Loserpalooza 2026
With each passing year that we do Loserpalooza, and this will be our 8th, the world continues to grow in to an uglier, scarier place. War, and not peace seems to have become the new global norm. The poverty gap widens between the extremely poor and the sickeningly wealthy. Catastrophic weather events wreak havoc around us. And despite the begging and pleading of everyone from Africa to Antarctica, James Cameron continues to commit to making more movies in the Avatar series. Have mercy please.
And for this our global energy is shifting. Cynicism, pessimism, racism, sexism, James Cameronism and all the other ‘isms are on the rise. People are getting darker in their thoughts and feelings are lashing out in all sorts of tragic actions unto themselves and others, thus forging a dangerous path of isolation and desperation. And can they even be blamed for this when their examples of leadership are failing them with their own misguided and destructive actions?
Luckily here, in our own little Tauranga music microcosm , we now largely escape this due to a word largely lost elsewhere: COMMUNITY. We as we can affectionately call ourselves are the Losers... Those that have been battling dark thoughts for a lifetime, but who have found solace in music and now with each other. And especially with your Mum.
Look around, you will struggle to find an alternative music scene as united and bonded as the one we have. From the ridiculously old like Stuntclown, to the enviable youth of Pipeline Punks, we all find unity in the one this thing we love - music, Music MUSIC. And with this we all try to bring each other up to a high consciousness. No Loser left behind.
But not everyone is as lucky as us. Some people don’t have Losers in their life to look out for them. And because of this, and the fact that we have community, we must use the love which we have for each other and share it with those around us. Those that are overwhelmed by this world and in need of help may not even know that there is help for them.
So with your help let’s do as we have done for the last 8 years and come together as one big community of Losers.
Loserpalooza 2026: Saturday August 15th. 12 Loser hours. 25 Loser bands. 2 Loser stages. 1 Loser venue - Totara Street. All proceeds go to Lifeline to help with their efforts in suicide awareness and prevention.
Our local alternative music community has in fact grown so much over the last year that we have had to whittle down a short list of 60 alternative acts to the usual list of nepotistic favours and elitism. Apologies to those we could not fit in, next year let’s take over the CBD.
Dead Empire
Pugmen
Hyrokken
Crate of Chaos
Pipeline Punks
Velouria
Carrion Bride
Dead Simple
Meet Me at the Cemetery
Talismer
Kingfish
Six Twos
Skonk
False Waltons
Two Skinner
Club Meds
Eddie and the Dreamers
This is How We Die
Cat Face
Hemordroid
Everything is Fucked
Grown Downz
Stunt Clown
Wince
Threat.Meet.Protocol.
Thanks so much Nirvana and Ed Gains for the incredible poster.
Donation entry, but please try to set yourselves a $20 minimum, last year I was very disappointed by the amount of people who entered with $5 and then spent $100 on alcohol. I know alcohol might help you with your own depression issues but I would really like to make some more $ for Lifeline.
For Anna and all those lost before their time.
DOORS 12PM - SUPERVISED EVENT (Under 18 year olds can attend with their own parent)
