American Idol's latest winner Iam Tongi is joining Auckland's Eden Festival, which takes place on October 7.
Tongi, who captivated the hearts of judges and the US public alike with his heartfelt performances, hails from the islands of Hawaii but has been embraced by the Tongan and Samoan communities of New Zealand.
The 18-year-old has already performed with global stars James Blunt and Jack Johnson.
Tongi's appearance at the Eden Festival will mark his first performance outside the US. He will join other superstars on the lineup including former Fugees lead singer Lauryn Hill as well as NZ rock legends Six60.
Festival directors Emal Naim and Bernard Kumar, of FestCo Events, said securing Tongi for the inaugural Eden Festival was a huge win for the NZ music market.
"Iam Tongi has the potential to become a worldwide phenomenon and we are so lucky to have him for Eden Festival in October. His Islander heritage is a perfect fit for the festival and we have no doubt his soulful performances will add to the event."
The Eden Festival is promised to be "New Zealand's first music festival to blend the hypnotic rhythms of Afrobeats, Amapiano, Reggae and R&B" and will be held at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday, October 7.
Tickets for the event go on sale on Thursday.
