Sell-out on cards for Rotorua Polyfest

Rotorua's first NZ Polyfest is expected to be a sell-out.

Organisers say thousands of tickets have already been sold for the October 14 festival at Kuirau Park and they are encouraging Rotorua residents to get their tickets fast in case they all go.

The 2011 festival will feature Hawaiian reggae artist JBoog and a Hawaiian six-piece reggae band called Hot Rain will be part of the line-up.

JBoog, who has dominated the airwaves with his hit Let's Do It Again, also featured on the track This Is Love by Monster, which spent 11 weeks on the New Zealand top 40 singles chart.

Kiwi artists in the line-up will include 1814, Katchafire, Three Houses Down, Nesian Mystik, Sons of Zion, Che Fu, Maisey Rika and Spacifix.

The event will also feature two up-and-coming Australian acts - gospel group Sor and singer Mark Lowndes.

Australia-based organiser Dean Harawira said thousands of tickets had already been sold for event.

"I think it's just going to be a great celebration for our people. I think that this is going to be a sell-out."

Thousands of tickets had already been sold with many being bought outside Rotorua.

Mr Harawira said the event could cater for 5000 people and he encouraged Rotorua residents wanting to attend to get their tickets quick.

He alo expects a large number of local tickets being sold in the last few weeks before the concert.

Mr Harawira said the New Zealand Polyfest would be a boost to Rotorua's economy with all artists staying in the city, visiting its attractions and money being spent in the city by all the concert-goers.