After a last-minute cancellation last year due to Auckland’s flooding, Laneway is back with much anticipation in 2024. Featuring a stellar lineup, tickets have been snatched up at speed in preparation for next week – here’s the lowdown on all you need to know before the big day.
The Location:
This year’s festival will be held at Western Springs Stadium on a brand new date of Waitangi Day’s Feb 6. Located on Great North Road in Grey Lynn, this will be the first year in which the festival will go ahead without its previously iconic Albert Park location.
The Acts:
Stormzy
After the pandemic years cancelled his individual tour, Stormzy is finally coming back to our shores to headline this year. For those who enjoy grime and rap, he’s a man who needs no introduction, having now released 3 critically acclaimed albums and having firmly cemented himself as an icon.
With his high tempo, high energy instrumentals and powerful lyrics which sway from deeply emotional to unapologetic and contemplative, as well as his heavy fanbase; to have Stormzy headline just feels right this year.
Audiences can expect an enticing mixture on his set, as he’s bound to feature tracks from across his discography. Personally, I’m hoping for some tracks off Heavy Is the Head, especially ‘Audacity’ and ‘Big Michael.’
An unexpected feature may be the 2023 track ‘Witness Me’ – a collaboration between Stormzy, Shawn Mendes and Kirk Franklin.
Either way, Stormzy will be giving those at Laneway a performance never to forget, and if you need some extra hype before the festival kicks off, he’s the perfect go-to here too.
D4VD
This is Houston native D4VD’s first time down under. Having risen to prominence through Fortnite video streaming (super random!), he recently broke onto the scene with moody track ‘Romantic Homicide’ in 2022 and has quickly generated a loyal audience. The song went viral and eventually led to a deal with Darkroom records, who also represent artists like Billie Eilish and Cian Ducrot.
Following ‘Romantic Homicide’, D4VD has since released his first full length album, Petals to Thorns in 2023.
Fans of D4VD will no doubt be excited to see this upcomer perform, especially as his music showcases his unwillingness to conform to any genre. This will no doubt make for an electrifying, mind-bending set from him, and his time on stage will likely be one of the day’s highlights.
Nia Archives
Proficient in producing, djing, and writing her own music, English D&B/jungle artist Nia Archives has been on the up lately.
Her first single ‘Sober Feels’ in 2020, released under her own label Hijinxx, was the first record to put Nia on the map and has now been streamed over 12 million times. This was followed by a single and EP both titled Headz Gone West, an ode to how she, like many others, struggled with her mental health during the COVID pandemic. The emotional depth and relatability of the EP dramatically widened Nia’s audience, and since then she’s released 2 more albums in March of the consecutive years, respectively titled Forbidden Feelingz & Sunrise Bang Your Head Against the Wall.
With her 90s inspired sound and deep songwriting, Nia, who has recently been described as part of the forefront to the ‘bedroom rave movement’ will no doubt put on a fantastic show on the 6th for her first visit to NZ.
To get clued up with her music before the festival, we suggest the following tracks: ‘Off Wiv Your Headz’, ‘Forbidden Feelingz’, ‘Crowded Rooms’ and ‘Baiana.’
DOMi & JD BECK
DOMi and JD BECK are a force to be reckoned with. The electrifying duo are composed of French keyboardist Domi Louna and American drummer JD Beck, who have come together to create an all round intoxicating sound.
Having worked with artists like Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Earl Sweatshirt and Anderson .Paak, they are making waves.
After signing with Anderson’s label Apeshit in 2022, they went on to release their debut album, Not Tight. On release, the album received critical acclaim, and critics have praised their youthful charm and rapid fire “breakbeats.”
They have also recieved 2 Grammy nominations, which is unusual for people of their age – though it wouldn’t be surprising to know they have both been deemed “child prodigies” in their respective elements.
DOMi and JD are bringing their talent to the Laneway stage this year, and if there’s anything audiences should expect – with these two, it’s definitely the unexpected.
The Setlist:
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The Map:
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What to Bring:
- ID, for entry
- Your ticket …. duh
- Sunscreen and hat if possible – Auckland sun can be brutal in the summer, and Western Springs isn’t known for its shade potential
- Small bag for your valuables
- Portable charger for phone – important to keep powered up through the day to get your best shots and videos!
- Water bottle – hydration is extremely important for festival stamina
- Camera (if you have one!) – while detachable lenses aren’t permitted, disposables and other cameras will go a long way in this environment
The official Laneway playlist:
If you’re not already in the mood after all this, next step is to check out the official playlist below! If you’re not already familiar with any acts, now is the time to get acquainted, so you can find all the best tunes here:
We’ll see you there!
