Laneway aims to set the bar for festivals this summer

The organisers of the St Jerome’s Laneway Festival have stated their intentions to make their 2020 edition the benchmark for New Zealand summer music festivals.

The event, which will take place on January 27 in Albert Park, is looking to go bigger and better than the other music festivals over the country this summer.

Festival director Julian Carswell was pleased with the move from Albert Park to Silo Park in 2017, which he says was a major aim for the festival.

“It was always the goal to end up in a city park. Silo Park has no natural shade, and as one of Auckland’s earliest parks with lots of natural shade, [Albert Park] was the perfect place for it,” said Mr Carswell.

Mr Carswell says the acts in particular to look out for this year, in his opinion, are Australian rock band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, as well as local star Benee, following her breakout song Soaked.

“Benee is poised to be a superstar — everyone loves her,” said Mr Carswell.

Something different that the festival is trying out this time is Alfredo’s Dance Tunnel, taking place on the conveniently named laneway-like Alfred Street near Albert Park.

Mr Carswell said that the dance tunnel is being added in as a different kind of curated space in the festival.

He says it will be a space that serves as a bit of a refuge from the main stage, with many international and mostly female DJs taking part, including Russian singer and producer Kedr Livanskiy.

Mr Carswell is optimistic that next year’s Laneway will be bigger than ever and is very intent on letting the public know what to expect ahead of the festival.

“I’m pretty sure we've got the best of everything. Laneway is the best place to come and discover your new favourite band and it’s always the little things that come together to make the show perfect.”

This will be the 11th edition of the St Jerome’s Laneway Festival in New Zealand, with the festival starting at St Jerome’s Bar on Caledonian Way in Melbourne in 2005.

Full details of the Auckland line-up can be found here.