First Lineup Announced For Wondergarden Festival 2018

Auckland summer festival Wondergarden returns to Silo Park this December, with a bevy of international and local superstars primed and ready to bring in the New Year with a bang. The first wave of artists announced includes Warp-affiliated dance innovator Nightmares On Wax spinning tunes on the decks, California electro-boogie groove master Dam-Funk, recently-revived Auckland indie groovers Cut Off Your Hands, rising star of local rap JessB, Melbourne electronic duo Kllo, ex-pat R&B artists Fortunes, champion local disc jockey Tina Turntables, and three more acts to be revealed in the near future. Here are the details...

Wondergarden 2018
Monday 31st December - Auckland, Silo Park

Featuring... Nightmares on Wax (DJ Set), Dam-Funk, Kllo, Cut Off Your Hands, JessB, Fortunes, Tina Turntables + three more acts to be announced

Presales available from 9.00am, Tuesday 14th August

Here's the clip for Dam-Funk's killer single 'Hood Pass Intact'...

Check out the animated video for Cut Off Your Hands' funked-up comeback single 'Hate Somebody'...

Watch the sun-drenched clip for JessB's 'Take It Down' feat. Rubi Du...

Press release:

Following on from the success of 2016/17’s NYE celebrations, Wondergarden returns for a third year bigger & bolder than ever before, and now a loved fixture on the Auckland New Year’s Eve calendar. And if the first lineup is anything to go by, it looks like they’re turning the groove up to 11.

Featuring an eclectic lineup of local and international favourites, 2018’s event will be headlined by Leeds native Nightmares on Wax. As one of the most influential artists of a generation, Nightmares on Wax has paved the way for artists such as Flying Lotus, Hudson Mohawke and Mount Kimbie. The N.O.W DJ set will feature a perfect blend of longtime favorites and future classics, intended to create the feeling of hanging out in your best friend’s basement listening to your favourite music.

N.O.W. will be joined on the lineup by epitome of funk, Damon “DāM-FunK” Riddick. Growing up in the Los Angeles city/suburb of Pasadena and a ‘70s baby, he came of age in the era of the Uncle Jamm’s Army parties; of electro-pharaoh Egyptian Lover; of Prince’s purple reign. DāM-FunK’s groove laden set will ensure the Wondergarden dancefloor see’s out 2018 with one final gut-busting boogie.

Also on the bill - fusing elements of R&B, UK garage and 2-step with modern sensibilities and wide-eyed sincerity - are Melbourne’s Kllo; local purveyors of funk, dance & post-punk infused indie Cut Off Your Hands (for their only worldwide show in 2018 in the leadup to a record release in 2019); charismatic rapper JessB who is quickly stamping her mark as the newest queen of hip hop in New Zealand; and dreamy Melbourne via Hamilton electronic / hip hop duo Fortunes.

The event will also feature an early afternoon DJ set from local warrior princess-level selector Tina Turntables, famous for her mixed gumbo of old school R&B, Soul, Blues, Funk, Disco, Garage & Rock’n’Roll.

With three more exciting acts to be announced in the coming weeks, Wondergarden is fixing to be the only place Aucklanders will want to be when the clock strikes midnight as 2019 arrives.

The New Year’s Eve event heads into its third consecutive year after a highly successful response to its debut and sophomore efforts. Wondergarden was conceived as a musical celebration to provide Aucklanders something a little bit special and a little bit different from what is currently on offer in the city over the holiday period.

This year see's the welcome return of an event that organisers are growing into one of the city’s essential summer dates. Located at Silo Park on the cusp of Auckland Harbour, Wondergarden’s main stage sits between the harbour bridge and the city’s best view of the Sky Tower's midnight fireworks display.

‘We’re very excited to be coming back for round three, for our biggest party yet,’ says festival director Reuben Bonner, 'This year we’re lucky enough to have a world-class lineup of local and international acts all known for ensuring that the day/night is all about the dancefloor. Auckland city is going to have an incredible soundtrack playing when 2019 comes knocking.’

As well as a full afternoon and evening of main stage musical entertainment, Wondergarden features New Zealand's favourite street food, on offer all day and night courtesy of the Food Space food trucks.