Strangely Arousing have been named as part of the Raggamuffin 2014 line-up.
Strangely Arousing have been named as part of the Raggamuffin 2014 line-up.
Dream gig for young musicians
Western Heights High School's award-winning band Strangely Arousing have been named along with big names such as Ardijah, Aotearoa Reggae All Stars, Che Fu and King Kapisi as new additions to the line-up for Raggamuffin 2014.
Organisers today announced several new acts, including Common Kings, would return for the festivaland announced several other new acts to hit the stage including a big DJ line-up.
Other new acts in the latest announcement include Majic and Lion Rockers Hi-Fi along with a strong DJ line-up, including DJ Sirvere, DJ Poroufessor, DJ Art, DJ Locksteady, Sgt Benji, Ben Sifty Goodness, Deach, DJ Masive, DJ Jayrasik, and DJ Infared.
The new acts join a line-up of reggae megastars with headliners Damian Marley (youngest son of legend Bob Marley), Shaggy, Groundation, Rebel Souljahz and, for the first time in New Zealand, Morgan Heritage. Also featuring are three stars from the Marley brothers' Ghetto Youths International record label, Christopher Ellis, Black Am I and Wayne Marshall.
Strangely Arousing member Lukas Wharekura said Raggamuffin would be the biggest event the five-piece ska/rock band had ever played at.
The group, made up of former Western Heights High School students Wharekura, Shaun Loper, Oliver Prendergast, Forrest Thorp and Liam Rolfe, won the chance to open the main stage after winning this year's Pacifica Beats competition.
Wharekura said the group were excited about Raggamuffin.
"It's going to be an amazing experience. The fact that we get to share the stage with people like Damian Marley and Shaggy who we've been listening to since we were knee high."
Aotearoa Reggae All Stars will perform as part of next year's line-up.
Organisers have also announced that those who buy tickets before Christmas will be in the draw for a prize valued at more than $10,000, including a trip for two (flights, accommodation and VIP passes) to Hawaii for the Mayjah Rayjah festival in July 2014, an upgrade for Raggamuffin 2014 to House of Marley VIP and an exclusive goodie bag, $1000 of House of Marley products, a gallon of Coruba and Destination Rotorua vouchers.
Raggamuffin 2014 takes place on Friday, January 31, and Saturday, February 1, at Rotorua International Stadium and this year, organisers have spread the headline acts across both days.
Raggamuffin 2014 is also supporting the charity Y for Youth, with a donation from every ticket sold going to help support New Zealand youth organisations.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster 0800 111 999 www.ticketmaster.co.nz and include two-day passes, single day tickets, family passes and group discounts.
