Blab Music
L.A.B to Headline Inaugural 8TH Wonder Festival in Brisbane, 30 January 2027
When the January sun rises over Brisbane’s Eatons Hill Outdoors on Saturday, 30 January 2027, the stage will blaze with the unmistakable groove of L.A.B and a constellation of Pacific‑inspired sounds.
The first Australian edition of the 8TH Wonder Festival, a one‑day roots‑music celebration, is set to bring together artists from Aotearoa, Australia and the wider Pacific. Created by the New Zealand band and entertainment company Loop, the festival launched its trans‑Tasman brand on 23 January in Rotorua before expanding to Queensland.
L.A.B will open the line‑up, but the program is a rich tapestry of reggae, soul, dub, R&B and contemporary Indigenous music. Other performers include Te Wehi, Sir Dave Dobbyn, South Summit, Aaradhna, Che Fu & The Kratez, Ladi6, Corrella, The Elovaters and Son & Water. The event is marketed as all‑ages and family‑friendly, with children under five admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.
Formed in 2016, L.A.B has become one of New Zealand’s most commercially successful acts, with multiple platinum albums and singles and sold‑out shows across Australasia. Lead vocalist Joel Shadbolt said the band were “really excited to be a part of 8TH WONDER” and highlighted the festival’s family focus. “There’s not many festivals where you can bring your kids along, and whānau is a really key part of L.A.B, so for this to be all ages means it’s going to be a magic day,” Shadbolt added.
Loop’s Michael Tucker explained that the festival was built as an artist‑led event from day one. “We wanted to create the kind of event we’d love to go to ourselves, incredible music, room to breathe, artists you can actually get close to, and a day that feels welcoming for everyone,” Tucker said.
The lineup also contains several milestones. Sir Dave Dobbyn’s appearance marks his first Australian tour date in more than eight years. Te Wehi, named Breakthrough Artist at the 2026 New Zealand Music Awards, has sold‑out tours in New Zealand and Australia. South Summit, an Indigenous five‑piece from Perth, follows the release of their album Run It Back, which was selected as a triple j Feature Album.
The festival will be staged at the recently expanded Eatons Hill Outdoor Precinct, a venue that has hosted international acts such as Prince and Post Malone and was recently named Queensland’s Best Entertainment Venue. Organisers say the all‑ages event will include food trucks, bars and festival stalls. Ticketing options include general admission and a limited VIP allocation, with Afterpay available. Early‑bird tickets go on sale at 10 am on Friday 3 July on 8thwonder.live. Prices are GA Early Bird $127.50, GA First Release $147.50 and Limited VIP $287.50. Children under five are free.
8TH Wonder is a joint venture between Loop and the Comiskey Group, companies that have worked across live entertainment and festival production throughout Australasia for more than two decades. The festival’s creators say it continues an ethos established by Loop’s early‑2000s music compilations, which introduced audiences beyond New Zealand to artists from Aotearoa and the Pacific.
The Brisbane edition follows the Rotorua launch on 23 January 2027, establishing the festival as a new trans‑Tasman brand that will join Queensland’s summer calendar. The event is positioned as a platform for Pacific and Indigenous music that is gaining a growing audience in Australia.
At present, ticket sales are open and the festival’s schedule is set. The event will run for a single day, with the lineup and venue details confirmed. No further releases, tour dates or festival appearances have been announced beyond the 30 January 2027 date.
The festival’s focus on roots music and Pacific culture, its all‑ages policy, and the inclusion of high‑profile acts such as Sir Dave Dobbyn and South Summit position 8TH Wonder as a notable addition to the 2027 Australian festival scene. The event’s success will be measured by ticket sales, audience reception and the broader impact on the visibility of Aotearoa and Pacific artists in Australia.
The first Australian edition of the 8TH Wonder Festival, a one‑day roots‑music celebration, is set to bring together artists from Aotearoa, Australia and the wider Pacific. Created by the New Zealand band and entertainment company Loop, the festival launched its trans‑Tasman brand on 23 January in Rotorua before expanding to Queensland.
L.A.B will open the line‑up, but the program is a rich tapestry of reggae, soul, dub, R&B and contemporary Indigenous music. Other performers include Te Wehi, Sir Dave Dobbyn, South Summit, Aaradhna, Che Fu & The Kratez, Ladi6, Corrella, The Elovaters and Son & Water. The event is marketed as all‑ages and family‑friendly, with children under five admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.
Formed in 2016, L.A.B has become one of New Zealand’s most commercially successful acts, with multiple platinum albums and singles and sold‑out shows across Australasia. Lead vocalist Joel Shadbolt said the band were “really excited to be a part of 8TH WONDER” and highlighted the festival’s family focus. “There’s not many festivals where you can bring your kids along, and whānau is a really key part of L.A.B, so for this to be all ages means it’s going to be a magic day,” Shadbolt added.
Loop’s Michael Tucker explained that the festival was built as an artist‑led event from day one. “We wanted to create the kind of event we’d love to go to ourselves, incredible music, room to breathe, artists you can actually get close to, and a day that feels welcoming for everyone,” Tucker said.
The lineup also contains several milestones. Sir Dave Dobbyn’s appearance marks his first Australian tour date in more than eight years. Te Wehi, named Breakthrough Artist at the 2026 New Zealand Music Awards, has sold‑out tours in New Zealand and Australia. South Summit, an Indigenous five‑piece from Perth, follows the release of their album Run It Back, which was selected as a triple j Feature Album.
The festival will be staged at the recently expanded Eatons Hill Outdoor Precinct, a venue that has hosted international acts such as Prince and Post Malone and was recently named Queensland’s Best Entertainment Venue. Organisers say the all‑ages event will include food trucks, bars and festival stalls. Ticketing options include general admission and a limited VIP allocation, with Afterpay available. Early‑bird tickets go on sale at 10 am on Friday 3 July on 8thwonder.live. Prices are GA Early Bird $127.50, GA First Release $147.50 and Limited VIP $287.50. Children under five are free.
8TH Wonder is a joint venture between Loop and the Comiskey Group, companies that have worked across live entertainment and festival production throughout Australasia for more than two decades. The festival’s creators say it continues an ethos established by Loop’s early‑2000s music compilations, which introduced audiences beyond New Zealand to artists from Aotearoa and the Pacific.
The Brisbane edition follows the Rotorua launch on 23 January 2027, establishing the festival as a new trans‑Tasman brand that will join Queensland’s summer calendar. The event is positioned as a platform for Pacific and Indigenous music that is gaining a growing audience in Australia.
At present, ticket sales are open and the festival’s schedule is set. The event will run for a single day, with the lineup and venue details confirmed. No further releases, tour dates or festival appearances have been announced beyond the 30 January 2027 date.
The festival’s focus on roots music and Pacific culture, its all‑ages policy, and the inclusion of high‑profile acts such as Sir Dave Dobbyn and South Summit position 8TH Wonder as a notable addition to the 2027 Australian festival scene. The event’s success will be measured by ticket sales, audience reception and the broader impact on the visibility of Aotearoa and Pacific artists in Australia.
