CubaDupa 2024 First Lineup Announced — Shepherds Reign, MELODOWNZ, Foley, Lost Tribe Aotearoa, Yaw Asumadu & Ozi Ozaa, PollyHill x Samara Alofa + More

Pōneke's whānau-friendly, entirely free to all-comers street festival tradition CubaDupa has announced the first wave of musical acts for 2024, energising the Cuba Street precinct with "art, music, culture, parades, interactive experiences, and life" on 23rd and 24th March. Hosting artists from all around Aotearoa, the bustling initial bill (with even more to come) embraces a diversity of musical styles and traditions. 2024's lineup includes Polynesian metal titans Shepherds Reign, Avondale rap star MELODOWNZ, roots / dub / rock / ska / blues collective Lost Tribe Aotearoa, Tāmaki Makaurau pop duo Foley, Afrofunk / Highlife collective Yaw Asumadu and Ozi Ozaa, aliencore innovators PollyHill x Samara Alofa, party-igniting rapper / producer WHO SHOT SCOTT, post-punk rising force Soft Bait, Māori neo-soul / pop / funk seven-pice MOHI, soul / funk / disco groovers Revulva, Waiata Māori Music Award winner Amba Holly, and many more.

Beyond the annual festival's on-stage offerings, CubaDupa 2024's street performance programme includes Birdlife Productions — using "puppetry, masks, music, and storytelling" to "produce original high-quality, hand-made street theatre for the whole whānau." There will also be the debut Uke-a-Dupa parade, bringing together ukulele-wielding performers of all ages for "a mass performance on the Wellington Airport Ngā Taniwha Stage". Yum food is also top of the agenda, with the Fresh Choice Street Feast encompassing over 100 venders, including food trucks, pop-up stalls and local businesses. There will be even more music and artists revelations to come in the weeks ahead, ensure you haven't accidentally made any other plans and join the fun on 23rd and 24th March...

"Every year we start with a blank canvas that gets filled with an extraordinary array of talent and arts that could only happen in the world of CubaDupa. This year we challenge audiences to “find their wild” and become part of the CubaDupa-landia experience. Thanks to the artists for their creative inspiration, our funders and sponsors for making the impossible possible, and an incredible team that makes it all happen." — Drew James, Director of CubaDupa

"The street music and theatrical performances are truly going to take over this year. We are so excited about our community engagement activations, such as Uke-a-Dupa!, and other exciting projects we have cooking up. The streets are going to be electrified with talent, with spectacular, whacky, wild and joyful work." — Abby Lyons, CubaDupa’s Festival Coordinator

CubaDupa 2024
Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th March - Cuba Street precinct, Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington (free, all-ages)

Featuring... Amba Holly, Birdlife Productions, Foley, Hearth, Iskra, Jordyn with a Why, Lost Tribe Aotearoa, MELODOWNZ, MOHI, PollyHill x Samara Alofa, Revulva, Shepherds Reign, Soft Bait, Tom Knowles with Friends, WHO SHOT SCOTT, Yaw Asumadu and Ozi Ozaa + more to be announced

For more info head along to www.cubadupa.co.nz

Experience Shepherds Reign's thunderous 2020 single 'Le Manu'...

Hit play on MELODOWNZ's 2020 collaboration with US rap star Denzel Curry 'No Mercy'...

Watch the official video for PollyHill x Samara Alofa standout 2023 single 'QUEERBAIT'...