Dizzee Rascal Returns to Headline Splore 2018 + Chronixx, Black Milk and More

Splore Festival has announced UK grime superstar Dizzee Rascal will be returning to New Zealand after five years to headline the February 2018 event.

The annual Auckland festival's first international lineup announcement includes such huge names as Jamaican reggae artist Chronixx, Detroit hip hop producer and MC Black Milk, and NYC viral busking sensations Too Many Zooz. Also heading to our shores are KAOS (Japan), My Baby (Netherlands), Bonaparte (Germany), DJ Marcelinho da Lua (Brazil), and DJ’s Courtesy and Mama Snake (both from Denmark).

Local artists will be solidly represented, the lineup features RIA Hall, The Nudge, Manuel Bundy, Greg Churchill, Lady Flic, Aroha and Tali. Here are the full event details...

Splore 2018  
23rd - 25th February, Tapapakanga Regional Park, Auckland

Featuring: Dizzee Rascal, Chronixx, Black Milk, Too Many Zooz, KAOS, My Baby, Bonaparte, Marcelinho da Lua, Courtesy, Mama Snake, RIA Hall, The Nudge, Manuel Bundy, Greg Churchill, Lady Flic, Aroha and Tali.

A further music announcement will be made early November, followed by an announcement for Splore’s Living Lounge zone. Ticketing info is available at: www.splore.net.

Check out a selection of videos below and stay tuned for Splore's second lineup announcement in November.

Press release:

Dizzee Rascal to headline Splore 2018

Leading UK MC and Mercury Prize winner, Dizzee Rascal, will headline Splore Festival next February.

Following the recent release of his sixth album, Raskit, Dizzee Rascal will make a long overdue return to New Zealand after a five-year absence. He will be re-asserting his legacy on the grime scene with verses from his recent album like ... “Too big for my boots, that’s the truth, no excuse for you new recruits, bunch of dilutes and a few flukes” … the gauntlet has well and truly been thrown down.

Festival Director, John Minty who travels extensively to look for suitable Splore acts says Dizzee Rascal stood out as a great act for Splore and says he is very excited to finally be able to secure him for the festival. 

“Dizzee Rascal’s shows have a reputation for intense energy with his mix of original grime, trap and pop. I’m looking forward to his main stage show on the beach front at Tapapakanga.”

Joining Dizzee Rascal on Splore’s first line up announcement is Jamaican star, Chronixx, who is credited with spearheading the recent reggae revival. Coming off huge sell out shows in Europe, Chronixx (Jamar McNaughton) is riding a wave after the release of his recent Chronology album. Already a US smash, the album fuses old-school roots and lovers rock with contemporary dancehall, rap, R&B and EDM. The likes of Big Bad Sound and Smile Jamaica mix dub basslines with sunny, anthemic tunes. The current album follows on from his politically hard-hitting 2014 anti-colonial Capture Land. Chronology tracks,  Black Is Beautiful, Ghetto Paradise and Selassie Children address racism, Jamaican poverty and religious persecution.

The phenomenon that is Too Many Zooz from NYC will make their New Zealand debut at Splore 2018.

The NYC subway buskers became a viral sensation after a passerby posted a clip to Youtube in 2014. Since that time Too Many Zooz have performed to sell out shows around the world and built an almost messianic following. 

Also announced on Splore’s first line up announce are acclaimed Detroit hip hop artist, Black Milk, the UK’s DJ MK, Japanese art punk outfit KAOS, Dutch band, My Baby, German punkster, Bonaparte, Brazilian DJ Marcelinho da Lua, and Danish techno DJ’s Courtesy and Mama Snake. 

Local acts confirmed so far are RIA Hall, The Nudge, Manuel Bundy, Greg Churchill, Lady Flic, Aroha and Tali.

A further music announcement will be made early November, followed by the performance announcement for Splore’s Living Lounge zone.

On the back of Splore 2017 success with early opening, there will be limited ticket sales for a Thursday entry from 2pm with restricted access to the upstairs camping. Entertainment will focus in the Old Mout Cider bar with a DJ programme for Thursday evening.