Summer's music festival hopes have been boosted by solid additions to February's Splore line-up, including British DJ Mr Scruff and hip-hop supergroup Deltron 3030.
Other big names included on today's second line-up announcement include The Cat Empire and R&B newcomer Tinashe, as well as local artists the Phoenix Foundation, SJD and Bulletproof.
They join previously announced acts The Correspondents, Lunice, Trinity Roots, Rodney P, Jason Eli with Basement Jaxx's Sharlene Hector, Labretta Suede and the Motel 6, Race Banyon and Samuel Truth.
It's a typically eclectic line-up for Splore, which becomes an annual event for the first time in its 10-year history over the weekend of February 20-22 at Tapapakanga Regional Park, south of Auckland.
Organisers promise Mr Scruff will play a four-hour set, while Deltron 3030 - Del the Funky Homosapien, Dan the Automator and Kid Koala - will make their live New Zealand debut on the back of their second album Event 2, released last year to solid reviews.
Melbourne-based ska-jazz band The Cat Empire have released six albums of upbeat ska-jazz, including last year's Steal the Light, and are known for their energetic live shows.
Festival Director John Minty says organisers have selected artists with new or recent albums.
"This is the first Splore with so many artists presenting new albums or material," he says.
His picks for the festival's new artists are Kamandi, Race Banyon and Samuel Truth.
He says securing sets from Mr Scruff and Deltron 3030 "are the icing".
Other acts on the bill include Lee Coombs, Azizi Gibson, YT, Filastine, DJ's J Star, Slynk and Pippin. Local stars include Weird Together, HEAVY, Kamandi, Latin Aotearoa, Tali, Aroha and Guy Johnson.
* For more information and tickets visit splore.net.
- TimeOut