Princess Chelsea's Midwinter Ball promises '80s kids an escape into cinematic fantasy
Later this month, attendees in Auckland and Wellington will revisit "the shimmering and VHS-heavy age of the early 1980s".
After last year's sold-out Twin Peaks-themed midwinter ball, indie-pop musician Princess Chelsea (aka Chelsea Lee Nikkel) is hosting a fantasy-themed event in Auckland and Wellington this winter.
This year's theme -SWORDS AND SORCERY - Fantasy on The Big Screen -is inspired by early '80s fantasy films likeThe NeverEnding Story.
" I love the music [from that film]. I don't know why, but I feel like there's quite a few people my age-ish who feel the same," Nikkel tells Music 101.
Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) with Falkor the luckdragon in the 1984 film The NeverEnding Story.
Warner Bros
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Although she's moved away from synthy sounds lately, Nikkel says her music has always been inspired by the fantasy movies of her childhood.
Back in 2011, her first-ever music video for the track 'Machines of Loving Grace' was "basically just scenes from The NeverEnding Story".
And even her latest album - the award-winning, more guitar-based Everything Is Going to Be Alright (2022) has a signature synth sound on the track 'Dream Warrior'.
Princess Chelsea on the album cover of The Great Cybernetic Depression (2015)
Supplied
Princess Chelsea's Midwinter Ball will be held at The Civic Wintergarden in Auckland on 18 July (tickets still available) and 19 July (sold out).
Hosted by comedian Tom Sainsbury, there will be performances from Princess Chelsea & The Dream Warriors and special guests Golden Axe and Grecco Romank (Friday only) and The Circling Sun (Saturday only).
On 26 July, Tom Sainsbury hosts the Wellington ball at Meow Nui, with performances by Princess Chelsea & The Dream Warriors, Grecco Romank and Luke Buda.
Auckland electronic trio Grecco Romank at the 2024 Aotearoa Music Awards.
Stijl / James Ensing-Trussell
The music of Auckland duo Golden Axe already sounds like the soundtrack of a video game with swords and sorcery, Nikkel says.
They were the first band she ever saw live - straight after turning 18.
" I walked into the room, and there were these two people, just wizards surrounded in fog, playing stacks of Casios and singing through walkie-talkies. It was really otherworldly and fully immersive, and I loved that."
Princess Chelsea resembled a figure skater at the 2025 Taite Music Awards.
RNZ / Jogai Bhatt
While attendees are encouraged to dress in fantasy attire - and there'll be prizes for the best dressed - people should feel welcome to come "dressed as whatever the hell you want", Nikkel says.
"Don't stress out about the theme too much. You could come as a crystal... That's the funny thing with these outfits, like you don't actually have to come as a character."
