Big Day Out fans face late night for line-up

New Zealand music fans won't find out if Shihad and other bands are on the Big Day Out 2012 line-up until late on Thursday night. Photo / Richard Robinson

New Zealand Big Day Out fans will need to stay up late if they want to know who's playing at next year's Australasian music festival.

After days of confusion over where and when the line-up would be announced, Big Day Out organisers confirmed on Facebook that band names would be drip-fed via social media sites tomorrow night.

Organisers said 17 acts would be announced between 8-10pm (Australian time) on Thursday night, with three headlining acts - "and something else that is sick" held back until Friday morning.

With a three-hour time difference, that means Kiwi music fans face a late night on Thursday, and an early start on Friday, to have the line-up revealed to them.

Previous years have seen line-ups revealed at an early morning mid-week shindig for media and industry members at Backbeat bar on K Rd in Auckland. That won't be happening this year.

Social media has become a popular way for music festivals to reveal line-ups lately, with Australia's Soundwave festival recently announcing its line-up over several days to gain more traction on Twitter.

There are always plenty of rumours flying around about Big Day Out line-ups, and next year's has been no different with everyone from Prince to Eminem suggested as headliners.

More likely suggestions include System of a Down, Arcade Fire, Bjork and PJ Harvey.

Two acts already seem certain to appear on the bill, with British rockers Kasabian confirming a second-to-last mainstage slot to an Australian magazine, while wacky rap group Odd Future also let it slip they were coming Down Under in the New Year.

The date for the New Zealand leg of the Big Day Out 2012 is believed to be Friday, January 20 at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

* The full line-up will be available on Friday morning on nzherald.co.nz, followed by a live chat with New Zealand Big Day Out promoter Campbell Smith.

- Herald online