06 October 2016 - 0 Comments

Gisborne’s annual music festival East Coast Vibes will bring a record number of international artists to the concert’s stage this summer.

East Coast Vibes founder Rob Coe-Tipene says the roots and reggae event’s fifth year will be bigger and better than ever thanks to a new partnership with Pato Entertainment - the company that runs the Tauranga based One Love reggae festival.

“A partnership with Pato Entertainment means a great line up for our East Coast roots and reggae lovers. The joint-venture has enabled us to bring high calibre international artists that we couldn’t otherwise access. Now we have reggae, roots royalty locked in for a great summertime music experience here in Te Tairawhiti.”

Black Slate from the UK and Californian based Big Mountain are two legendary reggae bands headlining East Coast Vibes in January.

The godfather of Pacific reggae George "Fiji" Veikoso from Hawaii is the other top billing international.

Brisbane’s band Paua returns to Gisborne’s summertime reggae festival as does nationally acclaimed Tomorrow People, Sons of Zion, Chad Chambers and Sammy J.

Debuting at East Coast Vibes this year is multi award winning artist Rob Ruha, L.A.B. (Kora Bros) and local bands East Coast Breevaz and One Point Five Men.

Black Slate, the pioneers of British reggae returns to New Zealand after a sold-out tour in the mid-1980s.

“Amigo” and “Boom Boom” are two of their timeless hits.

Original band members Anthony Brightly is thrilled to have Black Slate “reunited and revitalized”.

“We play music because we love playing music . . .  we will be on the road, to carry our message to every person who wants to hear reggae music,” he says.

Big Mountain’s fame spread quickly when they recorded a reggae version of Peter Frampton’s song “Baby I Love Your Way”.

Featuring lead singer Joaquin “Quino” McWhinney’s unique vocals, this hit single reached number one on the US charts and dominated the Top 5 in Europe and Japan for nearly a year.

Quino (pronounced Keno) is thrilled to be bringing to the stage their signature tunes and songs from their newly released album Perfect Summer.

“Big Mountain wants to be something that appeals to all people, of all colours, both young and old, really anybody and everybody who will love our music,” says Quino.

Fiji has released a swag of albums in the past two decades and is an advocate for specifically the Pacific sound.

One of many favourite songs for Fiji fans is his “Sweet Darlin” serenade.

Fiji sends “mahalo” greetings to East Coast Vibes punters and is looking forward to his summertime gig and “making the music experience a memorable one.” 

East Coast Vibes to be presented by Good Karma & Pato Entertainment, will be held at the Gisborne Soundshell on January 28.

For further information and tickets head to http://www.eastcoastvibes.co.nz/

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