Overview
After its debut run last year, New Year's Eve festival Wondergarden was applauded for its all-local lineup and for spicing up the usually bland offerings in the city over the holiday season.
The festival is pitched as an alternative option for Aucklanders who don't want to leave the city limits just to ring in the new year. The family-friendly, day-night event will return for its second run this December, taking over harbour-side community space, Silo Park.
This year's artist lineup has now been announced. Dropping by from their base in Portland to headline the event will be Ruban Nielson's psych-pop group Unknown Mortal Orchestra. It will be the group's first headline show in New Zealand since 2015. Expect cosmic synthesisers, technicolour guitar and disco rhythms.
Also on board is local chill-pop five-piece Leisure, dream-pop artist Chelsea Jade, Onehunga hip hop crew SWIDT, electronic producer MAALA, folk-rock songwriter Nadia Reid, Australian hip hop prodigy REMI, tropical indie-pop group The Ruby Suns, neo-soul songstress Bailey Wiley, and LA-based pop producer Boyboy.
As well as a musical component, roaming performers are a large part of the concept and attendees can again expect a dedicated family zone with children's entertainment, lighting installations, licensed bars and street food.
WONDERGARDEN 2017 LINEUP
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Leisure
Chelsea Jade
SWIDT
MAALA
Nadia Reid
REMI
The Ruby Suns
Bailey Wiley
BoyBoy
Wondergarden Festival takes place at Silo Park on December 31, 2017. For more information and tickets, visit wondergarden.co.nz.
Image: Estefanía López