Tour news: Expanded Northern Bass announces line-up

Shapeshifter will headline Northern Bass on New Year's Eve (supplied).

Music festival Northern Bass is expanding to become a three-day event after its sell-out success in 2014.

That means the celebrations can begin early for those heading to Mangawhai to see in the New Year, with campgrounds opening for those who want to get the best spots on December 29.

One stage will be open and screening movies to entertain the earlybirds.

This year's festival is being headlined by local electronic heroes Shapeshifter and Skepta, the UK grime artist who has a major hit on his hands with this year's single Shutdown.

Skepta (supplied)

Other acts on the hip-hop and dance-friendly bill include Chali 2na, DJ Marky, Mala, Homebrew, Ladi6, Machinedrum, Danny Byrd, Swindle, A-Sides, Skeptical, Dub Phizix + Strategy, State Of Mind + MC Woody, Dylan C, K+Lab, DLR, Bailey Wiley, Midnight Gallery, Tali, Diaz Grimm, 48 Sonic, Totems and Randa.

More international acts will be confirmed in a second line-up announcement.
Festival director Gareth Popham says the the festival has expanded after demands from fans.

"The idea of adding the 29th came after we received requests from a large portion of our audience to extend their Northern Bass experience," he says.

And he's happy with the headliners: "Getting to see Shapeshifter perform on the Northern Bass main stage has always been a long-term goal of mine."

Tickets are on sale through www.iticket.co.nz

See tomorrow's TimeOut for more major music festival announcement for the spring and summer.