RDU98.5FM presents MECHANISM – Exclusively Live for One NZ Performance at ULTRASONIC III!
RDU98.5FM presents MECHANISM – Exclusively Live for One NZ Performance at ULTRASONIC III!
August 15th, 2025
Three decades after the originals, Ultrasonic is back for one night only at the Sydenham Underpass with an exclusive performance from legendary 1990s techno giant Denver McCarthy aka MECHANISM.
A pioneering figure in New Zealand’s electronic music scene, Denver McCarthy will be performing an exclusive one-off set as MECHANISM in tribute to the techno heads of Ōtautahi and beyond.
MECHANISM joins an already massive line-up of local and international DJs including (alphabetical):
ACTION JACK, ARAGORN, BASALT, BELLSY, CRYBABY, DMAN, DTOUR, DEXTA, DWULLWUD, GREG CHURCHILL, HIJINX, INFORDIN, INSOMNIAC, IRV, JAY LUV, K8, KATALYST, KING AL, LANA DEL RAVE, LIAM K. SWIGGS, LUSH, MARTIN JAY, MR STEEL, OB1, PYLON, PYRE, SLIPMATT, SOLIDSTATE, and STEALTH.
And rounding out the line-up is award-winning artist TALI on MC duties for the night, bringing her trademark electrifying and energetic performance style to the Ultrasonic stage.
Born in Tokoroa and raised in Auckland, Denver McCarthy was drawn to music early on, inspired by electronic tracks like Paul Hardcastle’s ‘19’ and hip-hop culture from films like Beat Street.
In the 1990s, he became a leading producer of industrial techno under the alias MECHANISM (notably his 1994 album Morningstar) and later crafting the dub techno masterpiece Inside a Quiet Mind (1998) as MICRONISM, which in 2023 was honored with the Taite Music Prize Classic Record Award.
His music reflects a deep immersion in techno and ambience, cementing his legacy as an artist who bridges electronic innovation with an inward spiritual exploration.
To enhance your raving experience at Ultrasonic III there’ll be sound powered by SUBTLE SOUNDSYSTEM, 103 SOUNDSYSTEM and BOOM CANDY SOUNDSYSTEM as well as lighting and visuals provided by ETHERVISION, INNERPHASE LASER SYSTEMS, and ILLUMINATI LIGHTING.
Celebrate 30 years of rave culture in Ōtautahi at Ultrasonic III, Saturday 20th September at the Sydenham Underpass. Don’t miss your chance to experience a night of peak rave culture, three decades in the making.
First release tickets have nearly sold out, so gather a crew and secure yours now!
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