Calvin Harris and Kings of Leon will headline a stacked Electric Avenue lineup when the festival returns to Christchurch in 2027.
The two-day festival will take over Hagley Park on Friday, February 26th and Saturday, February 27th, with Bebe Rexha, Kehlani, Tove Lo, Jungle, Underworld, Kasabian, Major Lazer, Lime Cordiale, Gorgon City, Wilkinson and more also confirmed.
The announcement adds another New Zealand date to Harris’ increasingly busy trip Down Under. As announced this week, the Scottish superstar will embark on his first-ever Australian headline tour in February, playing Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. His Electric Avenue set will be his only New Zealand performance and first in the country since 2019.
For Kings of Leon, the festival will mark their first Christchurch performance in 19 years. The US rock band, who have scored five No. 1 albums in New Zealand, are also preparing to release their new album, O My Beloved, this November.
Demand for the 2027 edition was already high before a single artist had been announced, with an initial allocation of 32,000 tickets selling out in less than an hour in April. Around 15,000 tickets remain across the festival.
Final general admission weekend tickets, single-day passes and VIP tickets go on sale at 12pm on Thursday, September 24th here.
Festival director Callam Mitchell said securing both acts as headliners reflected Electric Avenue’s growth over its 11-year history. “Calvin Harris is one of the biggest electronic artists on the planet and together with Kings of Leon, we’ve got two genuine global stadium artists as headliners,” he said.
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“But what I love about this 2027 line-up is the breadth of it – it’s a really eclectic mix of genres, with something for all generations. As the festival’s evolved, it’s those two elements that are becoming our hallmark.”
Electric Avenue’s rock and alternative contingent also includes Kasabian, who recently scored their eighth UK No. 1 album with ACT III, Australian favourites Lime Cordiale and UK soul-funk outfit Jungle, whose appearance will be exclusive to the festival.
The electronic side of the lineup brings together several generations of artists, from Major Lazer, Gorgon City and Wilkinson to house pioneer Kenny Dope and British electronic veterans Underworld. The latter will also make their only New Zealand appearance at Electric Avenue.
“Underworld for me personally is huge,” Mitchell said. “Like Kenny Dope, they literally helped shape electronic music. It’ll be incredible to see them perform live alongside some of the biggest names in it today.”
Drum & bass will be well represented by Hybrid Minds, Wilkinson and K Motionz, while Bebe Rexha, Tove Lo and Kehlani bolster the pop and R&B offering. Both Tove Lo and Kehlani’s appearances will be New Zealand exclusives.
Kehlani will also arrive in Christchurch following an Australian arena tour earlier that month, while Jungle will return to Australia for their own headline dates shortly after Electric Avenue.
A sizeable New Zealand contingent rounds out the bill, with Fat Freddy’s Drop leading the local acts on Friday alongside Th’ Dudes, Daily J and Savage. Saturday will feature Home Brew, SACHI, Ladyhawke and Coterie, among others.
“That’s the fun of this festival,” Mitchell continued. “You can come for Kings of Leon and Kasabian, Calvin Harris and Major Lazer, Bebe Rexha and Tove Lo, Jungle and Lime Cordiale, or Hybrid Minds and Wilkinson. It shouldn’t necessarily all work on one festival bill – but it does. That mix of genres, generations and audiences has become part of Electric Avenue.”
For complete festival and ticket information, see here.
ELECTRIC AVENUE 2027
Friday, February 26th-Saturday, February 27th
Hagley Park, Christchurch NZ
Lineup:
Kings of Leon • Major Lazer • Bebe Rexha • Kasabian • Hybrid Minds • K Motionz • Fat Freddy’s Drop • Kenny Dope • Malugi • It’s Murph • Two Faced • Club Angel • Savage • Th’ Dudes • Daily J • Frank Booker • Louis Baker • Tali & MSSB • The Response • Poppa Jax • Stefany Beck • Imani-J • Mikey Scrooge • Dream.R • Joyce • Rydr
Calvin Harris • Jungle • Underworld • Kehlani • Wilkinson • Tove Lo • Lime Cordiale • Gorgon City • Darius Syrossian • 33 Below • Pretty Girl • Home Brew • SACHI • Ladyhawke • Coterie • Sub-Tribe • 2XM • Sam Cullen • Castaway • Harry Charles • Chris Keene • Craig Shaw • Phoebe Vic • Pixie Lane • Amber Carly Williams • John Ussher • Dan Veitch • Siliconbeat • Elliot Tierney
