 to recording his latest single with Savage and Shayne Carter (Dimmer), Kas ‘Tha Feelstyle’ Futialo's rise through the local hip hop scene has been anything but ordinary. Often using the Samoan language, he decided to take the name “Tha Feelstyle” to reflect the fact that the “feel” of a track can be communicated regardless of the language used. Well connected, having worked with King Kapisi, DJ Rocket V, The Overstayers, and Dei Hamo.
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Jae Bedford
(Pop Rock)
Jae is a local singer-songwriter who has lent his talents to such acts as Fallen Angel, Stark Raving, The Rebels, Commercial 500, Native Tongues, The Outsiders, The Jae Bedford Band, and Jaded. Jae can play a large range on covers on demand - or rip the piss out of them if they suck. You may recognise him from his former regular spot at the Travel Bar or even from OPSA's own Happy Friday's.
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Alpha Cast
(Alternative Rock)
Alpha Cast are a Dunedin based three piece band. In their short career to date, Alpha Cast have released an EP, played extensively throughout the South Island, and continue to build and consolidate upon their music and their fan base. Alpha Cast draw energy from one another and in the live arena they have excelled, drawing consistent crowds to their regular gigs.
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The Dukes
(Pop Rock)
The Dukes play rock'n'rhythm music. Formed in early 2003, the band dig on ‘70s rock, country, old Motown and girls. Drawing on classic albums like the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street, Creedence’s Bayou Country and any of the early Funk Brothers' work, the Dukes do that ‘good times' sound.
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Hera
(Vocal/Acoustic)
Recently named Iceland’s best female artist, singer/song writer Hera has actually been based in New Zealand for the last 10 years. She divides her year between family time in the Southern Hemisphere and an intensive European touring schedule where she has been working with big names such as Nick Cave.

In 2003, Hera’s song Makebelieve was the 3rd most played song on national radio in Iceland as well as being a finalist track in the in the USA song-writing competition. Since picking up a classical guitar at age 8 it wasn’t long before Hera had released “Homemade 99”

Hera has released four solo CDs, Hafid thennan dag went Gold in Iceland. Her songs have been included on 6 other compilations, one of her songs was used on the soundtrack for “The Sea” and on tonlist.is – eight of the ten songs on the top ten were Hera’s, at the same time.

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Flip Grater
(Vocal/Acoustic)
Singer-songwriter Flip Grater has been playing shows around the South Island and Auckland for the past year. Performing with such respected musicians as James Wilkinson and David Lloyd and supporting Australian Folk Legend Stephen Taberner and local star Anika Moa.

Flip has been charming audiences with her passionate acoustic originals at major events around the country. Flip has also recorded and performed with electronic artist MC D/Mand, FUSA bassist Damo and Christchurch indie-rockers Slipstream.

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Reb Fountain
(Vocal/Acoustic)
Reb Fountain may be New Zealand’s best-kept secret. Yet you could be forgiven for not knowing who the hell Reb Fountain is. Identified as a “the best voice to come out of Christchurch in ten years” in the finals of Battle of the Bands way back in 1990 she disappeared off the kiwi music map. Since then Reb occasionally appears at her old haunts, mesmerizes anyone who’s there with an increasingly polished repertoire of breathtaking vocals, soulful lyrics and melodic tunes, before vanishing into thin air again.
She got her first guitar at six and by the age of thirteen she had mapped her poetry onto melody, writing lyrics to the sound of her acoustic guitar. She’s been singer/songwriter for three bands Immaculate Sun, Like Water and Beckoning South with talented musicians like Pete Woods (Salmonella Dub/ DJ Rockwood), Tony Harlem (Future Stupid), Mark Tyler (Salmonella Dub) and Pete Hobbs (Lesley Speaker/Kitset); trained as a jazz vocalist at a college in Seattle performing with great musicians which drummed out any insecurities about playing live; lived and recorded in major musical cities like New York, Vancouver and London all the time living and breathing music.

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The Fast Crew
(Hip Hop)
The Fast Crew is a Hip Hop group that you will be hearing more about in the future. Their songs are all about having a good time and living life to the fullest. They are five young friends from Auckland who have already gained attention amongst Auckland’s underground inner city Hip Hop scene. They ain't Gangstas, they aren’t from the mean streets; so don’t expect no militant raps, but expect tunes that will make you bounce and get you grooving. Oh yeah, the Fast Crew are here!

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T Rock (USA)
(DJ - turntablist)
Officially the 5th best DJ in the world... Since 1988, hip-hop's golden era, T-Rock has built his foundation of turntable skills from the ground up. His efforts have resulted this debut album filled with super DJ tricks as well as more structured song stylings. Incorporating scratches with fat bass lines, smacking snares and funk organs this album enthralled the most die hard hip-hop head as well as the average urban music listener.
DJ T-Rock is one of the most talented DJ's on the turntablist scene, honing his craft for more than 15 years. T-Rock is best known for his full length albums Who's Your Daddy (Bomb Hip-Hop) and Sikinthehed (Nu Gruv/Stereotype Records), as well as his appearances on Bomb's famous Return of the DJ compilations volumes 3 and 4. He has also produced songs for Deeper Concentration Volume 3 and Billy Jam's Scratch Attack (Hip Hop Slam). T-Rock currently appears on new albums by the Warp Brothers (Warp Factor) and Mr. Dibbs (The 30th Song).

In addition to his work as a scratch DJ and producer T-Rock is an accomplished mixing dj that can rock any house party or club venue. His classic record collection and quick mixing skills have enabled him to perform with such greats as Cut Chemist (Jurassic 5), Mix Master Mike (Beastie Boys), DJ Swamp (Beck), Afrika Bambaataa, Kurtis Mantronik, Z-Trip, The Xecutioners, DJ Craze, Babu (Dilated Peoples), Shortkut (Beat Junkies) and many others. T-Rock currently lives in Los Angeles and is working with his new band Graffiti Death Threat. T-Rock has a new mix CD out titled Hip-Hop Sundae.

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Misfits of Science
(Hip Hop)
They met at an urban wear shop on Queen St in 2000, and spun the proverbial and ultimately formed the friendship fuelled by all things hip-hop. An idea was born (Colossal (A.K.A 2nd Persona) and Optimus are Misfits of Science. Colossal explains “Some people may not get us... For their inability to fathom the calibre of the super dope, hot and spicy sounds that we lay down”. Optimus states “We're not underground, we're not commercial; We’re Undermmercial and Commerground”.
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Dei Hamo
(Hip Hop)
For Dei Hamo his current success is the culmination of a 15-year musical odyssey that began as a high school student writing a song a day and working on his rhymes. From there Dei Hamo worked with a variety of leading New Zealand hip-hop projects including Stubborn Purpose, Urban Pacifika and New Zealand’s now legendary hip hop undertaking - the 'Proud' tour. Dei Hamo has supported Black Eyed Peas, Busta Rhymes and D12 in New Zealand, as well as touring with D12 on their Australian tour.
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Concord Dawn
(Electronica)
Concord Dawn are one of New Zealand’s highest selling electronic artists, and have been in the New Zealand University b-net radio charts top 10 for longer than any act in history. Evan Short aka Kiljoy and Matthew Harvey aka Matty are two kiwi blokes who somehow got into jungle/drum and bass, and have made an international name for themselves in the meantime.
“We’re really into 'Rave' music There were kids at school, older kids, who had hardcore mixtapes, some of which would let us borrow their tapes and dub them. After a while a friend lent us a 'Jungle' mixtape,it had stuff on it like Disturbances by hyper on Experiance and some DJ Crystal stuff and Kenny Ken stuff, we were like totally blown away by it”
Former b-net Awards winners, Concord Dawn has toured heavily throughout New Zealand; playing alongside Cause 4 Concern, Bad Company, Konflict and Bulletproof, been part of New Zealand and Australia's largest festivals such as The Big Day Out, Rippon and the Gathering, and have played gigs in England, Belgium, France and Norway as well as Singapore and Australia.

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Verse Two
(Hip Hop/Reggae/Jazz)
With New Zealand's strong urban Pacific sounds rippling through the international music market at the moment, Verse Two is a great addition to our unique tunes. Their music fuses hip-hop, jazz and reggae to create a warm, vibrant sound on the stage.

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Fat Freddy's Drop
(Reggae/Dub)
From Wellington’s heart comes a collaboration of six musicians, creating Fat Freddy's Drop. These accomplished players deliver a quality sound that swings between improvisation and crafted songs. Their presence on stage never fails to turn heads, whatever the crowd.
Driven by DJ Mu (Roots Foundation, Bongmaster) and his beloved MPC 2000, Fat Freddy's has been playing for 2 years around New Zealand. Vocalist Dallas Tamaira (Bongmaster) gives the soul and Iain Gordon (Bongmaster, Ebb) adds his distinctive analogue sound on keys. The brass does not get any better with Warren Maxwell on Saxophone (frontman for TrinityRoots) and Toby Laing (The Black Seeds) on Trumpet. Rock star guitarist Tehimana Kerr (The Exponents) keeps it dirty.
Fat Freddy's Drop has supported Mad Professor, Afro Celt Sound System and played at WOMAD, The Gathering, Wellington International Jazz Festival, Whopper Chopper and Cuba Street Carnival.

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The Managers
(Punk)
The current 11 piece line-up has both male and female vocalists as well as a three piece horn section. The remainder includes members and ex-members of well loved NZ bands Future Stupid, Skatilator, Hallelujah Picassos and Rubicon.

The Managers have played festivals such as Sweetwaters, Strawberry Fields, Ohakune Mardigras, One Love (Auckland) and J-Day celebrations and the Vans Warped Tour.

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Ritalin
(Punk)
Ritalin started when 4 geeky music obsessed 4th formers started jamming together in 1997. They played their first gig a year later at the Dunedin R.S.A with 4 other bands, the only other memorable one being Grayston (local high school punk heroes) to a rowdy all ages crowd of around 350 boys and girls, mostly way too drunk to realise how crappy the band actually was. Since then Ritalin of course have got substantially better and better and are stalwarts of the Refuel/Arc scene with tours and a CD under their belts.
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Blistering Tongues
(Punk)
Blistering Tongues has been around for over 6 years, and is “one of the best underground bands ever” in the words of one former drummer. One wonders why he then left. Harbouring a member from Ritalin & a member from the Chills, the Tongues are best experienced after 20 press-ups, 10 pints, 1 or more roll-ups and lots of greedy girls...
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Onanon
(Alternate Rock)
Four shy music geeks blend greasy, crunchy Dunedin swagger-stumble with their own inner turmoil. Pop songs with filthy, furious guitars and spacious, sonic instrumental grooves are the result.
Onanon have been playing together since late 2001, performing increasingly intense shows around Dunedin. They released a 7 song EP Quarter Pack in October 2002, have released a full-length album - Hold On, I'm Still Mutating.

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The Gladeyes
(Rock)
Formed in early 2002 as a performance group at the University of Otago Contemporary Rock program, Sifty Chris & The Gladeyes immediately began to establish a growing reputation as a high energy live rock act. They have played numerous gigs around Dunedin with bands such as Ritalin and Llamarada.
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Terry Ebeling
(Various)
Terry Ebeling plays guitar, harmonica and sings. Performing original songs, and a fascinating assortment of covers of other songwriters’ songs, his powerful music and intelligent delivery combine to provide the audience with a magical experience.
His style of blues/roots/rock has proved popular with audiences around the world for over twenty years. He has supported Lyle Lovett, Chicago Smokeshop, Midge Marsden, and been requested to perform at a after concert for Pink Floyd.
He's now a part of the Whirling Eddies, and the Oxocubans big band. He also is receiving rave reviews for solo shows he's done at the Arc café, Dicey O’Riley’s.

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Cat Empire (Australia)
(Jazz/Various)
Six men with a dream; a cultural melting pot stirred with a drumstick; sold out shows; and a label behind them. It’s not every day that Latin-hip hop-jazz gets played on commercial radio at all – let alone in the same song. Yet Hello Hello, the first single from The Cat Empire’s debut album is does just that, and went on to do well on Australian commercial radio.
The Empire are a product of songwriter Felix Riebl vision for a band that is held together by an exuberant love of music and life, a band that is rooted in the freeform nature of jazz but transcends any preconceived notions of genre.
They have enjoyed strong support for their Australian gigs. The rise and rise of Cat Empire has continued. Off the back of sold-out festival shows in Edinburgh and two sold-out Metro shows, the band now has major record label backing and a debut recording, bottling a distilled version of their live performances.
However, these live performances are still their best asset. Cat Empire are departing on US and European tours later this year.
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RADAR
Accomplished kiwi comedian Radar has had multiples appearances on TV. A former winner of the “Billy T” Award For Comedy Excellence. Once described as “...the Bastard son of Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten and J.R.R.Tolkien...” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
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JOSH THOMSON
Yes, Otago’s own guy from the Fresh Up ads - many of which look a little influenced by his Otago capping weeks - eating Weetbix and chillies, and rolling round in a Sumo suit in a hot pool; or perhaps more influenced by his multiple deserved wins in the local Mothera student film making competitions. Sadly, he has since left Dunedin to become a professional comedian, with appearances on Pulp Comedy. But now he’s back for your Orientation pleasure.

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Tickets
Tickets to each event are available from the OPSA office, upstairs in the Student Centre on Harbour Tce (where you got your ID card from). There are door sales to most gigs, but these sell-out often beforehand so there are no guarantee you'll get in.
Photo-age ID will be requested at events where alcohol is served. No suitable photo-age ID = No entry, even if you have already bought a ticket. Sure it's mean but it's also the only way we can run such events. So you have been warned!
Passports
This is a super sized bargain - it costs $85 and gets you in to pretty much everything except the BEERFEST (see gigs labelled with a *).

Well that's about it - have a great Orientation and if you have any questions or problems throughout Orientation or the year, ask us at OPSA. That's what we’re here for.

Last updated: 1 Feburary