Our top 5 acts to watch at Laneway Festival 2018.

One of our favourite Summer traditions, Laneway Festival, have announced their line-up for 2018 - with the New Zealand show happening at the Albert Park Precinct on January 29th - and we couldn’t be more excited about the artists that they’re bringing down for the day.

We’ve put together a list of our top five acts who are playing the festival - check them all out below…

BILLIE EILISH

Her ‘don’t smile at me’ EP is one of our favourite releases of this year - and the rest of the world is catching on, with Billie being chosen by Zane Lowe as Apple Music’s latest ‘Up Next’ artist, which led to her television debut with ‘Ocean Eyes’. Watch the performance below:

Billie is currently on her first ever tour of the U.S. (a fully sold-out tour, FYI), and as well as her EP, has also contributed a song (‘Bored’) to the soundtrack of ’13 Reasons Why’ earlier this year.

Having already played a sold-out show at Auckland’s Tuning Fork last month, Billie’s return to NZ in January is set to take her to even greater heights. Watch her music video for ‘watch’ below…

WOLF ALICE

London faves Wolf Alice will be gracing New Zealand with their presence for the first time ever, and we couldn’t be more excited about it. Their debut album ‘My Love Is Cool’ and sophomore release ‘Visions Of A Life’ are two of the best rock albums as of late, with both albums reaching #2 in the UK album charts. Listen to album highlight ‘Space & Time’ below:

They also reliably perform amazing covers in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, two of our favourites being of (Laneway alumni) alt-J’s ‘Matilda’, and Years & Years’ ‘Desire’:

POND

Making up one of the Australian acts playing Laneway Festival next year is POND - the Perth-based, psychedelic band (who’ve previously visited New Zealand to play support on the Arctic Monkeys’ tour), who dropped their latest album ‘The Weather’ earlier this year.

Listen to ‘Sweep Me Off My Feet’ (our favourite from the album) below…

LOYLE CARNER

Loyle Carner’s 2017 release ‘Yesterday’s Gone’ saw him nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize (alongside Stormzy, Sampha, The xx, and more), and receive praise from The Guardian and NME - and rightfully so, the album is a true rap success.

More recently he’s become known for exchanging tickets to his shows for rare football shirts, as well as playing football with fans prior to his shows.

And just a few nights ago, he kicked out an audience member at his show after they were sexist about his opening act. What. A. Man.

BONOBO

He visited New Zealand back in July to play a sold-out show at the Town Hall, but Bonobo’s appearance at Laneway Festival is even more exciting - he’s bringing even more of a live band with him, and the show is set to be spectacular.

Watch some of a live Bonobo show below (if you need anymore convincing):

Tickets to Laneway Festival are on sale now - click here to purchase.

P.S. Read our latest Wolf Alice interview here.