There’s something about a neighbourhood street party that makes you feel like a kid again, like you’ve wandered into something you weren’t necessarily invited to, but somehow still belong in. That’s what Morningside Mixtape, staged in late April by Auckland studio/venue Big Fan, in collaboration with the Albert-Eden Local Board, felt like. Not overly polished, not trying too hard. Just people showing up for each other, and for the music.

From the jump, the crowd looked like they’d all come from different places, maybe even different plans, but everyone still made sense standing together. I remember being at a Troy Kingi show at the Auckland Town Hall a few years back, when supporting artist Mara TK called the audience a real “mixed bag.” The same could be said here.

Festival goers were welcomed by acrobatic performers dressed as traffic cones- actual life-size orange traffic cones. Once you were in, it didn’t feel like entering a venue, more like being absorbed into something already in motion. Body FX added glitter to the mix, and local legend Lucky Lance guided us through the kaupapa of the day and the lineup ahead.

There were two stages, one inside Big Fan and the main stage out on McDonald St. Moving between them felt like stepping between different worlds. Inside and outside held completely different energies, but both were locked in. It felt like stepping out of a mall on a sunny day.

Inside Big Fan, Sancy Prabhakar delivered a soft, floaty set that drew people in, while Back to the Hillside dove deep. The crowd reacted straight away, especially when they signalled a shift into the weightier part of their set. It was music you could feel in your chest, heavy, but with a gravitational pull of sorts.

Outside, Sidetracked came through slick, switching between originals and covers with ease. They held their own out there. No hesitation, just straight into it, and people gathered without needing much convincing.

As the day rolled on, moving between stages became second nature. You’d catch part of a set, drift, run into someone you hadn’t seen in a while, then end up somewhere else entirely. It never felt rushed. If you found yourself outside, you’d catch Emerson, bringing a young, restless energy with a cinematic sound that carried.

Then the rain hit. Organisers pivoted smoothly. Lucky Lance called a short break and encouraged people to support the local businesses along McDonald St. Some stayed out, but most moved inside, packing into Big Fan. Windbreakers crunched with every shift, shoes were damp, but no one seemed too bothered.

The Boondocks stepped into that moment like it was part of their set. They kept things light with a layered sound, easy transitions and jokes shared between the band. The room settled into it. When the rain eased, the street felt different. Wetter, obviously, but warmer too. People filtered back out and picked things back up.

Where’s Jai carried that energy forward. When the sound dipped, they didn’t let it stall. They pulled the crowd into it, letting the drums lead the way. It was a simple but effective crowd energiser, winning fans before they’d even fully kicked off.

Back inside, Sam Cullen commanded the stage, vocals doing the absolute most while his band moved like a well-oiled machine. There was something nostalgic in it, like staying over at a childhood friend’s house as an adult, familiar, but hitting differently.

There’s A Tuesday closed things out, easing everyone into the final stretch. People swaying, babies on shoulders, others just taking it all in. You could tell they’ve built something solid in the community. There were no gimmicks, just good music and people backing it.

Looking around toward the end, it was hard not to notice how many different kinds of people had stayed the distance. Families, friend groups, people who knew every word, and people who had just wandered in. Even with the rain, nothing dropped off. If anything, it pulled people closer and grounded the whole kaupapa.

Events like Morningside Mixtape don’t just happen. They rely on people backing the arts, funding local ambitions, and trusting that communities will show up. Big Fan and the Albert-Eden Local Board put real support behind this one, and you could feel it, even when the weather tried to test it. It didn’t need to be perfect to be special. It just needed space and people willing to back it. And Morningside Mixtape had both.