Marmalade and Rat World are thrilled to announce The Picnic, a mini-fest featuring a smorgasbord of epic local acts. It’s time to truly sink your teeth into the local music scene, and there’s no better time than now! With a lineup of Auckland's finest up-and-coming artists, park yourself at The Picnic to enjoy sets from Marmalade, Macey, The Dawns, Fan Club, and Psycho Gab. Marmalade Having hit the ground running as a new band, supporting Hot Potato Band (AUS), 10:32 (UK), and Beach Bunny (US), all at the Tuning Fork before even releasing music, Marmalade is well on its way to becoming a staple in the Aotearoa indie-pop-rock scene. They’ve landed on the NZ Hot Singles chart with all their releases to date, and their debut single "Bright" peaked at #2 in June 2023. This summer, Marmalade has secured spots at the Auckland Folk Festival, Music in Parks, and Grey Lynn Park Festival. Between writing music in their living room and working towards their debut EP Sober (out on November 8th), Marmalade’s Koen and Jemilah have been putting The Picnic together and can’t wait to perform live with a full five-piece band! MACEY ‘MACEY’ embraces vulnerability- the ultimate rebellion to the current social norm. MACEY crafts soul on your sleeve, introspective pop tunes that unashamedly expose the anxiety and insecurities of love, loss, friendship and sexuality. Crunchy guitars and live driving drums bring MACEY’s lovestruck anthems to life, with special attention to the soaring vocals that cut through each track, earnestly spilling the truth. He invites you into his world of rawness, reminiscent of artists like Joni Mitchel, Jeff Buckley, The 1975, Bruce Springstien and The War On Drugs. These stories, wrapped up in a blanket of dramatic synths, guitars and drums give us a window into the heart and soul of MACEY. He hopes so desperately to connect, to share the weight of it all, and in doing so gain some catharsis along the way. With some impressive support slots under his belt including Tash Sultana (2018), Lime Cordiale (2019) and Half Alive (2023), MACEY is now spreading his wings, recently performing at Big Sound in Australia and just returning from a three-month stint in London. The Picnic will be his first show back in Tāmaki and with a full band behind him, this is a set you won’t want to miss! The Dawns Indie-alternative-rock band The Dawns strives to create music that isn’t just listened to but experienced. Formed in school, they have been playing professionally for over four years and have a growing list of achievements, including appearances on Seven Sharp, What Now, and Head High. In 2022, they graced the stage at Soundsplash and have supported Dartz, Summer Thieves, Park Rd, and There's a Tuesday for their Auckland shows. Performing live is second nature to The Dawns, and they love seeing the crowd dance to the music they love. Fan Club Winners of the 2023 Auckland Central Smokefree Rockquest, Fan Club is an emerging indie-rock band from Auckland. Lead singer Emma Wagner, guitarist Caleb Young, bassist Tilly Wells, and drummer Thomas Christie recently released their debut EP Towards the Sun. Their recorded work and live shows offer a fresh blend of edgy guitar, tight rhythm section, and soulful vocals, giving them a distinctive sound. Having recently played The Whammy's Small Waves mini-fest and opened for acts like Park Rd, Ekko Park, Coast Arcade, and Borderline, Fan Club is quickly rising in the local indie scene. Psycho Gab Formed in early 2023, Psycho Gab is a neo-soul five-piece based in Tāmaki Makaurau, challenging everything you thought you knew about good music. They have cultivated a unique sound at the crossroads of soul, RnB, jazz, and pop, leaving endless possibilities for smooth grooves. In 2023, they played shows with artists like Casual Healing (Half Cast), SPDRTWNBBY, Na’amah Cheiban (WIJ), Jordyn With A Why, Bub, Elisa, and more. With fresh music on the way, now is the time to bask in the soulful, smooth, and epic sounds of Psycho Gab. Rat World Tāmaki Makaurau-based independent magazine Rat World has teamed up with Jemilah Ross-Hayes and Koen Aldershof from Marmalade to make The Picnic even more mouth-watering. At its core, Rat World focuses on showcasing underground artists and providing a space for all kinds of creatives to be seen and heard. The goal of this event is to support and celebrate young, emerging artists by offering mentorship from experienced creatives and opportunities to showcase their talents. You’ll undoubtedly leave with a plethora of new favorite songs, and we hope this re-ignites your love for the Auckland music scene. Supported by Auckland City of Music, Pals, and the Tuning Fork.