Last night we went to Splore City to experience Splore for the first time. What’s obvious from the first of a two night festival is that Splore has created a community around diverse arts and music that doesn’t immediately fit within a particular genre…
Last night we went to Splore City (www.splore.net) to experience Splore for the first time. In the past, Splore has been a biannual event held outside of the city and so has never really been on our radar as an event to go to (having kids means escaping the city for a few days can be somewhat difficult).
What’s obvious from attending the first of a two night festival is that Splore has created a community around diverse arts and music that doesn’t immediately fit within a particular genre or appeal to a particular group of people. However, if you take the leap – there are rich rewards!
By the time we arrived, Fly My Pretties were in full swing and had the floor of the beautiful Auckland Town Hall seething with one of the more diverse crowds I’ve experienced in that venue. No one seems shy to really get down and boogie at Splore with some of the more open spaces being fully utilized by the more adventurous dancers.
Fly my Pretties ended up with 15 band members on stage taking full advantage of a sound system that was more than capable of delivering a great mix across the different genres.
So, by the time Kelis hits the stage, and the hall filled up to near capacity, the place is heaving with deep bass and bodies, and they are well rewarded.
But here’s the intriguing part of Splore. Would such a diverse line up really attract ticket buyers? My sense is that it is difficult for the organizers to really explain the benefits of the arts/music diversity on offer to potential attendees.
I know I am (or at least was) no fan of Kelis – partly because of her Milkshake song, which, I might add, is certainly no reflection on her incredible talent and ability to really get the party started. Having experienced it however – I can confidently say that Splore offers something that on one hand takes you outside of your comfort zone from a diversity of music styles point of view but on the other hand has you comfortable enough to totally enjoy the experience.
I hope Splore is successful enough this year to return to the city in two years time – my sense is this is a festival that needs time to grow into its ‘city’ audience.
We’ll be back tonight, with particular interest in seeing Mayer Hawthorne and the County, but if last night’s anything to go by – we’ll be blown away by the various other acts on offer – even though we may never have heard of them!
By Kate Hannah 11 February 2011
Photography Lane Hannah.
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