12 minute read
Artists
ARTISTS A-Z
ADRIAN SHERWOOD (UK)
Adrian Sherwood is a pioneer of bass-dominant, dub-flavoured dance tunes who has inspired and shaped reggae and contemporary electronic music through his label/collective, On U Sound. Since the early ‘80s he has thrown his heart, soul and intelligence into his work, collaborating with big names from outside the dub community as well as shaping his own distinctive sound.
Fri, 10.15pm, Gables Stage
A CURIOUS GAME (AUSTRALIA)
(BORN IN A TAXI)
A show like no other, where the world of fairy tales and board games collide and the audience become the show! With the pomp and ceremony of ridiculous rituals and eccentric dance, characters from an over-sized chessboard come to life. A bossy Queen, a stupid knight and a pawn with a touch of cunning, conduct an interactive, absurd and humorous game for all ages. Fri, 7.30pm - 8.15pm, Gables Lawn Sat, 1.15pm - 2pm & 5.15pm - 6pm, Gables Lawn Sun, 12.30pm - 1.15pm & 3.15pm - 4pm, Gables Lawn ALDOUS HARDING (NEW ZEALAND/AOTEAROA)
Aldous Harding does more than sing. She shape-shifts through a variety of roles: chanteuse, folk singer and balladeer - all executed with her twisted touch of humour and quiet horror. Her powerful work recently saw her become a finalist in the prestigious Silver Scroll Awards, and scoop nominations in four categories of the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.
Deeply rooted in the Indian classical tradition and gifted with her father’s ability with the sitar, Anoushka Shankar’s music is filled with innovation and exploration. With a multitude of accolades including five Grammy nominations, Anoushka is a bold composer. She is also an impassioned supporter of women’s rights and social justice, which is reflected in her recent collaborations.
Sat, 4pm, TSB Bowl Stage
BIXIGA 70 (BRAZIL)
Bixiga 70 takes afrobeat to dizzying heights with their progressive approach; adding elements of funk, traditional South American styles, electronics and a touch of psychedelia. Named after the melting pot district from the highly creative Sao Paolo music scene, this 10-piece brings dynamic rhythms and an irresistible party atmosphere.
BLICK BASSY
(CAMEROON/FRANCE)
Blick Bassy is a traveller whose adventures are reflected in his eclectic and intriguing compositions, many of which feature the unusual combination of banjo and trumpet. A unique voice in African music, he cites American blues musician Skip James as the influence for his last album, Ako. It’s an inspiring blend of blues, bossa nova, folk and the sounds of New Orleans.
Sat, 12pm, Gables Stage Sun, 10pm, Dell Stage
CHICO TRUJILLO (CHILE)
Chico Trujillo have been touring their explosive cocktail of party music around the world for almost 20 years. With a sound rooted in classic cumbia, they shake up the mix with reggae, bolero and rumba and draw on the energy and feistiness of their ska/punk past.
CONSTANTINOPLE & ABLAYE CISSOKO
(CANADA/SENEGAL)
For nearly 20 years the ensemble Constantinople have explored musical diversity through the lens of ‘East meets West’, an ever changing melting pot, much like the city after which they are named. Their inspiration for their Jardins Migrateurs performance is a poetic meeting between strings and voice, with griot Ablaye Cissoko adding kora, in a celebration of life and nature.
Supported by
DAYMÉ AROCENA (CUBA)
Singer, composer, arranger and bandleader, Daymé Arocena was recently dubbed by The Guardian as “Cuba’s finest vocalist”. The young Afro-Cuban artist, mentored by Gilles Peterson and winner of the prestigious Juno Award in 2015, has a rich understanding of her heritage but is also constantly finding new musical inspiration and connection through her love of soul and jazz.
DRAGON (NEW ZEALAND/AUSTRALIA)
The chart-topping and legendary band Dragon have produced a stack of rock anthems that everyone knows the words to. Formed in New Zealand in 1972, Dragon’s hit songs include April Sun in Cuba, Are You Old Enough, Young Years, and Rain. The award-winning band was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2008, they have played sold-out shows throughout the globe, and they continue to tour extensively.
Sat, 6.15pm, TSB Bowl Stage
HOPETOUN BROWN (NEW ZEALAND/AOTEAROA)
Wowing crowds up and down the country with their unique flavour of blues, dance, soul and stomp, the duo jump between trumpets and trombones or bass clarinets and saxophones as they parp through a unique repertoire pulled from two critically acclaimed Top 40 albums.
Sat, 4pm, Gables Stage Sun, 5pm, Dell Stage
GHADA SHBEIR (LEBANON)
With a deep passion for classical Arabic music since she was a child, Ghada Shbeir has devoted her life to exploring and adapting ancient texts and inspirational poetry through her beguiling vocals. Her repertoire moves between Middle Eastern folk, Arabo-Andalusian songs and Syriac ancient Maronite chants, shedding new light on powerful and traditional music.
Australian producer Mista Savona has created a sound clash with a difference, bringing roots reggae, dub and dancehall together with son, salsa, rumba to create Havana Meets Kingston. The 14-piece band boasts the heavyweight rhythm section of Sly and Robbie and members of Buena Vista Social Club, Los Van Van, Chucho Valdes and Inna de Yard.
Sat, 10.30pm, TSB Bowl Stage
JOJO ABOT (GHANA)
Jojo Abot creates music, film, photography, literature and performance art. A true global fusionist in both sound and artistic expression, she is poised to take the world by storm with her hypnotic and empowering blend of electronica, afrobeat, jazz, neo-soul, house and reggae.
JAMIE MACDOWELL & TOM THUM
(AUSTRALIA)
One is good with his fingers, the other is good with his mouth. Beatbox sensation, Tom Thum – best known for the most watched TEDx talk of all time: Beatbox Brilliance – joins forces with bohemian singer-songwriter Jamie MacDowell to create original, genre-defying music that is “redefining musical parameters”. Armed only with a guitar and a versatile voice box, this duo defies expectations.
KAMASI WASHINGTON (USA)
Kamasi Washington is a jazz superstar who is taking the music world by storm. When he unleashed his phenomenal work, The Epic, in 2015, he stamped his mark as an exciting and essential new voice in jazz. His understanding of the past and embracing of new directions sees him weave together hip hop, ecstatic jazz, R&B and progressive music to create a harmonious force that will leave you breathless.
Sat, 5.15pm, Todd Energy Brooklands Stage
LEMON BUCKET ORKESTRA (CANADA)
Heralded as a ground-breaking, genre-bending phenomenon by fans and the media alike, Lemon Bucket Orkestra is a guerrilla-punk-balkan-brass-folk band like no other. Since 1999 the band has been blazing a trail around the world, thrilling audiences far and wide with their unique musical blend of exhilarating precision, and intoxicating abandon.
Supported by
LE VENT DU NORD (CANADA)
Quebec is renowned for its eclectic, progressive folk ensembles and Le Vent du Nord have been a driving force in the scene for the past 15 years. Combining hurdy-gurdy, accordion, bouzouki, guitar and fiddle with foot-stomping, vibrant harmonies and large doses of humour, it’s impossible to resist their joie de vivre.
Multi-award winning artist Maisey Rika is known for her elegant and soulful music, a fusion of folk, soul and acoustic. Her lyrics are deeply cultural, inspired by her heritage and her fusion of English and Te Reo has captured the hearts of soul seekers internationally.
Supported By
MY BUBBA (SWEDEN/ICELAND)
Scandinavian folk duo My Bubba make soft, soulful music that is as playful as it is powerful. Their delicate and disarming creations form a collection of intimate stories, often described as a beguiling and contemporary take on folk music.
Sat, 9.30pm, Dell Stage Sun, 1pm, Dell Stage
NANO STERN (CHILE)
Born into a family of musicians and activists, it comes as no surprise that Nano Stern began his musical life in the underground punk rock scene and followed it up with classical and jazz training. With his deep respect for Chilean poetry and music traditions evident in every passionate show, Nano Stern instils hope in those who are hungry for social justice.
Noura Mint Seymali’s scorching Afro-funk desert blues have seen her rise to become a leading light of African music. Having performed regularly with her stepmother, the late, great singer Dimi Mint Abba, her goal now is to modernise the music of Mauritania. Prepare to be entranced by a powerful voice and some truly psychedelic guitar lines.
Fri, 7.15pm, Dell Stage Sun, 4pm, TSB Bowl Stage
PAT THOMAS & KWASHIBU AREA BAND
(GHANA)
One of Ghana’s all-time greatest vocalists, Pat Thomas was a mainstay of the ‘70s and ‘80s vibrant Highlife music scene. After a stellar 50 years, performing with the likes of Ebo Taylor and Tony Allen, his funk-driven self-titled 2015 album put him back on the map and proved that he’s still at the top of his game.
RAHIM ALHAJ TRIO (IRAQ/USA)
Rahim AlHaj creates intricate compositions that reference the pain of exile and the hope of new beginnings. One of the world’s great oud players, he started playing at the age of nine and was soon recognised as having a remarkable talent. He brings his trio featuring Iranian santour and Arabic percussion that combine traditional Iraqi maqams with contemporary influences.
Sat, 7.30pm, Dell Stage Sun, 2pm, Gables Stage Sun, 6.30pm, Te Paepae Stage (World of Words)
Having bonded over a love of heavy metal in their home country of Mexico, acoustic guitarists Rodrigo y Gabriela moved to Dublin where they turned to busking to make a living. They have since become one of the most recognisable duos on the planet, with their electrifying live shows fusing fiery lead lines and phenomenal rhythmic battery with intricate, soaring rock.
Sun, 8.45pm, TSB Bowl Stage
THE MILTONES (NEW ZEALAND/AOTEAROA))
A razor-sharp blues and bayou folk-frenzy, West Auckland quintet The Miltones has been sending ripples throughout the NZ music scene since their 2014 inception. Previously supporting Jamie Lawson and The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, 2017 saw The Miltones unleash their own debut – an infectious celebration of life that the New Zealand Listener gave 4.5/5 and the NZ Herald dubbed: “the freshest sound in New Zealand popular music right now”.
Fri, 7.15pm, Todd Energy Brooklands Stage Sun, 4pm, Gables Stage THE BLACK QUARTET (NEW ZEALAND/AOTEAROA)
With deep roots in the classical world, The Black Quartet draw on their love and experience of a vast sea of influences, from blues, rock, jazz and pop to create their own signature sonic spectacle. Born from decades of strong foundations in New Zealand’s music scene, and working with some of the country’s finest artists as well as international performers, The Black Quartet bring virtuosity, freshness and flair to their craft.
Sun, 3pm, Dell Stage
As thunderous as a herd of wildebeest, as sly as a wagonload of Spike Milligans and as sonorous as a cloister of monks, the Spooky Men’s Chorale are the gift that keeps on giving...they come to New Zealand for their second visit armed only with their voices, a nice line in deadpan, and 15 really good hats.
THIEVERY CORPORATION (USA)
The highly successful Thievery Corporation mixes elements of dub, acid jazz, reggae, Indian classical, Middle Eastern, hip hop, electronica and Brazilian music together to create a moving and energetic sound like you’ve never heard before.
Fri, 10.15pm, TSB Bowl Stage
THE SLACKS (NEW ZEALAND/AOTEAROA)
The Slacks is a four-piece formed by brothers Scott and Mark Armstrong. The sound of the band has been described as folk-rock slapped about the face by country and the blues with a dusting of Irish-ska. Their recent release, Big Aroha, was filmed in a local 4-Square and struck a chord with ex-pat Kiwis and schools all over Aotearoa.
Sat, 1pm, Dell Stage
Victoria Hanna, raised in an ultra-orthodox household in Jerusalem, found a way to express herself and overcome her stutter when she discovered secular music, and the result is most unexpected. A singer who performs Aramaic hip hop and wild, hypnotic and rhythmic raps on ancient Hebrew texts, Hanna is an experimentalist who is both unpredictable and bewitching.
Sat, 10.30pm, Gables Stage
TINARIWEN (MALI)
Grammy Award winning Tuareg guitar masters, Tinariwen play scorching desert blues. Their songs preach peace and rebellion, sharing experiences of struggle and freedom, as well as celebrating the beauty of their homeland and the joys of a simple life. This is hypnotic, uplifting music that is a salve for difficult times.
Sun, 7.30pm, Todd Energy Brooklands Stage
VIOLONS BARBARES
(BULGARIA/MONGOLIA/FRANCE)
Having met in France while working on the Silk Road project with renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, this trio of musicians from three wildly different cultures formed Violons Barbares in search of new sounds. Using the Mongolian violin (the Morin Khur), the Bulgarian Gadulka and percussion, it’s an irresistible fusion of energetic rhythms and harmonies.
