Laneway Festival Sideshows Announced

As well as taking the stage at Laneway Festival over Auckland Anniversary weekend next year, three performers who tick the boxes of - mind-expanding plasm, melting sonic rainbows and hulking riffs - will take their own shows on the road for fans in Wellington and Auckland.

Of course we're talking about electronic wunderkind Flying Lotus, genre-bending indie band Little Dragon and hard rock two-piece Royal Blood.

At Flying Lotus' two sideshows (one in Wellington, one in Auckland), he will showcase his 3D visual performance, which is fully improvised live by a graphics team throughout the show. The fusion of technological innovation and experimental beat making has been explained as "a mind-expanding plasm." The visit down under will support the release of his latest album You’re Dead!.

Formed in Sweden way back in the '90s, Little Dragon perform a genre-bending fusion of pop, electronica and R&B. Their latest and fourth record Nabuma Rubberband features collaborations from the likes of De La Soul and Robin Hannibal and has earned them a nomination at the 2015 Grammy Awards. For their Wellington sideshow, Little Dragon will be joined by another member of the Laneway lineup, Vic Mensa.

Much buzzed UK rock duo Royal Blood recently had their live show described as ‘huge, hulking riffs delivered with a snarling swagger’. The powerhouse are one part anguished vocals and one part ferocious drumming.

Three of the festival sideshows will be held at Shed 6, a venue located on Wellington’s Waterfront. The performances will also be the first (of hopefully many) live gigs for the 1,300 capacity venue.

Flying Lotus
Wednesday 28 January, Powerstation, Auckland w/ JPS and Tom McGuinness
Thursday 29 January, Shed 6, Wellington w/ JPS and Tom McGuinness

Little Dragon
Tuesday 27 January, Shed 6, Wellington w/ Vic Mensa

Royal Blood
Wednesday 28 January, Shed 6, Wellington