Splore 2012

Welcome to the Island of Hooha.

Get your glad rags ready, Splorers! This summer Splore presents the Island of Hooha - think big wigs, fancy pants and twinkle toes.

Based on the large scale dress-up and costume attire adorned at Splore 2008 and 2010, organisers are sure audiences wont want to miss another opportunity to express their inner extrovert.

Splore 2012 will literally explode with outrageous performances. As well as a Saturday night crescendo, the Island of Hooha will offer partygoers a number of exciting experiences to create the ultimate weird and wacky weekend. This year’s theme has conjured life sized barbie dolls, burlesque gnomes, a bogan circus, traditional Maori puppets and much more - all brought together in the sensual surrounds of Linz' Living Lounge by the critically acclaimed Dust Palace with “Cirque non Sequitur”, a sexy, surrealist, circus cabaret!

Over the weekend Linz' Living Lounge will be home to a sumptuous mix of dance, cabaret, music and interactive performance. A series of audience interactive 'happenings' by VibraCorp sets the scene for a Friday night of mayhem and madness, climaxing with the full Doc Westie Bogan Circus extravaganza. Saturday night presents a more salacious selection where living artworks delicately lounge amidst furniture while you delight in decadent contemporary burlesque, surrealist cabaret and ‘big band’ caberlesque.

Splore 2012 will also build on its history of delivering groundbreaking video installations and live VJ performances. With over 30 video artists performing, revellers’ eyes will be wowed during the three day festival's darker hours. Confirmed artists include Dub Module, one member of acclaimed musical duo Pitch Black, Melbourne's Jemthemisfit and local VJ duo lotech.

Live music performances are always a festival highlight.

The Queen of neo-soul and style icon, Erykah Badu, will play her first ever New Zealand show at next February’s Splore Festival. The multi Grammy Award winning artist will be backed by a full band and backing singers.

Also mixing it up at Splore will be the dancehall/reggae grooves of Gappy Ranks, the mesmerising vocals of Tiki Taane’s acoustic show and the waiata good times from Fat Freddy’s Hopepa’s - The Yoots.

UK’s hottest reggae/dancehall proponent, Gappy Ranks, makes his first visit to New Zealand. From the streets of London’s Nottinghill Carnival to the beach at Splore this is one act that will travel well.

Wellington bands The Nudge (think swamp music with a party edge), Black Seeds’ Mike Fabulous’ Lord Echo and His Melodies and Aarona Tokona’s powerful funk and soul five piece, AHoriBuzz - will make the trip north for Splore.

UK hip hop DJ supremo Shortee Blitz and dub legend Earl Gateshead (Trojan Sound System anyone?) also return to spread the summer vibe.

The Splore 2012 music line up so far: Erykah Badu, Soul II Soul, DJ Qbert/Reeps One, Hudson Mohawke, Gappy Ranks, Africa Hitech, Tiki, The Yoots, Ahoribuzz, Lord Echo and His Melodies, The Nudge, Disasteradio, J Star, Hermitude, Barons of Tang, Earl Gateshead, Shortee Blitz, @Peace, Latinaotearoa, Scratch 22, Alphabethead, King Kapisi, IM ENO, DJ Sticky Buds, Al Majik, Smoke Eaters, DJ Amato, Optimus Gryme and Maya Vanya.