Splore 08 Features Top International and NZ Bands

5 OCTOBER 2007

Splore 08 Features Top International and NZ Bands

American soulful hip hop artist Pharoahe Monch and top New Zealand band Shapeshifter head the line-up for Splore 08.

Splore 08 takes place from 8-10 February 2008 at Auckland's Tapapakanga Regional Park and will once again meld together a strong line-up of international and New Zealand music acts, visual arts, film, performance art and workshops.

Pharoahe Monch was co-founder of the rap due Organized Konfusion and this year released his latest album ˜Desire", while New Zealand band Shapeshifter has been heralded as a musical phenomenon for their ground breaking live shows and unique blend of heavy soul/drum and bass.

Spinning grooves at Splore 08 will be renowned Swedish DJ Freddie Cruger, who’s known for playing everything from future to old-school funk, soul, hip hop, reggae, disco and latin, and Germany's bossa nova styles DJ/producer duo Mo’ Horizons.

And from the UK comes two very different acts “ Birmingham reggae/dub group Overproof Sound System, and London DJs Benji B and Steve Spacek.

Splore is well known for its strong New Zealand line-up, and as well as Shapeshifter, Splore 08 will also feature dubsters Kora, Salmonella Dub’s frontman Tiki, taonga puoru (traditional Maori instruments) musicians Riki Bennett and Rewi Spraggon together as Te Aratoi, classic funk and soul group Tyra and The Tornadoes, together with dance music producer Epsilon Blue and Wellington multi-instrumentalist Module.

Splore director Amanda Wright says she is thrilled with the line-up for the 2008 event and promising that as well as fantastic music, there will also be “a stunning visual arts programme and additional content to set this festival into a league of its own.

Splore is New Zealand's only three-day live-in festival and as well as music, it also features performance “ including burlesque theatre, dance, comedy and performance art “ visual arts, sculpture trails and workshops. Innovative international and local artists are encouraged to collaborate, producing memorable, unique performances and installations.

“Splore is dedicated to celebrating the art and culture of our time,” Amanda says. “It enhances the understanding and appreciation of contemporary culture by providing artists with an inspiring environment that exposes their most creative work to a diverse and well attuned audience.”

The 2008 event is the seventh Splore festival and follows the sold-out 2006 event held on the same site.

Already a limited number of early bird tickets for Splore 08 have sold out and tickets are now on sale to the general public through iticket.

Tapapakanga Regional Park is located just one hour south-east of central Auckland, set on the Firth of Thames and nestled at the base of the Hunua Ranges.

“It is a truly magnificent location, Amanda says. “Last year festival goers enjoyed incredible weather and it was great to cool off in the sea or in the adjacent freshwater lagoon.

Amanda adds that Splore festival goers come from a diverse range of backgrounds and the event is family friendly with ample parking, camping and activities.

Tickets for Splore 08 are $160 + booking fee (including camping) and are available through iticket at www.iticket.co.nz or phone 0508 iticket. Children under 13 years are free. For more information visit www.splore.net

ENDS

© Scoop Media