INDEPENDENT NEWS

Catlins River Festival Announced For Easter 2011

Published: Wed 22 Dec 2010 11:24 AM
'Friends, Music, Laughter': Catlins River Festival Announced For Easter 2011
Easter 2011 sees the launch of the Catlins River Festival, a festival born out of the desire of a bunch of friends getting together and celebrating the unique environment of the area, set to a soundtrack of awesome live music. The idyllic setting of Woodstock Lodge will be host to the festival on April 23rd and 24th, which features a fantastic - and predominantly local - line-up of musical artists, as well as performance art, workshops and stalls.
Festival organiser Jock Davidson says that while he hadn't planned on booking a line-up made up of mostly local talent, it's a reflection of the thriving music scene of the region, and a natural accompaniment to the overall flavour of the weekend.
Saturday's musical line-up will be a heavyweight affair, with rock, hip hop and electronic acts taking to the stage, while Sunday will have a more relaxed vibe and roots/reggae/folk feel, making it a great day for the whole family.
Headlining the Catlins River Festival on Saturday is Otago-born, Melbourne-based, globally-acclaimed artist The Nomad, who for over two decades has been making music that pushes the boundaries, combining a unique blend of reggae, dub, hip-hop and electronica. The Nomad will perform with legendary hip-hop artist King Kapisi as MC and Oakley Grennell on guitar.
Also confirmed for the Saturday are 2010 MySpace Choice award winners Left or Right, the Dunedin-based 3-piece Julian Temple Band, NZ's Organikismness and Tsubliminal, and Sydney-based roots-reggae-dub artists Budspells and live hip-hop + dub act the Sweet Az Soundsystem.
Sunday's stage will be headlined by reggae act This Version, blues-alt act Ryan Prebble and his band Nudge, and local favourites Rhythmonyx. Classic rock gets a look-in too, with an appearance by locals Ash and the Matadors, and also set to excite and entertain the masses are up-and-coming acts Oleh (whose solo performances create an entire bands' worth of sound via a loop machine and need to be seen to be believed!), and Invercargill's bluesy-alt-country-pop 5-piece, Midnight Kitchen.
Given that Easter and Anzac Day fall on the same weekend this year, it seems only fitting that included on the bill are a number of Kiwi-born, Australian-based acts (Budspells, This Version, Daze, Hayden Weke and Foreign Dub), set to show their homeland the skills they've picked up over the ditch in recent years. And while organisers intend to keep the homegrown element of the line-up strong, expect to see a couple of international names pop up with the next announcement, due in February.
While the music is a key feature of the festival, there are other focuses, including a green zone that is powered from renewable energy, where a variety of workshops will be held. Confirmed as MC's for the event are comedians Gish and Aaron 'Fig' Beard, who'll be hosting the proceedings and keeping the audience informed and entertained.
Festival organisers acknowledge the attraction of the location, and its influence upon the eco-friendly direction of the festival. 'It's a beautiful spot which we are really lucky to be sharing, so we are really mindful of doing our part right and preserving it for future years'. Set on 10 acres, Woodstock Lodge is a natural amphitheatre surrounded by bush, farmland and the beautiful Catlins river. The Lodge is set in a green and lush area 10km south-west of the township of Owaka, and will provide the venue, accommodation and camping facilities for the event. The site is located 90 minutes from Dunedin and Invercargill, and three hours from Queenstown, and for anyone not wishing to camp, there are plenty of other accomodation options in the area. It will be an all-weather gig, and there will be plenty of shelter on-site.
The Catlins River Festival will be supporting a number of local projects and organisations, with local groups providing the catering, and the local Lions Club will be running the bar. Local schools are also set to benefit with performances and workshops leading up to the event from some of the best circa performers in the country, with thanks to the support from the Dunedin Fringe Festival.
Tickets for the Catlins River Festival go on sale from midday December 21st. Priced at $60 for the weekend including camping, and $40 for a day pass, tickets will be available through Cosmic Corner ticketing and outlets, Quest surf skate shops, and Big River Radio Balclutha. Tickets are limited, so get in quick!
THE CATLINS RIVER FESTIVAL
WOODSTOCK LODGE
APRIL 23 + 24 2011 (EASTER WEEKEND)
Featuring: The Nomad with King Kapisi, Oakley Grennell, Budspells, Left or Right, Jungle Fari, Julian Temple Band, Organikismness, Ryan Prebble, Nudge, Rhythmonyx, Oleh, This Version, Soulware Live, Ash + the Matadors, Hayden Weke, Midnight Kitchen, Sweet Az Soundsystem, Foreign Dub, Daze, Tsubliminal, CSC, JB Hori + The Copper Avenger, Gish, Aaron 'Fig' Beard, + more acts to be announced!
Tickets on sale now from http://www.cosmicticketing.co.nz/event/show/831
For more details, band biographies, playlists, contact information and updates please visit: www.catlinsriverfestival.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Catlins-River-Festival/170466999635371

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