Hide was heaving on Saturday night for Sola Rosa’s stop on the In The Mids tour. Christchurch turned up in force, packing the 03 club with longtime fans and curious newcomers keen on the project’s fresh, producer‑driven direction. The atmosphere was warm, sweaty in all the right ways, and buzzing from the moment doors opened.
For someone who doesn’t go to many EDM gigs, I was impressed and immersed the whole time!
First up was local dub artist Deep Fried Dub. He eased the crowd in with his signature heavy, rumbling bass. There was plenty of thick delays, rootsy echoes, and proper low‑end warmth had the whole room humming. His music got heads nodding and bodies loosening up without blowing the lid off too early. He knew exactly how to work the crowd, and his set laid down a solid foundation for the night.
DJ Nacoa followed, lifting the energy another notch. Blending funk, soulful house and slick electronica grooves, Nacoa kept the dancefloor filling out steadily while perfectly bridging between Deep Fried Dub into Sola Rosa territory. His selections hit that sweet spot between chill and bounce, and the Hide system carried it all with crisp, punchy clarity.
DJ Nacoa gave the audience a really smooth transitional set that had the punters nicely primed and ready for the main event.
Andrew Spraggon AKA Sola Rosa brought a more focused, studio-rooted live setup for the In The Mids tour. Plenty of live musicians featured throughout his set, and I was beyond stoked. The blend of live vocals, instruments, DJ decks, synths, and pads kept me locked in the entire time.
From there on the set flowed beautifully, mixing fresh material with specially selected older tracks. It was exciting to hear and see In The Mids performed live, and it was just as good if not better than the recorded album. Sola Rosa had me and the crowd in the palm of his hand as soon as he hit the stage. Hands in the air with the full dancefloor moving and massive smiles all around.
Spraggon’s stage presence is understated, but it carries real weight. Granted, he let the music do most of the talking but he still led the room well. His new music has this slick, soulful, textural depth that Hide’s sound system ate up beautifully.
The Christchurch crowd was fully invested the whole way through, and turned the gig into a proper sweaty, grooving celebration of both the new record and the legacy. A bloody dope night at Hide, start to finish. Deep Fried Dub and DJ Nacoa set the tone perfectly, and Sola Rosa delivered a classy, evolving set that shows he’s still got plenty left in the tank after 25 years. If this tour’s coming near you, sort your tickets. You won’t regret it.
Final Verdict: 8.5/10
Gallery – Sola Rosa @ Hide, Christchurch – 30/05/2026
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About the author Jack Readman
Vocalist for Christchurch hardcore band Crisis, and handling vocals, bass, and a bit of everything for the pop punk/easycore band Frontier. Originally from England, I’ve lived in Ōtautahi (Christchurch) for 19 years. I started going to gigs, playing in bands, and getting involved in the scene as soon as I could as a teenager. I’ve got a deep love for Christchurch, especially the metal and metal-adjacent scene in the 03. Married, father of two boys, Oscar and Oliver. Time with my family away from music and creative stuff is my happy place. Everyone’s got something to offer, no matter their background. With the right support, people can go further than they realise.
