What's a Kiwi summer without quality live music? Reporter KRISTIN MACFARLANE has put together your guide to this summer's gigs.
Bay Dreams, Tauranga, January 1-2:
Bay Dreams is a two-day music festival held at Baypark in Tauranga, which includes a warm-up party on January 1 and the main event on January 2. Headlining the January 2 festival is R&B singer Kehlani, who will perform alongside artists such as DJ Snake, Machine Gun Kelly, Big Shaq, Foster The People, Flatbush Zombies and $uicideboy$.
Neil and Liam Finn present Where's My Room —a nationwide tour between January 3-27:
This father and son duo will play 18 small town shows this summer starting off in Piha's Barnett Hall on January 3 and ends in the Milton Coronation Hall on January 27. Although a lot of the venues have sold out, check out the tour dates and locations to see if there is availability wherever you are this summer.
Bryan Adams —Matakana on January 2, New Plymouth on January 4, Mount Maunganui on January 5 and Hawke's Bay on January 6:
Bryan Adams is bringing his Get Up world tour to New Zealand in some picturesque outdoor summer venues and it will be the first time since the early 200s he will be bringing his full live band too.
Six60 featuring Nico & Vinz, The New World Tour — Wellington on January 8, Hawke's Bay on January 9 and 10, Tauranga on January 11 and Auckland on January 13:
A Six60 concert doesn't need a lot of encouraging and with the featured guests Nico & Vinz, who sing the popular That's How You Know, to boot this will no doubt be a must see gig this summer.
One Love — Tauranga Domain, January 27 and 28:
Summer just isn't summer without some good reggae music and with the range of
artists included in this year's line-up, lovers of any reggae style will be catered to. This event is known to sell-out and with the line-up including Shaggy, Common Kings, J-Boog, Sons of Zion, 1814 and more, I'm sure this year will be no different.
St Jerome's Laneway Festival — Auckland on January 29:
If reggae music isn't your thing there is another massive festival on during
Auckland Anniversary Weekend — Laneway features an impressive international and local line-up including Amy Shark, Julia Byrne, Billie Eilish Anderson Paak and loads more.
Flochella — Tikitapu in Rotorua, February 5:
Imagine listening to quality live music in the sun while also cooling off in equally
quality waters? Sounds good doesn'tit? Wellthat's exactly what you can do at Flochella — an on-the-water festival which has moved from Lake Taupo to Tikitapu, more commonly known as the Blue Lake for 2018.
Coastella Music Festival — Kapiti Coast on February 17:
This one-day summer festival has plenty to offer, showcasing a diverse range of
established and emerging artists including The Black Seeds, Hot potato Band and Nadia Reid. You'll hear energetic folk, indie rock, banjo and brass and more.
Auckland City Limits — Auckland on March 3:
This full-day music festival will offer more than 30 acts of varied styles performing on five stages including Beck and Grace Jones and even contemporary hip-hop artists Future and Young Thug. There'll be something for everybody here.
Jim Beam Homegrown — Wellington Waterfront on April 7:
Who doesn'tlove a Homegrown festival and why wouldn't you want to try and cling on to any feeling of summer by attending a music festival once the season has officially ended?! With performers including Shapeshifter, Devilskin, Sachi, Mitch James, Hollie Smith, Katchafire and more performing in separate rock, dub and roots, electronic, LAB and city stages, festival-goers will no doubt be in for a good time.