Wanaka's TUKI festival announces lineup
The “newest-oldest” festival on the block, TUKI 2018, has released its lineup for the February 10 Lake Wanaka SouNZ
event.
Multiple award-winning US-based band Unknown Mortal Orchestra (UMO) will perform alongside Aaradhna, Marlon Williams,
The Phoenix Foundation, The Shamblés, Mel Parsons, Lips and Maala among others.
Having performed on such global shows as Seth Meyers, Conan O’Brien and Carson Daly, UMO, fronted by Kiwi Ruban Nielson
(The Mint Chicks), will be performing to an audience of several thousand in the South Island this summer.
Also on the TUKI bill, 25-year-old Marlon Williams originally found his calling as a child growing up in Lyttelton. “The
first three things I remember Mum listening to were PJ Harvey, early choral music and Smokey Robinson,” Williams says.
Taking out Best Male Solo Artist and Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the 2015 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards, and
selling out shows throughout North America, the UK and Europe, Williams has been described by the Sunday Star Times as possessing “one of the richest voices you’ll hear anywhere in New Zealand”.
Shapeshifter’s frontman P Digsss joins Anika Moa as co-MC of the first TUKI festival. “This will be the seventh Sounz
event I’ve been a part of - bring it!” says P Digsss, while Moa chimes in, “I’m gonna wear something super-spanky that
will keep the focus on me.”
Formerly known as Rippon Festival, the event will take place at Glendhu Bay, Lake Wanaka and features a FunZone and
award-winning local craft beers and Central Otago wines. The word “TUKI” comes from the nearby Matukituki Valley and
means “mouthpiece” in Maori.
Organisers of the not-for-profit event have been thrilled with the response, noting some long-time festival-goers are
now parents, and are keen to introduce their offspring to the Wanaka concert that holds some of their favourite
summertime memories.
The TUKI event brings a plethora of experiences to festival-goers, including an enchanted forest, innovative food from
local producers, and interactive installations. However, director Lynne Christie points out top-quality music remains
the key focus.
“I’ve always loved the passion, the powerful reactions, the diverse opinions that music inspires. People feel incredibly
connected to great music, and a killer live experience trumps everything,” Christie says.
Tickets are on sale from August 18th through Ticketek and www.tukifestival.nz