The First Artist Lineup Has Been Announced for Splore 2020

The summer concert schedule is starting to fill up. If you're concerned about losing out on valuable beach time, you should consider grabbing tickets to Splore — the 21st edition of the festival will take place along the shoreline and grassy banks of Tapapakanga Regional Park next February.

As well as allowing punters to watch acts from the comfort of their beach towels, the festival is known for its eclectic music policy and advocacy of creative expression. In the first artist lineup for the 2020 event is a protest brass ensemble, electro swing pioneers and a contemporary circus artist.

Brooklyn's The Illustrious Blacks are set to return to Tapapakanga for their second appearance. Made up of Mainchildblack and Monstah Black, the afro-futurist group creates a unique blend of funk, disco and pop. Also by way of New York comes Brass Against who will make their New Zealand debut at the festival. The brass band is known for covering protest tunes from the likes of Rage Against the Machine, Black Sabbath and Tool. Further Splore debuts come from spoken word artist Kate Tempest and Austria's The Parov Stelar Band.

Elsewhere, the eclectic lineup is filled with dancehall artists, aerial contortionists, circus acts, and boylesque superstars. A further lineup announcement will be made in November.

Charles Meacham

SPLORE 2020 FIRST ARTIST LINEUP

The Illustrious Blacks
Brass Against
The Parov Stelar Band
Kate Tempest
DJ Day
Big Zeeks
The Ragga Twins
Shortee Blitz
Alice Ivy
Monarchy
Barry Ashworth
DJ Tahira
Maharaj Trio
Hatenkohro
Troy Kingi
Pitch Black
JessB
Tiki
Labretta Suede and the Motel 6
Trigger Happy
Juan Vesuvius
Reuben van de Peer
Eloïse Currie
Chris Oh! and Black Swan Productions
Ray 'the Free Hugs guy'
The Dust Palace
Danny Lee Syme and Celina Nogueira
Flow Academy of Movement
Aroha + Tali
Dick Johnson
Eastern Bloc
K2K
Dylan C
Chiccoreli with Jay Double
Heylady
A LOW HUM
Scarlett
Dubhead
The Dastardly Bounder
Forrest Bump
Mamadafunk
Bobby Brazuka
Uncle Barnie
Lucas Datt
ORIKoL
Janiac

Splore Festival 2020 will take place at Tapapakanga Regional Park from February 21–23, 2020. Visit the festival website for tickets and more information.

Image: Bas van Est.