VALHALLA

“THE PEOPLES VENUE IN WELLINGTON” 

It’s pretty rare for people these days to show up to a gig on time just to see the first act. In fact it almost never happens unless you’re friends with the person playing & even then people don’t really care. They want to arrive when the party is at its best moment. Not when the party is beginning. People want to drink cheap alcohol at their friends pre party & reminisce about highschool antics. People don’t want to risk having a good time over a bad time. But how do you know showing up early will be a bad time if you never try ? But none of the above applies if you party at Valhalla ofcourse. Valhalla, the grimey little dungeon that caters to all walks of people & serves up some of the best nights out you’ll experience in Wellington. Valhalla has always been one of my favorite places to party here in Wellington but in the last year it has served as a home to some of the most cutting edge sub cultures & underground music in Newzealand. The electronic music scene in Wellington is alive & well & the best place to experience this new wave of 90’s rave nostalgia is at Valhalla. Traditionally it has been a place for the Metal Heads of Welly to meet up & lose themselves in the mosh pit. To be completely honest I think most people for a very long time have thought this about Valhalla. Regardless of this, there has always been a very eclectic style of music playing at Valhalla. Ben (The absolute legend) who runs Valhalla has always been welcoming & supportive to all types of music. Whether it’s skin melting metal, 80’s synthwave, faded mumble rap,boring indie music, or high energy dance music Ben will always give local artists a chance to express themselves & perform to a community of people who are as welcoming as he is. Not just Wellington but everywhere needs more people like Ben & more venues like Valhalla. He is basically the only person in Wellington who will happily help support local artists no matter what the music is & he offers the cheapest price out of any venue as well. Because of Ben's positive attitude & willingness to support the underground it has allowed for a plethora of subcultures to peacefully emerge in the Wellington music scene. Promotion companies like Insession & Section 9 are some of the first among these new subcultures to take advantage of the beautiful filthiness Valhalla can create in a night out. It possesses a strong community of like minded people who want to dance, enjoy themselves & support local artists. Because of how successful the nights these groups organize are, so many more people are following suit. In the last few months every weekend at Valhalla has been absolutely mental. Unknown artists packing out gigs with people dancing up on stage with the Djs. Multi genre nights with diverse line ups & some of the best weird music you’ve ever heard. People showing up at 9:30 when the show starts & staying till 3. The energy at Valhalla is unmatched within Wellington City at the moment. People aren’t just showing up to get drunk, see friends & party… They’re showing up to be a part of a community that supports local talent & wants the best for NewZealand music. They’re showing up to feel free & express themselves in any way they desire. Genre no longer matters at a place like Valhalla & I think its audience feels the same way. It is the mecha for underground arts & culture in Wellington & it feels like it’s only just getting started. So I say this to you, the reader. The next time you’re thinking of going out in Wellington make sure Valhalla is on your list. Because once you’re there, you’ll never want to leave.