Opotiki Lantern Festival - With Rob Ruha & Gin Wigmore

Don’t miss this must do kiwi summer event jam packed with NZ’s hottest talent.

The Opotiki Lantern Festival is celebrating its 10th birthday this summer and you're invited!

Rob Ruha and Gin Wigmore will be headlining this years show and will be joined by a killer line up of our best home grown bands and artists.

Rob Ruha:
Hailing from Wharekahika, Gisborne and is fast approaching legendary status with his accomplishments in the music world.
He debuted as a solo musician in 2013, and is known for his singles in Te Reo Māori, including "Kalega" (2017), "Ka Mānu" (2019), "35" with Ka Hao (2021), and "Taera" (2021). Ruha worked as the music director for the Māori language version of the Walt Disney Pictures films Moana and The Lion King.
With his impressive 9 piece band, we can't wait for Rob's knock out performance.

Gin Wigmore:
American based kiwi singer and songwriter, Gin Wigmore, returns home for her NZ tour and to perform at the Opotiki Lantern Festival. .
Featured on the Smashproof single "Brother" in 2009, Wigmore went on to release four albums Holy Smoke, Gravel & Wine, Blood to Bone and Ivory, with the first three having been chart-toppers on the New Zealand Albums Chart.

DJ Jordan Lee:
Joining us for the first time is Mai FM's DJ Jordan Lee. The amazing - Jordan Lee: A DJ placed between the old and new school hip hop and RnB. Jordan brings the two harmoniously together through his mixes of mashups and creative transitions.

Sophie Maude:
Tauranga based 17-year-old Sophie Maude has a vast range of talent as a vocalist, who plays ukulele, guitar & learning the piano. She dropped her first single “Insane” which featured as part of NZ On Air Music’s March New Tracks compilation, now she’s killing it in the industry with her most streamed single “Take Me Away” & recently performed at “Coca-Cola Christmas in The Park 2022.”

Tahi:
Tahi is an 8-piece band that came together at Ratana Pa celebrations around 3 years ago. Tahi brings that authentic Aotearoa reggae vibe with a splash of RnB, Soul and even some Jazz in the mix. They have just completed their Next Generation Tour and we can't wait to welcome them to Ōpōtiki. Stream their latest release Next Generation on Spotify now.

Ellaphon Tauariki (Ella):
An Aucklander who recently won the Tāne division on Whakaata Māori - 5 Minutes of Fame, with his show stopping vocals.
He has wowed the public since with his performances on social media & has even released his new single “Finding Love” on Spotify.

Salem & Manawa Randall Brothers:
Music & talent runs through this Tairāwhiti family, with both brothers participating in Whakaata Māori – 5 Minutes of Fame both bringing the house down with their performances.

Salem (14) won the Rangatahi division but before he was on the show, he was Tik Tok famous with over 133,000 likes for a video of him singing "Stand by Me" & he won the Smokefree Tangata Beats Best Vocal award, and his high school band Tūranga Tane Rebels won the Reo Award.

Manawa (18) was runner-up in the Tāne division. But in 2021 Manawa and his band T.M.B won the regional Smokefree Rockquest and Tangata Beats award.
The band’s original song "Ngā Manu a Tane" was recorded and is on Spotify.

Bring the whole family down to Ōpōtiki's biggest summer event and enjoy all the Ōpōtiki Lantern Festival has to offer!!