Playground Weekender Announce Additions… And Drop Outs!

6th February 2012 – Australia’s best-loved boutique festival, Playground Weekender has announced a new raft of diverse and cutting edge music artists who’ll be joining the huge line-up of acts already revealed for the three-day festival in March.

New Zealand’s SHAPESHIFTER, signed to the legendary Hospital Records, the band are often referred to as the pioneers of modern music because of their unique blend of soul and drum and bass. Having clocked up three platinum selling albums, the band are guaranteed to be one of the many highlights of the festival.

The 26-piece MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA, fronted by Nicky Bomba, will be rolling in to Playground Weekender with their fun-loving big band experience. With a repertoire spanning from the golden ska period of 1963, right through to modern day classics, the Melbourne Ska Orchestra is fast becoming a must-see institution.

Germany’s minimal dance connoisseur, STEVE BUG, is back for another helping of Playground Weekender fun. Steve’s sets have become a demand as he is a master at blurring the boundaries between deep underground and strikingly versatile, hands-in-the-air moments. As a self-confessed massive fan of Playground Weekender, expect him to pull out all the stops.

Also making a welcome return for 2012 is LTJ BUKEM. Having raised the roof of the Big Top tent on three previous editions of Playground Weekender, the ground breaking DJ, record label entrepreneur and firm festival favourite is back by popular demand.

Making massive rumbles in the dance music’s underground scene, AMIRALI will be making his Australian debut at Playground Weekender with his live show. Ready to explode on to the scene, one thing’s for sure he’ll soon have the world at his feet having caught the eye of Damian Lazarus.

FBi Radio, hosts of ‘The Shack’ stage, will be presenting the best emerging talent Australia has to offer including indie rockers CAMERAS, THE PAPER SCISSORS and raw punksters FAIT ACCOMPLI. GUERRE, PLUTO JONZE, LOON LAKE and an array of other new and exciting artists will also be putting on show-stopping performances over the course of the weekend.

Fancy a poolside cocktail? SMIRNOFF are proud to present the ever popular Club Tropicana Pool Party. With a range of special fruity Smirnoff cocktails, comfy loungers and enough timeless tunes to make Miami or Ibiza proud, the likes of GREG WILSON and handpicked DJs from THE SPICE CELLAR will be dropping by to spin some tunes. The Spice Cellar, renowned as Sydney’s clubbing institution, plays host to a unique, European, underground clubbing experience.

Bringing friends together since 1874, THE SOUTHERN COMFORT BOURBON STREET BAR will be a place to enjoy delicious cocktails. Get up, to get down with sets and performances from the crazy CUBAN BROTHERS (also hosting Saturday’s iconic fancy dress parade), king of disco and rare groove KIRK DEGIORGIO and DANNY LE RU.

With all these splendid additions to the line-up, it is with sadness that following the first artist announcement, it has come to light Fat Freddy’s Drop and Modeselektor are now unavailable to perform at this year’s event.

Since Modeselektor announced the cancellation of their tour of South East Asia, Australia and USA, the promoters of Playground Weekender have been working tirelessly to try and reverse their decision. However, it has now been confirmed unequivocally the duo won’t be visiting down under until later in 2012.