The festival will debut at Rotorua’s Village Green and
has been created with promoter and agent Loop.
The same line-up will then head to Brisbane the following weekend.
Lead singer Joel Shadbolt said Rotorua felt like a “natural fit” with its “cool vibe” that “gets better every time you go there”.
“Having everyone able to walk through the city and end up right on the lakefront for the festival is magic”, he said.
It will be L.A.B’s first Rotorua show in nearly seven years and comes 10 years after their first festival appearance.
Shadbolt, who lives in Pāpāmoa, said Bay of Plenty crowds loved live music and the band would be “absolutely raring to go” by January.
The band had been busy writing and recording new music, meaning they’d had fewer opportunities to perform live.
The festival created a “rare chance”, Shadbolt said.
He said the event was especially exciting because festivals could be restrictive for families wanting to bring children.
Music was a huge part of Shadbolt’s upbringing, and he was keen to see more young faces in the crowd.
“We’re just hoping that everyone will be able to have an awesome day out, whether you’re an 18-year-old rocking up to your first gig, or in your 40s bringing along the whole whānau,” Shadbolt said.
Under 5s could go free with a paying adult.
The line-up is an “epic” array of R&B, reggae, soul and indigenous sounds, including artists such as Ladi6, Aaradhna, Che Fu and Whakatāne artist Te Wehi – whose performance at Sir Howard Morrison Centre in June sold out.
Kiwi music royalty Sir Dave Dobbyn is also performing, which Shadbolt said was “always really special”.
He said L.A.B were “close” with many artists and were “looking forward to hanging out” and watching them perform.
The band were drawing from their experiences playing at festivals internationally.
L.A.B were fronted by Joel Shadbolt at Rotorua’s Village Green in 2020. Photo / Andrew Warner
Shadbolt said the band had long worked with Loop on their shows and their team knew what made a great gig – and “what not to do”.
The idea for 8th Wonder was talked about for a few years.
Loop founder and chief executive Mikee Tucker said the team “really locked into” developing it in February.
“It was time to put a stake in the ground with our good friends and business partners, L.A.B, and just create an artist-led festival,” Tucker said.
He said Rotorua was close to “everywhere” and, regionally, “it’s got the most hotel beds”.
“I think other people have been shortsighted, moving their things to certain places and not thinking about where people are going to stay.”
Loop founder and chief executive Mikee Tucker (centre) with New Zealand musicians Warren Maxwell (left) and Sir Dave Dobbyn (right).
Tucker described the festival as “boutique by design”, and the vision was “accessibility”.
This meant celebrating music, but also culture, art and food with markets, stalls and activities.
Some activities and stalls would also be open the following day.
Tucker said there would be about 10,000 tickets for sale.
It was “curated” to be a festival Tucker would want to go to himself – one where people can “actually get up close to the artists” and that was “welcoming for everyone”.
The stage was planned to face the lakefront, allowing for trees to shade picnic tables and providing a space to “chill out”.
Tucker felt “really proud” of how the festival was coming together.
The festival team worked with RotoruaNZ, Rotorua Lakes Council and local iwi, Tūhourangi Tribal Authority and Ngāti Whakaue.
The lead vocalist of roots and reggae band Corrella, Pipiwharauroa Campbell, is performing at the festival and is the event’s cultural lead.
Campbell said he helped ensure all the correct tikanga was being followed, from the name of the festival and artwork, right through to the use of the space.
Corella lead vocalist Pipiwharauroa Campbell helped ensure the festival event honours te Ao Māori.
“We really want to make sure this is an event that honours te ao Māori, and making sure things are being approached with the right intentions.”
Campbell is bilingual and said Corrella often performed in te reo.
“We find it very important to use our platform to push te reo in any small way we can.”
Campbell said the wider festival would be embracing the language too.
RotoruaNZ chief executive Andrew Wilson said Rotorua had a “proud history” hosting live music and outdoor festivals of this calibre.
The city last hosted reggae festival Raggamuffin in 2014, drawing a crowd of 14,000 people. At its peak, before the event moved to Auckland, there could be 30,000 people.
Wilson said 8th Wonder was a “welcome addition”, bringing visitors to the region and generating economic benefits for local businesses while showcasing the city to new audiences.
The event reinforced “our reputation as a leading destination for world-class experiences”, Wilson said.
A new festival, 8th Wonder, will make its debut in Rotorua this January.
The festival is intended to be yearly.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 12pm from the 8th Wonder website.
Under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Prices:
GA Early Bird – $127.50 GA First Release – $147.50Limited VIP – $287.50
Annabel Reid is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and the Rotorua Daily Post, based in Rotorua. Originally from Hawke’s Bay, she has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canterbury.