Overview
New Zealand's longest-running music festival is turning 25, and it's rolling out the biggest and best version of the dance, music and arts celebration yet to mark the milestone.
Splore Festival takes place every February (bar a few pandemic induced cancellations). In 2024, it will have been running for a quarter century. Each year, the festival chooses a theme, with the team choosing 'feasty' for its silver anniversary.
'Feasty' is what it says on the box — Splore will be chock-a-block with music, art, food and drink over the three-day festival, which will be held at Auckland's Tāpapakanga Regional Park from Friday, February 23–Sunday, February 25.
To give attendees something to feast on before its big birthday party, Splore has announced who will be joining its huge music program. International acts flying in for the festival include American hip hop group The Pharcyde, w ho will be taking the beachside stage at Splore — plus fellow Americans Wednesday and London-based soul singer Greentea Peng.
Indian raga band Maharaj Trio is also on the lineup. This father-and-sons threesome perform music that was created thousands of years ago, basing their sound on ancient Vedic texts. These texts are not gospel though, and the trio sprinkles its own touches into the traditional sound, making each performance different from the last.
There's also a bunch of homegrown talent on the bill, with hip hop artists Che Fu and King Kapisi performing as Hedlok, a duo that can tackle any genre of music and make it their own. Estere will be joining the pair, playing what she has deemed "electric blue witch-hop", which she has performed to soldout audiences around the world.
Studio band Strawpeople will be making their festival debut, after the group came out of their almost 20-year hiatus to release Knucklebones in 2023.
The lineup also features a sampling of some of New Zealand's best DJs, with Half Queen, Paige Julia, Dylan C and Flamingo Pier all taking to the decks.
If you've been to Splore before, you'll know that the festival is not just about the music, no matter how good the lineup might be. There's something for everyone to enjoy beyond the part scene, whether it be a downward dog with Wendy's Wellness or an educational chat with journalist Russell Brown, who will be talking politics, culture and science in Splore's Listening Lounge. And for the first time in its 25 years, Splore will also be offering a medical cannabis seminar.
Although Splore is only a short drive from Auckland, there's a variety of accommodation options available to punters. Free camping passes are included in general-admission tickets, but festivalgoers can also purchase camping upgrades, which include reserved campsites, glamping, teepees and pre-set tent options.
SPLORE LINEUP 2024:
AlleyKat
Beatles Dub Club
Bobby Brazuka
Chicorelli + Tali
DeepSleep
DJ Banty
Dubhead
Dylan C
DylanBiscuit B2B ajhoneysuckle
Estere
Flamingo Pier (DJ set)
Grecco Romank
Greentea Peng
Half Queen
Harmonic Resonators
Hedlok
Hudge
Jason Eli
K2K
Lady Shaka
Lil C
Luisa Viscardi
Maharaj Trio
Mamadafuk
Manuel Darquart
Marjorie Sinclair
MELODOWNZ
Mr Big Stuff
Mr Bruce
Paige Julia
Party Dozen
Sanoi
Shepherds Reign
Sister Rosa
Strawpeople
Takas
The Pharcyde
Wattson
Wednesday
Yoko Zuna
Splore Festival will take place at Auckland's Tāpapakanga Regional Park, 95 Deerys Road, Ōrere Point, from Friday, February 23–Sunday, February 25, 2024. For more information and tickets, head to the Splore Festival website.
Images: Ainsley DS / Glenn McLelland.