Julia Deans and The Bats to headline 2019 Tāiko Festival

The fabulous honey-sweet falsetto and menacing growl of Julia Deans alongside the enduring vintage and wide-ranging sounds of legendary South Island group The Bats will headline next April’s Tāiko Festival in Punakaiki.

Celebrating its fifth year in 2019, the festival continues to deliver on its promise to bring great Kiwi music to the Coast, alongside the timetable of environmental and community events for families, on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 April.

The Festival has previously featured Tauranga-based New Zealand music legend Tiki Taane, Wellington’s Drax Project and Newtown Rocksteady, Auckland’s Lost Demos and Hamilton’s Knights of the Dub Table.

Festival chair Jed Findlay is excited to bring different styles of music to the 2019 event.

“We’ve leaned heavily towards Pacific reggae and rock, with a bit of psychedelic alt-country thrown in. The 2019 festival features the Flying Nun stalwarts The Bats, who have been playing music together for 35 years and are currently working on album number 10; plus Julia Deans who hailed from Fur Patrol before embarking on her solo career. Both acts have huge followings in New Zealand and overseas, and it was time to bring them to the Coast!”

Initiated to mark the return of local bird hero, the Westland Petrel (Tāiko), the festival also includes a beach parade to welcome back the petrels to their Punakaiki nesting grounds, a jam night, native tree planting, a community market and kids activities.

“We’re trying to create something with the Festival that’s quintessentially New Zealand – it’s about the bush, beach, birds, fun people and great vibes. What we’ve found in previous festivals is that the musos love that vibe and continue to rave about our great little festival. It’s pretty humbling to attract these big name acts.”

It takes about three and a half hours to drive to Punakaiki from Christchurch or Nelson. There’s a plane directly from Wellington to Westport, only 45 minutes’ north of Punakaiki – so politicians, bureaucrats, and cool café types can take a break from the windy city to get a bit real in some amazing nature!

Local accommodation ranges from tent sites and cabins at the camping ground, to Airbnb, bed and breakfast, motels and the Punakaiki Resort.

“Local businesses are right behind this Festival – we’re very accustomed to catering for international visitors, but we’d love to see more Kiwis discover our wonderful community. Put it in your diaries for Friday 26 and Saturday 27 April 2019. Early bird tickets at just $30 for adults, $10 for children and a family pass for $70 will be available through our website www.punakaiki.co.nz/petrel-festival and West Coast i-sites from the start of February through to mid-March. After that, tickets go up to $45 for adults and $95 for a family pass. Check out all our Festival news on the website and our Facebook page, Tāiko Festival.”

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