\u201cHaving everyone able to walk through the city and end up right on the lakefront for the festival is magic\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n
It will be L.A.B\u2019s first Rotorua show in nearly seven years and comes 10 years after their first festival appearance. <\/p>\n
Shadbolt, who lives in P\u0101p\u0101moa, said Bay of Plenty crowds loved live music and the band would be \u201cabsolutely raring to go\u201d by January. <\/p>\n
The band had been busy writing and recording new music, meaning they\u2019d had fewer opportunities to perform live.<\/p>\n
The festival created a \u201crare chance\u201d, Shadbolt said.<\/p>\n
He said the event was especially exciting because festivals could be restrictive for families wanting to bring children.<\/p>\n
Music was a huge part of Shadbolt\u2019s upbringing, and he was keen to see more young faces in the crowd.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just hoping that everyone will be able to have an awesome day out, whether you\u2019re an 18-year-old rocking up to your first gig, or in your 40s bringing along the whole wh\u0101nau,\u201d Shadbolt said.<\/p>\n
Under 5s could go free with a paying adult.<\/p>\n
The line-up is an \u201cepic\u201d array of R&B, reggae, soul and indigenous sounds, including artists such as Ladi6, Aaradhna, Che Fu and Whakat\u0101ne artist Te Wehi<\/a> \u2013 whose performance at Sir Howard Morrison Centre in June sold out. <\/p>\n Kiwi music royalty Sir Dave Dobbyn is also performing, which Shadbolt said was \u201calways really special\u201d. <\/p>\n He said L.A.B were \u201cclose\u201d with many artists and were \u201clooking forward to hanging out\u201d and watching them perform.<\/p>\n The band were drawing from their experiences playing at festivals internationally.<\/p>\n Shadbolt said the band had long worked with Loop on their shows and their team knew what made a great gig \u2013 and \u201cwhat not to do\u201d.<\/p>\n The idea for 8th Wonder was talked about for a few years.<\/p>\n Loop founder and chief executive Mikee Tucker said the team \u201creally locked into\u201d developing it in February.<\/p>\n \u201cIt 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,\u201d Tucker said. <\/p>\n He said Rotorua was close to \u201ceverywhere\u201d and, regionally, \u201cit\u2019s got the most hotel beds\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI think other people have been shortsighted, moving their things to certain places and not thinking about where people are going to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n Tucker described the festival as \u201cboutique by design\u201d, and the vision was \u201caccessibility\u201d.<\/p>\n This meant celebrating music, but also culture, art and food with markets, stalls and activities.<\/p>\n Some activities and stalls would also be open the following day.<\/p>\n Tucker said there would be about 10,000 tickets for sale.<\/p>\n It was \u201ccurated\u201d to be a festival Tucker would want to go to himself \u2013 one where people can \u201cactually get up close to the artists\u201d and that was \u201cwelcoming for everyone\u201d.<\/p>\n The stage was planned to face the lakefront, allowing for trees to shade picnic tables and providing a space to \u201cchill out\u201d.<\/p>\n Tucker felt \u201creally proud\u201d of how the festival was coming together.<\/p>\n The festival team worked with RotoruaNZ, Rotorua Lakes Council and local iwi, T\u016bhourangi Tribal Authority and Ng\u0101ti Whakaue.<\/p>\n The lead vocalist of roots and reggae band Corrella, Pipiwharauroa Campbell<\/a>, is performing at the festival and is the event\u2019s cultural lead.<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n \u201cWe really want to make sure this is an event that honours te ao M\u0101ori, and making sure things are being approached with the right intentions.\u201d<\/p>\n Campbell is bilingual and said Corrella often performed in te reo. <\/p>\n \u201cWe find it very important to use our platform to push te reo in any small way we can.\u201d <\/p>\n Campbell said the wider festival would be embracing the language too.<\/p>\n RotoruaNZ chief executive Andrew Wilson said Rotorua had a \u201cproud history\u201d hosting live music and outdoor festivals of this calibre.<\/p>\n The city last hosted reggae festival Raggamuffin<\/a> in 2014, drawing a crowd of 14,000 people. At its peak, before the event moved to Auckland, there could be 30,000 people.<\/p>\n Wilson said 8th Wonder was a \u201cwelcome addition\u201d, bringing visitors to the region and generating economic benefits for local businesses while showcasing the city to new audiences.<\/p>\n The event reinforced \u201cour reputation as a leading destination for world-class experiences\u201d, Wilson said.<\/p>\n The festival is intended to be yearly. <\/p>\n Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 12pm from the 8th Wonder website.<\/a><\/p>\n Under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. <\/p>\n Prices: <\/p>\n GA Early Bird – $127.50\u00a0GA First Release – $147.50Limited VIP – $287.50<\/p>\nL.A.B were fronted by Joel Shadbolt at Rotorua’s Village Green in 2020. Photo \/ Andrew Warner<\/p>\n
Loop founder and chief executive Mikee Tucker (centre) with New Zealand musicians Warren Maxwell (left) and Sir Dave Dobbyn (right).<\/p>\n
Corella lead vocalist Pipiwharauroa Campbell helped ensure the festival event honours te Ao M\u0101ori.<\/p>\n
A new festival, 8th Wonder, will make its debut in Rotorua this January.<\/p>\n