Music Festivals New Zealand

CHRIS SKELTON/Fairfax NZ

Fans at St the Laneway Festival at Auckland's Silo Park in January this year.

Laneway:

With Big Day Out down for the count this summer, Laneway takes over as festival top dog. Back at Auckland's Silo Park on January 26, there are some massive names on the bill; Angus and Julia Stone, Banks, FKA Twigs, Future Islands, Courtney Barnett, St Vincent, Vic Mensa - the list goes on. What better way to celebrate Auckland Anniversary day?

Rhythm and Vines:

The country's biggest New Year's festival needs no introduction. Lineup includes Chet Faker, Danny Brown, Jagwar Ma, Broods, P-Money, Yumi Zouma and Bastille. Gisborne, December 29-31, on-site camping available and encouraged. See in the New Year in undeniable style.

BW Summer Festival:

A festival side-festival, running alongside R&V. Two nights of concert goodness for some 15, 000 campers. Featuring Flume, Shapeshifter, David Dallas and Tim Phin, you don't even have to go to R&V to stay (but why wouldn't you?).

Rhythm and Alps:

Located between Cardrona Ski resort and the Pisa Plateau, this is the only festival that looks this good, and the only festival this big in the South Island. It's running at the same time as R&V (December 30-31) so South Islanders can party it up too. Lineup includes Bastille, Chet Faker, Zane Lowe, DC Breaks and Seth Hamilton.

Northern Bass:

Set up camp in Mangawhai and party in the New Year away from the masses. Taking place December 30-31, Northern Bass features Fat Freddy's Drop, Ghostface Killah, Concord Dawn, Estere and Knights of the Dub Table. They even offer boutique camping.

Highlife NYE:

See in the New Year from Waiheke Island, with dedicated ferry transport to and from the mainland and a lineup including Ron Carroll, DJ Reminise, Beat Mafia and Murry Sweetpants. Highlife is on New Year's Eve from 2pm-2am.

Homegrown:

The Wellington waterfront becomes home to New Zealand's best and brightest. The 2015 lineup features acts from Six60, Kora and Katchafire to Benny Tipene and Ginny Blackmore, plus everything in between. Fifty-seven acts, seven stages, one day: March 7, 2015.

WOMAD:

New Zealand's own international festival is home to a Global Village, with worldly cuisine, workshops, a Living Library, and Village of Wellness. That, plus a lineup including Rufus Wainwright, Sinead O'Connor, Bombino and Tahuna Breaks. March 13-15 at New Plymouth's TSB Bowl of Brooklands.

Splore:

Held at Tapapakanga Regional Park, with its freshwater lagoon and views over the Coromandel peninsula, Splore is all about nature and reducing the festival footprint. February 20-22, 2015, lineup includes Tinashe, Trinity Roots, The Phoenix Foundation and Race Banyon as well as art and installations, workshops and performance art.

Luminate:

Held in Canaan Downs, Takaka Hill, Luminate celebrates the ancient summer harvest festival of Lughnasadgh. It's got workshops, movies, fireside drumming and a lineup including Beats Antique, Deya Dova, Nigel Gavin and Terrafractyl. January 28-February 4.

Winery Tour:

The 9th annual Winery Tour 2015 featuring Dave Dobbyn and Don McGlashan together in concert, as well as Supergroove and Anika Moa, playing 11 shows nationwide from Matakana to Waipara. Starts in Tauranga, January 24 and finishes in Waipara on February 28.

Cloud Festival:

Hailed as the new Parachute; Cloud is "unashamedly all about Jesus". Boasting 30 artists over three stages in one day. Saturday, January 24 at Auckland's QBE stadium. Lineup includes: Gap 5, Tiger Town, Rapture Ruckus, Newsboys.