An Emerald City playing in the cave. Photo / Dean Purcell

KEY POINTS:

There were psychedelic stirrings from within the main cave at Whatipu this week when Auckland band An Emerald City started recording their first album at the remote and rugged west coast beach.

Powered by a generator, the six-piece band who play at the Big Day Out this Friday, plugged in their instruments and let rip with their hypnotic eastern-inspired rock.

The cave, a 15-to-20 minute walk from the Whatipu carpark, is accustomed to a musical racket as it was the venue for dances in the early 1900s. However, over the years sand has drifted into the cave and covered up the dance floor.

Keyboardist Sam Handley got the idea to record in a cave during a visit to the caves at Bethells Beach and thought the cavernous acoustics would suit the band's sound.

They chose the Whatipu cave because it is not influenced by the tide.

"I don't see it as trying to be different, just being open minded.

"We came across this cave and said, 'Let's do it'."

The band's album is due out in March.