SPLORE 04

This summer Splore is back. Over five years Splore has evolved from an underground outdoor party into a multi disciplinary arts festival providing music (and lots of it!), workshops, performances, film, interactive art, sculpture...

Splore Festival - March 5 - 7th, 2004 Waharau Regional Park (1 hour south east of Auckland central)

It's sunset. Picture yourself in a lush, green meadow, surrounded by tall, leafy trees. You're lying next to a fresh flowing river. Look up and out over the sea to the mighty Coromandel Ranges. Music is playing; there is an awesome vibe in the air. You're at Splore.

For the fifth year the Splore Festival is returning this summer, with the three day event happening again at the stunning Waharau Regional Park 5-7 March. In 2004 Splore will again be showcasing Aotearoa/New Zealand's finest DJ's, live acts, VJ's, visual artists and performers. "Splore 2002 was a great success" says co-organiser Amanda Wright. "The venue is idyllic and allows us to transform the space into the ultimate festival environment. We can't wait to get back there."

The first Splore was held on New Year's Eve 1998 and the festival ran consecutively for four years and then took a year off. This summer Splore is back. Over its five year evolution, the event has moved from an underground outdoor party into a fully integrated arts festival providing music (and lots of it!), workshops, performances, film, interactive art, sculpture, organic food and refreshments in a sublime natural environment. The last Splore (2002) featured a number of international artists, including the UK's State of Bengal and US performers from Nevada's Burning Man Festival.

Confirmed names for 2004 include Fat Freddys Drop, Minuit, Manuel Bundy, Concord Dawn, Roger Perry and many more. "It's a New Zealand electronic/live music festival first and foremost, says Amanda "Overseas acts will also be performing as guests amongst our own world class acts". Splore will host two main music stages with satellite zones for different collectives to create their own style of music and atmosphere.

As well as being a three-day groove fest, Splore is also a huge outdoor art gallery. Just some of the artists showcasing their styles will be Kahurangi Performance Art Troupe, Peter Stoneham, Miranda Brown, Edvan Woodruffe, Dan Blanchard, Dr Friendly with his ride on wonder; Boing and part-man/part machine The Lightning Rider. In 2002 The Lightning Rider blew the Splore crowds away and he's poised to do it all again in 2004 as he unbelievably shoots forks of lightning from his own fingers!

"We have been carefully planning a five year project" says Amanda "Splore 2004 will be the realisation of that five year series. We definitely plan on pulling out all our trump cards." Whether you choose to dance, do a mountain bike trail, drink bubbly with friends, pop off to the hot pools, shop at the market, check out the amazing art installations or do a yoga class, there really is something for everyone at Splore.

Don't miss this essential summer event! Check www.splore.net for regular updates. Tickets sales from: AUCKLAND: Conch Records, Play Records, Real Groovy WELLINGTON: Matterhorn M Ticket: Text SPLORE to 858 on your Vodafone Red Ticket: Nationwide and on www.redticket.co.nz

Splore Festival 5 - 7 March 2004 Waharau Regional Park, (one hour south east of Auckland central)

Photo Credits: Swami Neelamber, blueskyzen@hotmail.com

Full List of Confirmed Acts: Pitch Black Nathan Haines Fat Freddy's Confucius Minuit Batacada Manuel bundy Roger Perry Stinky Jim + Slowdeck Greg Churchill Timmy Schaumacher Baitercell and Zan Mckendree Wright Phully Dub Asylum Bassteppa Tobi J'me Concord Dawn Automatic Jason Lonesdale DJ Eve (Amanda) Cuffy Dick Johnston Rob Salmon Phully Phillipa Dan Clark Chris Cox Cesar Gary Pritchard-Jones B-Line Sugalicks Art Edvan Woodruffe Peter Stoneham Vivid Lightning Rider Miranda Brown Dan Blanchard Kahurangi Performance Art Troupe Dr Friendly (USA)