Cast your eyes to the horizon, for the kaleidoscopic majesty of The Exploding Rainbow Songbook is back for 2025 with Volume Four; brighter, bolder, and bigger in every conceivable way. Happening across not one, not two, but three very special early November nights, your favourite thirty-five piece psychedelic orchestra will once again be joined by a cast of a dozen of Aotearoa’s finest songwriters for a trio of evenings to remember at the Whakamana Cannabis Museum, formerly known as Hopetoun Alpha.

Helmed by mad mastermind and cosmic conductor Joshua Worthington-Church, the orchestra itself has previously included members of The Beths, Tiny Ruins, Phoebe Rings, and more, as well as household names like Princess Chelsea and Don McGlashan, while previous guest songwriters included the likes of Julia Deans, Delaney Davidson, Diggy Dupé, Jazmine Mary, RNZŌ, Grecco Romank, and Lucy Suttor of Dick Move, whose song Shut Your Mouth is featured below in a deliriously delightful video from film-makers Sports Team. 

While this “save the date(s)” announcement intentionally leaves this year’s line-up shrouded in magical mystery, the faithful amongst you can grab “super earlybird” tickets now, with a full-price tier and unwaged option for those who need it. 

We promised you brighter, bolder, and bigger… and we can’t wait to reveal all the sonic sorcery we’ve been dreaming up. Welcome to the Exploding Rainbow Orchestra Songbook Volume Four!

Presented with support from Creative New Zealand.