Rhythm & Alps have this week announced 40 diverse national and international acts for the 2022 music and camping festival.
This summer’s Cardrona Valley event will mark the return of international artists for the first time since Covid closed the borders in 2020.
New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, Brazil, Sweden and Germany are represented.
Home-grown talents include drum and bass group Concord Dawn, up-and-coming indie surf-rockers Flaxxies, heavy blues-funk-rock luminaries Kora, breakout “gen z” Soundcloud rapper Lil Bubblegum and the award-winning force in Aotearoa’s drum and bass scene, Paige Julia.
Australian acts Cosmos Midnight, Dope Lemon and rapper poet Sampa The Great are also on the bill.
UK acts include global dance music culture Andy C, award-winning Manchester DJ and producer Bou, drum and bass DJ Harriet Jaxxon, promoter Radio Host, and DJ Moxie.
A second lineup announcement is expected in late August.
Festival organiser Alex Turnbull said this year the team was focused building “probably the newest and most dynamic stage in the country”.
“The mighty Wanaka NYE festival Rhythm & Alps is immeasurably proud of its 12-year-long reign as the ultimate Te Wai o Pounamu New Years’ party,” he said.
The three-day festival opens on December 29 and the last act finishes in the wee hours of January 1.
Up to 10,000 people _ including 6000 campers _ were expected to attend.
Just over 40 % of festival goers come from outside the region, helping bring a significant increase in regional spending and a palpable buzz to Wanaka and surrounding areas, Mr Turnbull said.
“We are over the moon that we are entering the 12th edition of Rhythm and Alps Festival.
“R&A is the country’s favourite road trip and we welcome people from all over Aotearoa to the Southern Lakes for their ultimate NYE
experience,” he said.
