Openside + Friends

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Diversity, Love, Strength and Being your true self. This is what comes to mind when thinking about who Openside are and the message they are spreading. I'm proud that New Zealand is where such exciting, empowering and boundary pushing music is happening.

I've seen Openside many times over the years from ACL, Tuning Fork, Armageddon to the Big Gay Out. They have a way about them that creates a safe space to be young, dance, sing and go crazy, all while being yourself. Their show at Hollywood Avondale the other week reminded me so much of when I was underage and starving for music, going along to every all age gig I could find. This show was such a great environment. You had the parents taking their eight olds, the sixteen to eighteen-year-olds going crazy in the mosh and the oldies like me dancing at the back and singing our lungs out (haha all while still trying to look cool). Rainbows were everywhere and everyone had a smile on their face.

The line up for this show could not have been a better showcase of young and upcoming talent. You've got Foley who are just rocking it and looking fab at the same time. Classic Daffodils with their gloomy synth-pop vibe. Ashy with her great stage presence, unfortunately I arrived too late into her set to get photos sorry folks. But here are the photos I did get.