Top music talents head to Wanaka for Burton New Zealand Open

The beats and bass of top Kiwi and international artists are set to energise Lake Wanaka during the Southern Hemisphere’s premier snowboarding event, the Burton New Zealand Open, in August.

The Gravis Open Sessions offer two live concerts during competition week adding to a full schedule of high paced action and entertainment on and off the mountain.

Headlining the Gravis Open Sessions is one of New Zealand’s most respected and progressive artists Tiki. Featuring remixes by some of his favourite producers Tiki will perform hits from the new album, FLUX, to be released in July. He will play a special Tiki Live set with a dynamic seven-piece band The Dub Soldiers; this is one of only two shows on his nationwide tour to feature the full group.

DJ Reno (Shapeshifter) completes the line-up with Tiki for the Saturday (15th August) night gig at the Lake Wanaka Centre performing mixes from his successful albums in the genres of hip-hop, soul, jazz, house, funk and broken beat.

An energetic mix of DJs will take hold of the Lake Wanaka Centre for Thursday (13th August) night’s session. Black Sun Empire represents the finest in dark and techy dance-floor drum and bass. Their DJ skills and inspirational productions have reached far beyond their native Holland to audiences globally. Two years after the release of their wildly popular debut album, State of Mind is back in force with a new line-up of hits from their recently launched album, Faster Than Light.

Rounding out Thursday night’s program is one of New Zealand’s greatest Dubstep exports; Truth, who have been making a huge impact around the world with their heavy bass line rhythms. Encompassing an array of melodies, vocals and spacious beats they will test the force of Lake Wanaka Centre’s sound system.

Gravis Open Session tickets, $35 plus booking fee, are available from Play It Again in Queenstown and Lake Wanaka from the end of June. Both sessions kick off at 8pm. The first 100 people to buy a ticket to both gigs will receive a free ticket to the Burton New Zealand Open Opening party at Skyline Gondola in Queenstown, Monday 10th August featuring Sunshine Soundsystem.

Attracting elite snowboarders from around the world, the Burton New Zealand Open, takes place August 11-15, 2009 at Cardrona Alpine Resort in New Zealand.