They're the loudest act on Laneway's bill, but rowdy rockers Royal Blood are just two people. The hyped British act talks to Chris Schulz.

Two decades on, high school friends Little Dragon are still living their dreams.

The enigmatic Connan Mockasin's strange but sexy sounds will draw you in to his weird world. He talks to Lydia Jenkin.

Drum 'n' bass innovator Goldie says New Zealand has always been a stronghold of the genre. He talks to Lydia Jenkin.

Jamaican singer Etana, in town for Raggamuffin, uses her artistic name to make a statement, she tells Lydia Jenkin.

Here are TimeOut's picks of the big gigs bringing in 2015.

"To get a beer," writes Chris Schulz, "you had to queue to buy beer tokens, queue to enter the beer-drinking enclosure, and queue to redeem your tokens."

Chris Schulz talks to Cypress Hill ahead of their slot at Raggamuffin and finds they still get a kick out of performing - among other things.

Splore is upping the ante for next year's festival, adding even more big names and events to an already bulging and eclectic line-up that boasts 300 acts.

Auckland's Grey Lynn Park Festival celebrated its 30th anniversary in style on Saturday.

For 30 years, the sheltered daisy-covered banks and fields of an Auckland suburban park have become a cradle of happiness for a summer's day of picnics, music, kids entertainment and pre Christmas shopping.

There have been near-disasters with Christmas floats crashing into buildings, rain wrecking the displays and a cat giving birth mid-parade - but the Farmers Santa Parade is still going strong and continues to annually draw a huge crowd.

Womad festival has announced its line-up today, and top of the bill is Sinead O'Connor.

R&B legend Angie Stone tells Lydia Jenkin how proud she is to be part of SoulFest line-up next weekend.

Traders at next year's Glastonbury Festival have been banned from selling Native American headdresses following an online petition that got just 65 signatures.

As earlybird tickets go on sale for Womad 2015, the festival has revealed a sneak peek at the line-up, announcing two grand international stars: effervescent balladeer Rufus Wainwright and lifelong star of world music Youssou N'Dour.

Splore Festival, which goes from being biannual to annual next year, has announced another handful of artists to add to the bill for its three-day party from February 20 to 22 at Tapapakanga Regional Park.

Auckland music festival Laneway has confirmed it will return to Silo Park for next year's event, to be held on January 26, 2015.

Relentless rain has put an end to revelry at this year’s Burning Man festival before it could even begin.

Summer is festival time in Edinburgh, and thousands of visitors descend on the Scottish capital to see some of the best new talent in arts and entertainment.

Flower festival is a chance to sample more than sun and sand in Samoa, writes Robyn Yousef.

In honour of Matariki, Danielle Wright rounds up activities that everyone can enjoy, from twilight bush walks to narrated waka sailings.

Photos from the 2014 Glastonbury music festival in England.