The organisers of Homegrown Festival have announced a new date for 2021, adding 10 more acts, 2500 extra tickets and a new stage after being forced to postpone this year's event due to COVID-19.
The annual Wellington gig was scheduled for March 21 this year, with most of the multi-stage site already built on the waterfront when the pandemic hit and the concert was called off.
The re-launched event is now slated for March 20, 2021, rounding out a season of summer of festivals featuring almost exclusively Kiwi line-ups in line with Aotearoa's current border restrictions.
Director Andrew Tuck says festival organisers are "really appreciative" of the 20,000 Kiwis holding on to their Homegrown tickets, explaining the addition of new musical acts and the release of more tickets is "something extra to say thank you".
According to a press release, the new additions to the lineup are part of the organisers' "commitment to more gender diversity", with six of the 10 featuring female artists.
Ladi6, Ria Hall, Chaii, Navvy and Paige join Troy Kingi & the Clutch (including female bass player Marika Hodgson), Che Fu & The Kratez, Trinity Roots, Opshop and Goodshirt.
Those artists join already announced headliners Shapeshifter, LAB, Shihad, Devilskin, Stan Walker, Mitch James, Robinson, Dragon, Savage, Nesian Mystik, Montell 2099 and State of Mind - all of whom will appear on the new date next year.
"This is by far the strongest line-up we've ever put together. We've been really lucky that all of the bands, bar two, are still able to play and every stage is incredibly strong," says Turk.
"It'll be a tough call on the day as to which of the six stages to choose."
