Sundown Festival Whangamata

Get ready, New Zealand. We are bringing you a brand new Reggae Festival with an all kiwi lineup featuring 1814, Katchafire, Kora, Masaya, Muroki, Rubi Du, The Black Seeds & Mai Fm DJ's, in one of the best locations in the WORLD, Whangamata

1814
1814 are a New Zealand reggae band from Kaeo based in the Far north. Patu and his sons, Shaun and Jimmy Colbert started the band in 2004. “We found our sound while performing in church, supporting community events around Northland that gave us the opportunity to play our own material and it sort of started from there"

Katchafire:
Hailing from Kirikiriroa in Aotearoa (Hamilton in New Zealand) KATCHAFIRE have become a global roots reggae phenomenon. The all Maori reggae band bring their pure classic sound to music lovers worldwide delivering one of the most authentic Reggae shows around today. They didn't come from privilege, they didnt have famous parents; they were ruff n tumble youths who had their lives changed by reggae music who have grown into humble husbands and fathers still finding joy spreading the love all over the world

Kora:
Originally hailing from Whakatane, four musical brothers from the Kora family, Laughton, Francis, Stuart and Brad, began playing together as a band in the early 1990s under the name Auntie Beatrice, winning the national Rockquest high school band competition in 1991 and the East Coast region Battle Of The Bands three years running, earning a release on Tangata Records for their efforts.

Masaya:
Smooth confident music oozes from Raglan groovers Masaya. Formed as a 3 piece band for a University project for lead vocalist and frontman Reiki Ruawai, coaxing his sister Kaea Ruawai on the drums. The band evolved, adding Jules Blewman on lead guitar from Wellington, Joe Kaptein on keyboards and Nat Hathaway on bass guitar with cousin Tiara Ruawai on backing vocals.
Masaya is a fun vibe with catchy hooks and unmistakable steez from Raglan, NZ

Muroki
Coromandel born but residing in Raglan since he was a kid, Muroki has always lived near the waves — a defining backdrop to this 19-year-old's sound. It’s a sound that caught the ear of Benee. She played the mesmeric ‘For Better Or Worse’ on Elton John’s radio show and he is the first signing to her new Olive Music label with single ‘Light Me Up’ due out imminently.

"I first heard Muroki’s music when I was on tour in Australia last year and I was listening to him every day at one point, ha!” she says. "I love his voice so muchhhh — it’s so smooth and soulful. Then I met him at 121 Festival in March. Muroki’s such a sweet and genuine guy, just the sort of artist I’d  like to work with."

Muroki plays music, surfs, skates and brews a good coffee for Raglan locals. Between lockdowns, he had a brutal stint planting trees through the Whāingaroa winter, making enough cash to allow him space and time to write music. And write music he did.

Rubi Du
Well known Auckland reggae artist Rubi Du has been making waves in music both here in New Zealand and overseas, and most recently on a successful tour with NZ's kings of dub, Fat Freddy's Drop.

The Blackseeds
Over the past two decades, The Black Seeds have taken their boundary-crossing reggae fusion to the world. One of New Zealand’s most-loved acts, at home the multi-platinum-selling band are revered stalwarts of the touring and festival circuit, while abroad they’ve spearheaded New Zealand’s internationally renowned roots movement alongside the likes of Fat Freddy’s Drop and Katchafire.