Splore 2012 First Line-up Announcement

Splore returns to the coast next year after venturing into the city for this years festival. This morning they released a taster of the line-up for 2012 made up of largely local acts with the promise of bigger announcements to come.

Here's the first of the line-up announcements...

Gappy Ranks (UK),Tiki, The Yoots, Hermitude, Barons of Tang, Lord Echo and His Melodies, The Nudge, AHoriBuzz, Earl Gateshead and Shortee Blitz.

Full details below.

Splore 2012
17th-19th February
Tapapakanga Regional Park

Press Release:

Splore 2012 – a taste of good times at the beach

Splore 2012 has a tantalising little music taster of what to expect at the beach at Tapapakanga Regional Park next February 17 -19.

Mixing it up at Splore will be the dancehall/reggae grooves of Gappy Ranks, the mesmerising vocals of Tiki Taane’s acoustic show and the waiata good times from Fat Freddy’s Hopepa’s - The Yoots.

Splore’s taster demonstrates its eclectic music policy which has become an expectation of the loyal Splore festival fans. “The audience now demands the new, the unknown and the surprise factor” says music director John Minty, “all of which Splore delivers on with its excellent entertainment offering of music, art and performance set in the most idyllic beachside location”.

UK’s hottest reggae/dancehall proponent, Gappy Ranks, makes his first visit to New Zealand . From the streets of London’s Nottinghill Carnival to the beach at Splore this is one act that will travel well.

Also confirmed are Australia’s premier live hip hop/soundscape producers Hermitude and the uplifting gypsy funk of The Barons of Tang.

Wellington bands The Nudge (think swamp music with a party edge), Black Seeds’ Mike Fabulous’ Lord Echo and His Melodies and Aarona Tokona’s powerful funk and soul five piece, AHoriBuzz - will make the trip north for Splore.

UK hip hop DJ supremo Shortee Blitz and dub legend Earl Gateshead (Trojan Sound System anyone?) also return to spread the summer vibe.

Gappy Ranks
One of Britain’s hottest reggae/dancehall artists , Gappy Ranks is set to give Splore attendees a heady mixture of seductive reggae and hip shaking dancehall grooves. Gappy has worked with US rapper Twista and UK MC Lethal B plus producers the Kray Twinz. It will be their first time to New Zealand.

Tiki
Splore welcomes the return of Aotearoa’s favourite son to the Main Stage for an acoustic set with special backing from Optimus Gryme. Yes, you guessed it. .. a heady mix of beautiful ballads and some soaring bass-backed vocals from the crowd-pleasing Tiki Taane. Probably no NWA covers though … sorry.

The Yoots
The Yoots will be bringing their summer magic to Splore next February. The invention of flamboyant Fat Freddy’s Drop trombonist Hopepa (aka Jo Lindsay) and ten of his close muso mates who will be skanking out some classic Maori tunes for the Splore massive to sing along to. Think calypso-ska waiata with a dose of country soul.... by the beach. Tu meke!

Hermitude
First time to New Zealand for an exclusive show at Splore this world class Australia duo are accomplished musicians who bring great electronic beats and hip hop to life with a touch of Cuban-influenced rhythms. Hermitude’s innovative show will endear you forever to our cuzzies over the ditch.

Barons of Tang
Leaving a swathe of dancehall destruction on their first NZ tour earlier this year this Melbourne muso collective are returning to play their high energy mash-up of tango, rockabilly, metal and gypsy funk. If you haven’t experienced this irrepressible musical juggernaut grab your friends at Splore and dance like a dervish.

Lord Echo and His Melodies
Lord Echo and His Melodies will make their Auckland debut at Splore 2012. Presenting the debut "Melodies" album the band includes three sets of brothers - Sam and Jo Lindsay, Dan and Chris Yeabsley and of course Lord Echo and his dear brother Danny Pash. Also involved are Toby 'Clubba' Laing, Riki 'Daddy' Gooch, and Lucien 'I hate the Beatles' Johnson.

The debut performance at Splore will be the first taste Aucklanders will have to savour a rustic mix of Disco-Reggae-Latin-Afrobeat silliness. In reality, 'Melodies' represents the better part of a decade’s sweat and toil from Black Seeds guitarist and producer Mike Fabulous. Don't miss this extra special debut performance : with special guest singer Jennifer Betancourt on hand to recreate the sublime melodies you know and love.

The Nudge
The Wellington three piece led by Ryan Prebble that is gaining an enthusiastic following from their blistering live shows. This is cosmic blues and roots music at its best. Hendrix and Blind Lemon Jefferson anyone?

AHoriBuzz
The new project from Aaron Tokona (Weta, Cairo Knife Fight and Bongmaster) with Hori and Nick Gaffeney laying down a mean rhythm section. The Wellington trio head to Splore to inflict its free-wheeling brand of funk and soul.

Earl Gateshead
A London pioneer of reggae soundsystems Earl ‘s DJ lineage goes back to the late seventies in Brixton and later Soho and East London clubs where he worked alongside Big Youth, Dennis Alcapone, Adrian Sherwood and Bobby Digital. The selector for the Trojan Sound System juggernaut Earl returns to Splore to deliver a delightful dose of conscious, positive reggae music.

Shortee Blitz
Those who caught Shortee’s blistering party set at Splorecity in February will know what Shortee will bring to the beach at Splore 2012. Shortee Blitz is a UK hip hop legend … MOBO award winner, dj to the stars’ own private parties and host of London Kiss FM’s seminal hip hop show since 1994, Shortee will have you dancing like its hot at Splore’s Jagermeister DJ Stage this summer.