Laneway Festival celebrates its best ever artist gender-split

St Jerome's Laneway Festival will boast its best ever gender-split across all artists in the event's history next year - an achievement organisers say they are proud of.

It's a "very progressive" move that Laneway has been focused on since its inception - outside of curating a line-up of artists who bring new, exciting and edgy music to the table.

Of the acts to command the stage at the 2019 event, 45 percent will be female and 55 percent male.

Promoter Mark Kneebone told Newshub the festival has always had the attitude that the line-up should reflect its audience while providing the best experience possible.

"We've been working towards this really since the start, but more proactively over the last three or four years in terms of gender diversity across the line-up - and it has become a real focus for us," he said.

On the day 45 percent of performing artists will be female versus 55 percent male across a range of genres.
On the day 45 percent of performing artists will be female versus 55 percent male across a range of genres. Photo credit: Supplied / St Jerome's Laneway Festival.

"Sometimes you have to dig a little further or be a little more proactive to find a balance of gender, but I don't think the excuse of 'we couldn't find anyone' is valid.

"We feel it's a responsibility that all events should have."

The Laneway director explained that across the entire industry, from radio stations to record labels, there should be an emphasis on bringing diversity to audiences.

The day will include performances from standout female performers including local rising star Bene, Annabel Liddell of Miss June, Aussie songstress G Flip and alt-rock trio Camp Cope.

The international acts at the 2019 festival will be led by Florence Welsh of indie rock band Florence and the Machine, and flanked by Jorja Smith, Billie Eilish, Clairo and Courtney Barnett.

Showcases by local New Zealand rising star Bene and Florence Welsh of Florence and the Machine are highly anticipated ahead of the event.
Showcases by local New Zealand rising star Bene and Florence Welsh of Florence and the Machine are highly anticipated ahead of the event. Photo credit: Supplied / St Jerome's Laneway Festival.

High Beams, Imugi, Lontalius, and The Dead C will round out the home talent for the guys, joined by A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Cosmo's Midnight, Denzel Curry, Jon Hopkins and Masego from offshore.

"Nothing brings a community together like a good music festival - you're going to discover a whole bunch of new bands with your closest 10,000 new friends," Mr Kneebone said.

"It's a great chance to see a whole bunch of really quality music all in one space in a beautiful setting in the middle of Auckland city. That's pretty rare."

Laneway Festival will be held on January 28, 2019 at Auckland's Albert Park.

Newshub.