Overview
It may have been pulled from under our feet this year but Auckland City Limits is coming back in 2018 with a lineup to rule them all. The second edition of the festival will take place on Saturday 3 March across Western Springs stadium, the surrounding fields and lakeside park.
Let's talk about the lineup. Two musical legends lead the way: Beck and Grace Jones.
For the festival, multi-instrumentalist Beck will land in New Zealand for the first time in more than two decades, fresh off the back of the release of his brand new album Colors. Emerging from the 1970s disco scene, Jamaican singer/supermodel/record producer/actress Grace Jones is one of the world's most intriguing acts. The 69 year-old superstar's stage shows are legendary – you can expect costume changes and hula hooping.
Also appearing will be dance-rock band Justice, French indie-pop band Phoenix, Los Angeles bass maverick Thundercat, indie guitar legends The Libertines for their first ever local appearance and the thrilling return of sweat-soaked rock 'n' roll four-piece The D4 after a decade away from the stage.
The event is inspired by and aligned with the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas, a three-day, dual-weekend experience, featuring more than 130 acts and attracting over 75,000 concert-goers. The Auckland event is produced by former Big Day Out promoter CRS Presents, together with C3 Presents and global concert promoters Live Nation Entertainment.
As well as a genre-spanning line-up of 40 local and international acts, the festival will feature ample culinary options, local artworks, an artisanal market, festival fashion, a kids zone and a new festival forum for speaking on and exchanging cultural and innovative ideas.
AUCKLAND CITY LIMITS FULL LINEUP
BECK
JUSTICE
GRACE JONES
PHOENIX
PEKING DUK
TASH SULTANA
GEORGE EZRA
THE LIBERTINES
THUNDERCAT
THE HEAD AND THE HEART
THE AVALANCHES
OH WONDER
THE D4
CAR SEAT HEADREST
THE STAVES
SIGRID
AARADHNA
HEAD LIKE A HOLE
KATCHAFIRE
SWIDT
DRAX PROJECT
FABULOUS/ARABIA
DISASTERADIO
SCOTT MANION (TOKEY TONES)
MAGIC FACTORY
THE BETHS
JON LEMMON
HEAVY
TOURETTES AKA DOMINIC HOEY
DJ TINA TURNTABLES
DJ LINDA T
MC PAUL AMOS & THE TALK SHOW AND TELL COMEDY GANG
See the Auckland City Limits website for more information. Early Bird General admission tickets for 2018 will be on sale Wednesday 1 November.