Music
Music is central to the Pacific culture and Pasifika Festival brings together the sounds and rhythms of both traditional and new music, from time-honoured drumming to fresh hip hop.
Some of the best cultural performers and selected artists from the 10 Pacific Island nations will be bringing the stages to life at Pasifika. There are over 1,500 performers on the 11 different stages, performing a huge variety of music. This is a record number, after the expansion to a full two-day event.
Aotearoa is the 'feature nation' of the event this year and will host the headline acts, including Ria Hall, Dam Native, Toni Huata and Moana and the Tribe.
Other great musical highlights include a 50 person strong Tongan brass band – with all members travelling to New Zealand especially to perform at Pasifika – as well as:
- 2012 Smokefree Pasifika Beats winner Zkabby Jams
- Vaniah and Jewel from Tokelau
- Moana and the Tribe from Aotearoa
- The Five Stars band from Samoa
- Old Fiji Fashion show from Fiji
- Tahiti string band from Tahiti
- Taurea Nui from Cook Islands
Pasifika also provides a great chance for emerging artists to break through to a wider audience by performing in front of the festival’s huge crowds. Auditions for emerging artists were held in 2012 and attracted a variety of performers from across different genres, with Rizvan, The Mavaega Sisters, Whanau Patuwai and Vallkyrie scheduled to perform at the event.
