Onefest begins on Friday at the Urban Factory, on Gt King St, with a multi-band gig headlined by Surf City.
Also on the bill are Wellington acts Grayson Gilmour and Orchestra of Spheres, with Dunedin's Thundercub, Mr Biscuits, and DJ Dan SoloSurf City is based in Auckland but was in Australia on tour when we caught up this week.
The band has recently been in America where they have been compared to Dunedin music stalwarts The Clean, with the Washington Post writing "[they] work up a head of steam but never boil over into chaos ... a fine line that Surf City walks admirably".
US music journal CMJ also tipped them as one to watch.
The band's debut self-titled EP was released in 2007 on Arch Hill and has been all over student radio since.
Surf City's live show has garnered them support slots with Interpol, Dinosaur Jnr, MGMT and at Auckland's inaugural Laneway Festival.
Wellington's Grayson Gilmour, of So So Modern, is an early signing with the reborn Flying Nun label, and is due to bring a "piano pop" songbook to Dunedin.
A couple of high-flying local acts round out the bill. Thundercub are described as presenting "stadium electropop operatics in the style of Trans Am, made and played by mathy gear geeks," who use a couple of cases full of pedals and synths.
OUSA Battle Of The Bands winner Mr Biscuits will open the event.
On Saturday night, Bath Street will reverberate to the sounds of Christchurch ground-shakers Ghost and Isaac Aesili, among others.
Aesili is known for his work in Opensouls and Solaa, and has been closely associated with Shapeshifter and Tyra Hammond, while Ghost is a noted beat-maker from the UK, who calls Christchurch home.
Another treat on next Saturday night's bill is Nightshade - no, not the metal band from Hamilton, but a new project from local stalwart Woosh (Vanadis / SBK), and Sarah Callander.
• For more info
Go to www.r1.co.nz.
Saxophonist Nathan Haines brings a mix of funk, soul, jazz and psychedelic rock to Dunedin on Thursday.
Haines is touring with his "Dream Band" playing a mix of DJ and band sets, with an emphasis on "danceable grooves".
• Catch him
Haines plays Refuel on Thursday.
