A Low Hum

Infest 2024 (New Zealand)

INFEST 2024 Family Photo 

(This wasn’t everybody there, but no formal photograph was planned, this was just taken spontaneously after a group dinner of mac’n’cheese - thanks Jade - on the last night)

Infest 2024 took place Feb 19-21, 2024. Between weekends 1 and 2 of Camp A Low Hum.


The Winter Fund provided the infrastructure, equipment, facilities and crew: there was a PA, dedicated engineer and space where bands could book in jam sessions to write new material themselves or collaborate with others and a studio with recording engineer, mixing engineer, backline and studio equipment. Bands would have 1-hour to set up, rehearse and record to get up to 12-minutes of final content (for Cuck, this meant a full 6-track EP). Recording sessions were relaxed and fun with others at Infest able to hang out and watch the sessions.


Once recorded and mixed, the track/s would then be handed over to a lathe cutting engineer who cut 25 x 10” lathes of that recording. The Winter Fund had also covered bringing the amazing Johnny Electric up from Christchurch with 5 lathes to be cutting records non-stop over those three days. 

Artists were paired together and made their own bespoke artwork on the record covers. These records were then sold a few days later at the second weekend of the music festival.


Artists, some of whom may have previously taken years to finish releases, found themselves writing, recording and releasing on lathe cut vinyl within three days. 

We also had innovative video engineers teaching artists how to use hardware to manipulate and generate innovative visuals - also assisting artists making music videos onsite. 

There were also numerous workshops taking place, conceived of and led by the musicians themselves. These ranged from forest walks to sample-pack generation, talks on US, NZ and AU touring/music scenes, through to line-dancing classes.

Jam/Collab Bookings and DIY Workshop schedules. Photos by Hugh Crozier

Though the artistic and musical outcomes were important, what the real focus of this event was bringing a community together, people who might normally only have fleeting time together in dingy bars, getting to spend quality time together, finding camaraderie and a support network. Looking after the mental health and wellbeing of artists increases the likelihood of them being able to create more art, be more effective at promoting it and do it for a longer period of time. 

The bands to record and release 10” splits at Infest ‘24 were:

  • Problems / Black Snake Whip

  • Holy Fuck / Dr Sure’s Unsual Practise

  • Elvin Brandhi & Randy Randall / Guppy

  • Cuck / Reptrillion Culture Club

  • Private Function / Pretty Dumb

  • Wilieu / Vanessa Worm

  • Danika & Friends / Ebony Lamb

  • Splinter / Bloody Overalls

  • Hoha+Twine / Tongue Dissolver & Guppy & Kenny

  • Turtle Skull

    + Turtle Skull and Holy Fuck recorded a session together right at the end that we didn’t get time to edit and release (yet). 

Did INFEST work? Probably best to hear from the bands themselves:

Vanessa Work talks of her experience at Camp/Infest on Triple R

Poster by Veronica Brett