If you haven’t heard yet, there’s a new music festival on the block, or rather, in the forest.
ORO
| Maori to English Translation |
(VERB); To resound, echo, resonate.
(NOUN); sound, rumble.
Auckland’s Woodhill Forest has become the beautiful new backdrop to a brand new festival this summer, with UK electronic pioneers Underworld headlining Oro’17 this April.
Underworld will be coming with their full live production off the back of their 2016 release Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future, which has been nominated for the Best Dance/Electronic Album award for the 2017 Grammys.
The event is being staged in partnership with local iwi and owners of the land Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara, who were willing to see people make use of their land and environment.
The day long festival will contain everything needed for a day and night of top quality entertainment in the forest; featuring a crisp lineup features both local and international artists, as well as a wide range of gourmet food, beverages and amenities available on site.
Transport to the festival has been made simple and stress free, buses and shuttles are included in the ticket price and will take you there and back, all you have to do is take a look at the website and choose your departure location, letting you leave at your leisure and ensure that the integrity of the forest remains intact.
Sound Travels caught up with the festivals promoter Dave Roper to have a chat about the upcoming new festival.
What’s your role in Oro’17? + the best part of your job
I am the festival director, I’m in charge of the overall theme of the event, branding and line up, overall marketing decisions. I also employ different people for roles within the organisation such as production manager, publicist, digital media manager, artist liaison manager etc
Next destination you want to visit?
I would love to de stress after this event at a resort, if not in NZ at somewhere like Queenstown, then perhaps a Pacific Island.
What’s been your most memorable festival experience?
I use to work for Big Day Out looking after programming of some Djs and acts in the boiler room. The 1997 BDO was memorable as i was looking after Goldie, a person that is a million miles an hour and one you can never have a dull moment with.
Oro has come onto the festival scene exuding a sense of originality and uniqueness, what can festival goers expect from Oro’17?
They can expect a day and night of a combination of some of the 90’s best known electronic acts matched with some brand new up comers who we expect to be the next major players on the scene. SO it’s a day of listening of incredible music in a unique setting, a forest!
Talk to us about the importance of the location
The location gives us something very different and unique from other festivals that are largely set amongst concrete perimeters. The event is happening because Ngati Whatua o Kaipara wanted to bring people onto the land that they own to have a great time and realise what a great asset the forest is on the edge of Auckland. Looking ahead theres some great stuff planned for the forest.
Underworld are coming to NZ! That must be an absolute dream come true, to have such a renowned group headlining a brand new festival? Do you have any other personal favourites in the lineup?
I have always been a fan or Orbital so its great to have Phil from Orbital him on board as well as having a legend in Hip Hop – Jeru The Damaja.
Describe Oro in 3 words.
Music and trees.
We’re lucky enough to have two tickets to giveaway to this inaugural festival, so if you’re ready for the forest party of the year all you have to do is leave a comment on our Oro festival post on Facebook or Instagram and tag the friend you’d take with you.
Terms & Conditions:
This is a R18 festival, anyone whose entered and under the age limit will not be chosen.
The winners will be drawn at random on Thursday 6th April 2017.
Winners outside of Auckland are responsible for the travel to Auckland
Food and drink are at the winner’s expense.
Transport is provided by the festival.
