24 October 2013 - 0 Comments

Splore continues its eclectic music policy by announcing the inclusion of a legendary hip hop DJ and a Ganges-inspired Indian fusion group.

DJ Shadow is bringing a meticulously curated set to Splore next February and will play the Festival’s main stage on the beach. A key figure in developing the experimental instrumental hip hop style, Shadow’s (aka Josh Davis) debut album “Endtroducing” is regarded as a classic. Over the years he has collaborated with Blackalicious, Lyrics Born, James Lavelle, Thom York (Radiohead) and Richard Ashcroft (The Verve) and is known for scouring the world’s record shops and internet for new beats and samples that lead to cutting edge, progressive sets.

The Ganges-inspired Holiwater Project will make two appearances over the Splore weekend. Composed of Indian classical artists  Vikash Maharaj and Prabhash Maharaj,  along with the UK’s Tom Bailey and local artist James Pinker, the Holiwater Project is a musical collective which inspires positive action and thought over  the world’s water issues. The music embraces classical, folk and electronica and makes a welcome return after their debut performance at Splore 2002.

Local acts make up the rest of this announcement with soul hipster, Tama Waipara, Northland reggae collective 1814, party rockers Street Chant, ukulele band The Nukes and cabaret blazers Sal Valentine and the Babyshakes. Local DJ’s added to the Splore roster are  Soane, Mr Big Stuff, The Dastardly Bounder and Steve Usher.

Splore music director, John Minty, says a few more acts will be announced early November.

Strong art content has become a hallmark of the Splore experience and as the audience has come to expect there will be an innovative spectrum of work from New Zealand artists.

Out of the Dark collective is Angus Muir and Alexandra Healy who are fresh from Sydney’s Art & About and will bring their mesmerising work ‘Field’. Offering hundreds of new perspectives on the beautiful site of Tapapakanga, Field is not only a celebration of the place itself; it is a meditation on the nature of perspective. As an observer passes through, they will find themselves questioning what is real and what is image. More visual artists will be announced in November.

Performance is the third strand to Splore’s diverse line up. Canadian performer Billions Cobra, who Ellen Degeneres described recently as “unbelievable!”, is bringing his 30 minute show to Splore. Billions Cobra jumps through a flaming tennis racket, tames a flaming bull whip and balances a running lawnmower on his face as heads of lettuce are tossed into the blades of the powerful machine.

Another addition is Calypso nights with Juan Vesuvius which is a very hilarious musical comedy mash up nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2013 New Zealand International Comedy Festival.

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