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. [caption id="attachment_744349" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Charles Meacham[/caption] 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.