Rhythm & Vines confirms first line-up with Schoolboy Q, Giggs and Baauer

Rapper Schoolboy Q will headline Rhythm & Vines. Photo/Getty

Get ready to go back to school - one of the world's biggest rappers will headline this year's Rhythm & Vines festival.

Schoolboy Q has been confirmed to headline the New Year's festival, held at Waiohika Estate in Gisborne from December 29-31, along with electronic titans Baauer and Mura Masa, and grime MC Giggs.

Other acts confirmed for the 15th anniversary of Gisborne's New Year's festival include 2ManyDJs, Wilkinson, Netsky, A-Trak, Felix da Housecat, Boombox Cartel, B. Traits, Sub Focus (DJ Set), Camo & Krooked, Cut Snake, Solardo, Rezz, DJ T, Pomo and Setmo.

Kiwi acts on the bill include David Dallas​, ​Sachi​,​ Jess B, Chores, Clicks, Yoko Zuna​, ​Sniffers, ​Ria Hall​, ​Montell2099​ and ​P-Money​.

On top of the music, a cast of comedians has been confirmed, including ​Heath Franklin's Chopper, ​Simon McKinney, David Correos, Melanie Bracewell ​and​ Will Wood.

It will be Schoolboy Q's fourth visit to New Zealand, and his appearance could be on the back of a promised new album due before the end of the year.

Baauer will be playing on the back of a storming set at Lollapalooza, while Mura Masa is one of the year's standout newcomers thanks to this year's self-titled debut and the radio hit, Lovesick.

Festival founder Hamish Pinkham said he'd been working hard to get the balance right for the festival.

"The last few years we've really focused on what Rhythm and vines is about. At the end of the day, it's a party (so) we're trying to focus our line-up on acts that bring the party: dance music, a lot of hip-hop," he says.

"We haven't tried to be everything to everyone, because that's difficult to do. It's a simple formula of good DJs, good hip-hop and a few Kiwi classics in there as well."

Pinkham picked Mura Masa, a rising UK producer, to be one of the festival's standout performers.

"It's just picking those acts early, and Mura Masa is one of those acts for us. It's just taking a risk ... and seeing them coming to fruition on the day."

Pinkham promised more acts would be announced at a later date, but warned anyone wanting to head along needed to get in fast - 10,000 tickets have already been sold for the 18,000-strong event.

On top of that, 75 per cent of the festival's campground sites are already taken.

For more information, visit www.rhythmandvines.co.nz.

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