Press Release – Ragamuffin Festival

MS LAURYN HILL n ALBOROSIE n J BOOG n FIJI n THE GREEN n HERBS n KATCHAFIRE n COMMON KINGS n GAPPY RANKS nMEDIA RELEASE – Weds 24 October 2012 9am

SUPERSTAR
MS LAURYN HILL
TO HEADLINE MASSIVE LINE UP
FOR RAGGAMUFFIN 2013

MS LAURYN HILL n ALBOROSIE n J BOOG n FIJI n THE GREEN n HERBS n KATCHAFIRE n COMMON KINGS n GAPPY RANKS n

n HOT RAIN n MONSTA G n TOMORROW PEOPLE n SWISS n BROWNHILL
n PLUS MUCH MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED…

Friday & Saturday,

1 & 2 February, 2013

Rotorua International Stadium

Raggamuffin is proud to announce its 2013 artists, featuring a massive line up of reggae megastars over two days in Rotorua. With more internationals than ever before, mixed in with the best homegrown talent, festival-goers will be guaranteed a mind blowing festival experience.

Ms Lauryn Hill is the most requested artist by the Raggamuffin fanbase. She first performed at the festival in 2010 and returns to headline Raggamuffin 2013. She established a reputation in the music world as the lone female member of The Fugees, whose record sales would make them the second biggest selling R&B act worldwide since Michael Jackson. She launched her solo career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The recording sold over 19 million copies and earned a record breaking five Grammy Awards.

In addition to securing one of the world’s biggest artists, Raggamuffin has signed over a dozen more internationals, chasing some of the sizzling new acts as well as the legends.

“We wanted to expand the festival’s horizons in 2013 and present a taste of what’s current and hot right now” explains NZ Festival Director Jackie Sanders, “It is exciting to be bringing acts such as Alborosie and The Green to a NZ audience for the first time. Alborosie, for example, is one of the hottest reggae acts available worldwide , he gets top billing on most of the big European festivals.”

NZ reggae is strongly represented again, with a cherry-picked contingent of award winning and chart-topping bands. New kids on the block Tomorrow People, Swiss and Brownhill join eternal favourites Katchafire and the recent Hall of Fame inductees, Herbs. There are more international artists to be announced shortly as well as great NZ bands and DJs.

Tickets to Raggamuffin 2013 will go on sale 9am today, Wednesday 24 October, to subscribers only. Two day passes are only $125* or $40* (Fri 1 Feb only) and $85* (Sat 2 Feb only). These special prices will only be available to those who sign up at www.raggamuffin.co.nz and will be limited so we urge you to act fast. Any remaining subscriber tickets will be made available on general sale on Thursday 25 Oct at 9am. Once they’re gone, prices will jump to the Early Bird rates. *booking fees will apply

Raggamuffin Festival 2013

Rotorua International Stadium, 1 & 2 February 2013

Book at TICKETMASTER from 9am Thurs 25 Oct

PHONE: 0800 111 999 www.ticketmaster.co.nz

More info at www.raggamuffin.co.nz

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS INFO

MS. LAURYN HILL is the most requested artist by the Raggamuffin fanbase. She first performed at the festival in 2010 and returns to headline Raggamuffin 2013. She established a reputation in the music world as the lone female member of The Fugees, who’s record sales would make them the second biggest selling R&B act worldwide since Michael Jackson. She launched her solo career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The recording sold over 19 million copies and earned a record breaking five Grammy Awards.

ALBOROSIE The Sicilian reggae/dancehall artist makes his Raggamuffin debut in 2013. Alberto D’ Ascola (aka Alborosie) was born in Sicily in 1977 but has been based in Jamaica since 2000. He formed his first band Reggae National Tickets in 1992 and they quickly reached success selling more than 200,000 records. Roots, dancehall, lovers and dub all form part of his authentic reggae expression, he embraces these styles with such reverence, joy and vibrancy that it is no surprise he is currently one of the most in-demand names on Planet Reggae! Alborosie recently headlined the main stage on one night of Rototom Sunsplash 2012– the biggest reggae festival in Europe.

THE GREEN are one scene-shaking Reggae band. Comprised of four boys hailing from Hawaii who burst out last year with their self-titled debut album.

“The Green’s powerful sonic identity fuses late 1970s-era dub-heavy roots reggae (reminiscent of English bands like Aswad and Steel Pulse) with strands of contemporary rock/pop/R&B and sporadic indigenous Hawaiian musical and lyrical references. That appealing synthesis has catapulted The Green to the forefront of Hawaii’s thriving reggae scene.” – Billboard

COMMON KINGS style and music is a collection of inspirations orchestrated into an array of head rocking beats, feel good vibes, and emotional fever. Their crazy, fun-loving attitude compliments Common Kings’ live sound, producing phenomenal pop hits with rock, reggae, and R&B influences. These influences originate from each band members love for various genres, and widespread knowledge of music. This band are about to ERUPT in NZ….remember you heard it here first!

J BOOG From Raggamuffin 2012 and the Raggamuffin Road Trip – J Boog is back to ‘do it again’ at Raggamuffin 2013. Fans can’ get enough of his hits including “Let’s Do It Again“,”So Far Gone“,and ‘Sunshine Girl’. The singer of Samoan descent was raised in Compton, California and cites many musical influences. The result is authentic Island Music and genuine Jamaican reggae at the same time. Truly a new and exciting combination. Look out for a special guest appearance from Monsta G

HOT RAIN, a 6 piece reggae band from the island of O‘ahu, Hawaii, initially earned a reputation as Hawaii’s mainstay backing and studio band due to their incredible musicianship. The release of their “Self Titled” album had the island music world buzzing with anticipation all the way to New Zealand and Australia and established them as a top band in their own right.

With hit songs Love, Cuz I’m, and Heavyweight Love hitting #1 on several of Hawaii’s top radio stations, Hot Rain has the islands rockin to their own brand of reggae music. Showing much promise “Self Titled” debuted at #8 on the Billboard reggae charts and hit #2 on iTunes American reggae charts.

FIJI After a successful Raggamuffin Road Trip earlier this year, FIJI is back to play the main stage at Raggmuffin 2013. George ‘FIJI’ Veikoso is one of the biggest and most enduring Polynesian artists of our time. His golden voice and musical blends have launched him on the world stage as a pioneer of island reggae music. Fiji’s fusion of classic reggae with hip-hop, RnB and jazz set him apart as a performer. His unique style defies the idea of categorizing artists into a single genre of music, giving Fiji widespread appeal and the ability to capture his array of his musical influences.

GAPPY RANKS Born in Harlesden, NW10 (London), half Dominican, half Jamaican, Gappy Ranks spent his younger years discovering his passion for music and strengthening his own musical talent at school. Gappy Ranks is a UK Reggae Dance Hall DJ who has been playing at all major European Reggae Festivals. He was also nominated for the 2010 MOBO Awards in the best Reggae Category. Don’t miss his reggae dancehall grooves at Raggamuffin 2013.

KIWI ACTS

HERBS are the founding fathers of Pacific reggae in NZ. Formed in 1979, they are described as “New Zealand’s most soulful, heartfelt and consistent contemporary musical reggae voice”. Recently inducted to the NZ Music Hall of Fame, they have enjoyed 10 Top 20 hits in their long and illustrious career. Slice of Heaven (with Dave Dobbyn) was number 1 in NZ and Australia, a song that we all regard as NZ’s unofficial national anthem! It is an honour to have Herbs at Raggamuffin for the first time.

KATCHAFIRE regularly sell out venues around New Zealand, breaking house records with their legendary 4 hour shows. No other NZ band can claim to deliver that kind of value, nor command that kind of excitement. Boasting excellent singer-song writers, Katchafire delivers a rich and heady mixture of original reggae tunes that are radio-friendly and appeal to all sectors of the market. They are Raggamuffin favourites.

TOMORROW PEOPLE What a year it has been for these purveyors of ‘sunshine reggae’. From the garage in Wellington to playing NZ’s premier reggae festival ‘Raggamuffin 2012’ and ‘A’ rotation on radio within one year, the band has gone from strength to strength showing no signs of slowing down. 2012 saw the band release two more radio hits and their highly anticipated album ‘ONE’. The 13-track CD shot straight to the coveted #1 spot in NZ in its first week and held on for 3 weeks thereafter. It showcases all original tracks written, recorded, produced, mixed and even funded by the band itself in true Kiwi D.I.Y fashion. Sold out shows, the Best Reggae / Roots album at the Waiata Maori Music Awards and a NZ Music Awards nomination followed. Tomorrow People are well deserving of their main stage slot in 2013.

SWISS At only 20 years of age, Swiss has established himself as one of New Zealand & Australia’s hottest new young artists. Captivating online audiences and generating over 275,000 views on Youtube for his independently produced hit “Slow Wind”, Swiss earned a spot on Ragaamuffin Samoa in September 2012 and has recently been performing shows in New Zealand, Australia and USA. He’ll be opening up our main stage at Raggamuffin NZ so get ready to get your groove on early!

BROWNHILL Independently releasing their own self-titled EP in 2011, the irresistible appeal of singles “First Love” featuring reggae legend Fiji, and “My Girl” found an immediate audience with Reggae fans all over the world. Brownhill are now signed to Dawn Raid and are defiantly a band to watch out for in 2013.

ZKABBY JAMS – 2012 PACIFICA BEATS WINNER! A fantastic new 12 piece band from Edgewater College, Pakuranga. As part of their prize package for the high school band competition, Smokefree Pacifica Beats, Zkabby Jams get to perform at Raggamuffin 2013. Zkabby Jams are will open up the Village Stage with their new original reggae songs, including Mr Rasta Man – recently recorded and due for release before Xmas.

ENDS

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