NEWS: Sounds Aotearoa Explodes To The Next Level

Thursday , 27 Jan 2011

Malcolm Haynes (Glastonbury, The Big Chill Festivals) and Ben Mendelson (WOMEX) confirmed to present! Electric Wire Hustle confirmed to play! Let the international extravaganza begin!

The combined knowledge of Malcolm Haynes and Ben Mendelson is an unquestioned industry tour de force and delegates will get the opportunity to rack their brains at Sounds of Aotearoa, as the latest confirmation in an exceptional line-up.

Malcolm Haynes has been in the industry for over 30 years, and currently heads up the phenomenal Dance Village at Glastonbury, which across its seven venues has housed artists such as Fat Boy Slim, Chemical Brothers, Crystal Castles and Klaxons. In 2010 he added the co-ordination of the Uptown Area – which includes five venues, a fun fair, and various food and non-food stalls - of The Big Chill Festival to his impressive roster, cementing his reputation as an industry heavy-hitter.

Not only has Ben Mendelson been charged with launching the ‘World Music’ genre as a whole, but he has forged a career producing the most celebrated artists in it both for the label - Globestyle – he launched and for the myriad of international labels who seek out his services. These skills culminated in WOMEX, which Mendelson founded in 1994. The biggest and most prestigious trade show in the world, WOMEX 2010 housed 2, 440 delegates from 94 countries, 59 showcase acts on six stages and over 20 conference sessions and films screenings.

Mendelson and Malcolm Haynes head up an already stellar list of presenters, including Don Letts (charged with marrying punk and reggae in the 1970’s), Peter Noble (Director of Bluesfest, promoter and director of AIM Records), Toby Mills from the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (UK), Sam Cook from The Dreaming Festival (Australia) and Micki Sellton from Reggaetown Festival (Australia) and record label owner Scott Schorr (Lazy Bones Recordings, U.S.). Local industry insiders round out this unprecedented cast of experts: Nicole Duckworth (Fat Freddy’s Drop, The Drop), Moana Maniapoto (Moana & The Tribe, Black Pearl) and Vicki Gordon (VGM Media, Australia).

As if one needed more reason to attend, Electric Wire Hustle have been confirmed for the already-blistering Sounds Aotearoa showcase evenings! The Wellington genre-hopping troubadours have been praised for a live performance that marries funk, soul and hip hop into immeasurable amounts of fun, and they will be heading up two nights of explosive New Zealand talent. From the skanking prowess of Northland Reggae band 1814, to the soul-inflected sexiness of Wellington duo Bebe Deluxe, to Batucada Sound Machines’ Pacific-influenced Brazilian bop, Taranaki is going to be overwhelmed by two packed nights of effecting international jams.

It’s their opportunity to export themselves internationally, and the audience’s opportunity to be exported to an eclectic, immersive sonic environment, for two, unmissable nights!

Artist Showcase public tickets on sale now through Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.co.nz (09) 970 9700.

Sounds Aotearoa delegates get free entry to showcases

Registrations for the conference aspect of the two-day event are open now via the official website www.soundsaotearoa.com