Raggamuffin: UB40, Ice Cube for Auckland event

Ice Cube

Rotorua has officially lost the Raggamuffin music festival to Auckland.

Raggamuffin promoter Andrew McManus has announced the line-up for his first Auckland-based Raggamuffin festival to be held at a venue to be announced next month.
Mr McManus said he had "given Rotorua a good go".

"We're delighted to be bringing Raggamuffin to Auckland and we hope our fans will continue to support the event and that we will be encouraging new fans to come along," he said.

Mr McManus also announced Raggamuffin in Auckland would be presented in partnership with Dawn Raid Entertainment.

"Dawn Raid is an established and well-known brand in New Zealand who have produced some of the best hip hop acts in the country."

Dawn Raid Entertainment director Danny "Brotha D" Leaosavai'i said Raggamuffin was an iconic New Zealand summer festival and the company was excited to be on board.

"We wanted to assist bringing in new changes that will enhance Raggamuffin Music Festival, not only with the best line-up for any festival this summer but also a new venue," he said.

The headline acts are reggae legends UB40 - including Ali Campbell - and American hip-hop and rap exponent Ice Cube.

The concert will be held on two stages on December 13 and will also feature leading Pacific reggae artist Fiji, Jamaica's Etana and Chronixx, and England's Gappy Ranks - who will play a set with New Zealand's own P-Money.

They will be joined by more Kiwi acts including Katchafire, Aaradhna, House of Shem and Tomorrow People.

The one-day event will now feature two stages - one reggae, and one "urban".

"We asked our fans who they would like to have at Raggamuffin and we were overwhelmed by the requests for UB40. We're very pleased to be able to bring this iconic reggae act back to the festival," Mr McManus said.

The Rotorua District Council has one year left on its contract with Mr McManus and is still discussing whether to release him from his contract.

Mr McManus said he took the festival away from Rotorua due to a lack of numbers and declining profits.

The festival has been held in Rotorua since its inception in 2008 and injected millions of dollars into the local economy.