BIG FAN FOURTH BIRTHDAY SHOW
BIG FAN is celebrating its fourth birthday on Saturday 14 November, opening its doors for a full day of music, community, and live show in Morningside, Tāmaki Makaurau.
In the evening, the celebrations move into the venue with live performances from Sam Cullen & His Band, Sarvi, Star, and Johnny Naisbitt. The lineup celebrates talent from across Aotearoa’s music scene, bringing together four artists at different stages of their journeys, each with their own distinct sound and approach.
Continuing Big Fan’s commitment to making live music accessible, tickets for the birthday show will once again be Pay What You Can, allowing people to choose a ticket price that suits them. Tickets are on sale through Moshtix.
“Four years in, it’s pretty special to look at how much has happened within these walls and, more importantly, how many people have become part of Big Fan along the way. Whether someone has come through a programme, recorded in the studios, played or attended a show - they’ve all contributed to what Big Fan has become. Our birthday is a great opportunity to celebrate that community and showcase some of the incredible talent in Aotearoa.” - Savina Fountain, CEO
During the day, dig through the crates at the Record Fair (with offerings from Holiday Records and other independent vendors), bring along your music gear for assessment at the Gear Repair station, and upskill with a series of workshops across the recording studios and venue. While you’re there, take the opportunity to check out the full building as part of the Open Day, and kōrero with the team about your music, projects, and how Big Fan can support you. Free coffee provided by Coffee Supreme.
Big Fan is a registered charitable trust based in Morningside, Tāmaki Makaurau, providing access to its three professional recording studios, an all-ages and licensed live music venue, and free programmes that support the development of Aotearoa’s music community.
Since opening in November 2022, the studios have been used by over 3,500 creatives, with the venue playing host to 630 shows and events featuring almost 1,800 artists, collectively involving over 7,000 people performing on stage and drawing over 42,000 fans through the doors. Big Fan has also delivered 50 key programmes for 351 core participants, engaging a further 604 creatives along the way.
Here’s to four years of making music, making connections and making BIG FANs.
SAM CULLEN & HIS BAND
There’s a unique notion of pride that comes with being born and bred in a smalltown at the bottom of New Zealand (aka the end of the world). Equally, the drive to get the hell out at all costs has been there since Sam Cullen picked up a guitar. Rounding off a massive 2025, Sam released his self-titled debut album - 10 tracks infused with the rising star’s unique and refreshing style of rock‘n’roll-meets-pop. The album is a reflection on coming to terms with adulthood, inspired by stories from home and experiences coming of age in Aotearoa. The lead single ‘That Somebody’s You’ spent 5 weeks on the Hot NZ 20 Singles Chart and boasts a picturesque video shot on the SH1 Desert Rd by Tom Grut.
The summer of 25/26 was Sam's biggest yet as he took his 4-piece band on their sold-out summer tour hallmarked by a two-night stint at Rhythm & Vines. 2026 sees this release of his follow up single ‘Oh So Lonely’, kicking off his next era of releases. Over the past 5 years, Sam has steadily climbed the ladder of success; playing on some of Aotearoa’s biggest stages, selling out headline shows and playing support slots around the country for the likes of Keli Holiday and Cassie Henderson.
SARVI
Sarvi is a singer-songwriter from Iran, born and raised in Aotearoa. She creates a wave of sound that draws on hip-hop, jazz and R&B influences, with music that sits somewhere between those worlds: honest and unmistakably her own. In 2025, Sarvi won First Cut, an initiative from Big Fan, Holiday Records and Downbeat Mastering, which saw her single ‘Hold On’ pressed to 7” vinyl and performing a headline show at Big Fan. Following the release of her latest single ‘Snake Charmer’, Sarvi has a new EP in the works.
STAR
Star is an emerging indie artist from Raglan. Raised on a farm and surrounded by music from a young age, she picked up her first guitar at just nine years old. Blending indie, indie pop, and bedroom pop influences with touches of soul and rock, Star is developing a sound that feels both fresh and authentic.
Her debut single ‘When You’re Around’ was written in her very first studio session alongside Muroki and Reiki Ruawai, marking a defining moment in her journey as an artist. Following its release, it reached the Top 10 NZ Airplay chart, remaining there for 10 consecutive weeks. Star has also been building her live experience, supporting Borderline across three New Zealand shows before joining the band on tour in the UK in August 2026. Her second single, ‘Blurry Eyes’, is set for release on 30th October.
JOHNNY NAISBITT
At just 15 years old, Johnny Naisbitt is an emerging singer-songwriter and guitarist from Waikanae on the Kāpiti Coast who is already making his mark. This year, he took part in Ignite Pōneke, where he received the Music Production prize to travel to Tāmaki Makaurau to write and record at Big Fan, and was also selected for Fan Camp Rangatahi. Johnny was recently invited by Marlon Williams to join him on stage at the Wellington show of his Tā Te Manawa tour. Known for his soulful take on covers, he is now beginning to introduce his own original music into his live sets.