Celebrating 25 years of Splore

23-25 February, Tapapakanga Regional Park

Aotearoa’s longest-running music and arts festival turns 25 in February and to celebrate, Splore is laying on a feast of sound, vision, arts, and culture – and, of course, plenty of the best food and drink beachside at Tapapakanga Regional Park an hour from Auckland city. Splore welcomes all ages and fun opportunities to get creative and dress up, inspired by Splore’s annual theme, which is “Feasty” for the 2024 festival. A matching shirt and shorts combo in a banana print, or yellow sarong paired with a pineapple crown perhaps?

Hip hop legends The Pharcyde are to play Splore’s unique beachside main stage, alongside South London’s neo-soul sensation Greentea Peng, and American indie darlings Wednesday. Mercury Prize winner Sampha will headline Splore’s Saturday night programme with his full live band. Other overseas guests include

Glastonbury favourites Mr. Bruce and the Beatles Dub Club (who run the Fab Four through the dub filter).

At opposite ends of the sonic spectrum, Sydney sax bombs, Party Dozen, bring the noise and India’s pre-eminent raga band, Maharaj Trio, returns to Splore. From Aotearoa, Strawpeople makes its festival debut. Che Fu + King Kapisi, Lady Shaka (Live), Melodownz, Estere, Yoko Zuna, Grecco Romank, the Harmonic Resonators and Samoan heavy metallers, Shepherds Reign also form part of the lineup.

The Naked Eye cabaret zone dishes up the usual cheeky snacks of burlesque comedy and circus performance. There’s also the Wendy’s Wellness zone which o ers massage, reiki, yoga sessions and seminars.

It also leads the way as a sustainable event with its leave-no-trace policy and carbon-zero initiatives. splore.net