Playground Weekender

Australia’s best-loved boutique festival, Playground Weekender has announced a new raft of diverse and cutting edge music artists who’ll be joining the huge line-up of acts already revealed for the three-day festival in March. In addition to the below, it has been revealed in the final weeks leading up to the event more juicy talent will be revealed.

New Zealand’s SHAPESHIFTER, signed to the legendary Hospital Records, the band are often referred to as the pioneers of modern music because of their unique blend of soul and drum and bass. Having clocked up three platinum selling albums and with a fourth headed in the same direction, the band will be bringing their monstrous live grooves and pounding hard rock to Sunday night’s main stage, guaranteed to be one of the many highlights of the festival.

The 26-piece MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA, fronted by Nicky Bomba, will be rolling in to Playground Weekender with their fun-loving big band experience. With a repertoire spanning from the golden ska period of 1963, right through to modern day classics, expect to hear the likes of Wailers, Madness, and the Specials amongst original tunes, reggae and Latin based ska. A massive hit at festivals worldwide, the Melbourne Ska Orchestra is fast becoming a must-see institution.

Germany’s minimal dance connoisseur, STEVE BUG, is back for another helping of Playground Weekender fun. A master at blurring the boundaries between deep underground and strikingly versatile, hands-in-the-air moments, Steve‘s DJ sets have become some of the most sought after at the world‘s top clubs and festivals and industry gatherings. As a self-confessed massive fan of Playground Weekender, expect him to pull out all the stops as he storms the decks once more…

Also making a welcome return for 2012 is LTJ BUKEM. Having raised the roof of the Big Top tent on three previous editions of Playground Weekender, the ground breaking DJ, record label entrepreneur and firm festival favourite is back by popular demand. LTJ Bukem has been an integral force in the development of Drum and Bass for well over 10 years and without his input, it is hard to imagine how the shape of our music would look today. He can, almost single-handedly, be held responsible for the conception and development of the more soulful side of Drum and Bass that he has since become renowned for.

Making massive rumbles in the dance music’s underground scene, AMIRALI will be making his Australian debut at Playground Weekender with his live show. Ready to explode on to the scene, little is known about the Iranian but one thing’s for sure he’ll soon have the world at his feet having caught the eye of the Cross Town Rebels Head Honcho, Damian Lazarus. Experience his haunting vocals and a forward thinking musical style, here first!

FBi Radio, hosts of ‘The Shack’ stage, will be presenting the best emerging talent Australia has to offer including indie rockers CAMERAS, THE PAPER SCISSORS and raw punksters FAIT ACCOMPLI. GUERRE, PLUTO JONZE, LOON LAKE and an array of other new and exciting artists will also be putting on show-stopping performances over the course of the weekend.

Not only that, FBi are giving four bands, big or small, the chance to take to the stage. To enter, send an email with a link to your music, a short bio and a couple of sentences on why you should get a slot. Entries close February 17th and should be addressed to theshack@fbiradio.com

Fancy a poolside cocktail? SMIRNOFF are proud to present the infamous Club Tropicana Pool Party. With a range of special fruity Smirnoff cocktails, comfy loungers and enough timeless tunes to make Miami or Ibiza proud, the likes of GREG WILSON and handpicked DJs from THE SPICE CELLAR will be dropping by to spin some tunes. The Spice Cellar, renowned as Sydney’s clubbing institution, plays host to the world's elite DJ talents, delivering a unique, European, underground clubbing experience. Expect to hear the hottest selection of new disco and essential pool party classics.

Bringing friends together since 1874, THE SOUTHERN COMFORT BOURBON STREET BAR will be a place to enjoy delicious cocktails whilst taking in the authentic surrounds of a New Orleans drinking establishment. Get up, to get down with sets and performances from the crazy CUBAN BROTHERS (also hosting Saturday’s iconic fancy dress parade), king of disco and rare groove KIRK DEGIORGIO and DANNY LE RU.

With all these splendid additions to the line-up, it is with sadness that following the first artist announcement, it has come to light Fat Freddy’s Drop and Modeselektor are now unavailable to perform at this year’s event.

Tweet