Latest news with #GodIsADJ
Scoop
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
First Line-Up Announced Formānuka Phuel Synthony Festival 2026
(New Zealand, Thursday 7 August) Duco Events has today revealed the first wave of artists set to take the stage at Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival, returning to the Auckland Domain on Saturday 21 March 2026. The line-up features both local and international acts Faithless (Full Live Band) (UK), SYNTHONY No. 7, Peking Duk (Australia), Hot Dub Time Machine (Australia), The Black Seeds and The Exponents. Leading the charge is iconic British electronic dance act Faithless (Full Live Band), returning to perform in New Zealand for the first time in over two decades and playing their first live shows in eight years. With a 25-year legacy, 20 million album sales, 10 Top 10 singles and streams nearing one billion, Faithless are true festival royalty. Kiwi fans can expect an electrifying live set packed with classics like Insomnia, God Is A DJ and We Come 1, alongside powerful new material that marks an exciting new chapter for the band. This long-awaited return to the stage is a celebration of dance music's golden era, complete with abstract visuals, immersive lightscapes and laser-led moments that promise a full sensory experience. Also on the line-up is ARIA Award-winning electronic duo Peking Duk, made up of music producers Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles. They first broke out in 2012 with a Passion Pit bootleg, and cemented their place in the scene with their 2014 smash "High", which went triple platinum and won Best Dance Release at the ARIA Awards. Known for their huge energy and genre-blending sound, Peking Duk continue to dominate stages at festivals like Australia's Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival, and Spilt Milk, and now - Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival! The 2026 festival will mark the global premiere of SYNTHONY No.7 - featuring a brand-new set list created exclusively for next year's event. Festivalgoers will experience multiple tracks that have never been performed at any SYNTHONY show in its eight-year history, all reimagined with Auckland Philharmonia conducted once again by Sarah-Grace Williams. Known for their infectious grooves and boundary-crossing fusion of funk, dub, soul and roots-reggae, Wellington's The Black Seeds are set to join the stage at Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival next year. The band have built a global following off the back of platinum-selling albums and an electrifying live show led by vocalists Barnaby Weir and Daniel Weetman. Also on the lineup are beloved Kiwi band, The Exponents! The band will reunite exclusively for this festival, marking their first Auckland performance in three years. Led by Jordan Luck they are set to play all their crowd favourites, including 'Why Does Love Do This To Me', 'I'll Say Goodbye (Even Though I'm Blue) and 'Who Loves Who The Most'. The final act in the initial lineup announcement is Australian party-starter Hot Dub Time Machine, known for his epic decade-spanning sets. Hot Dub is a main stage regular at festivals all over the world, including Europe's legendary Tomorrowland, Benicassim, and Coachella in the USA. This first release offers just a taste of what's to come, with more local and international acts to be revealed later this year. The 2025 edition of Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival saw a sold-out crowd of 40,000 descend on Auckland Domain, with a $1.8 million production and 2,000-strong working crew. Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival has fast become a landmark moment on the summer calendar - blending electronic music, orchestra, visuals and nostalgia into NZ's biggest one-day music event. Duco Events Founder David Higgins commented: "We are excited to bring Faithless, one of the most iconic names in dance music, to Auckland for Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival 2026. This year's lineup showcases a strong mix of international artists and leading talent from Aotearoa. We are continuing to elevate the festival in 2026, with enhanced sound, world-class visuals, creating a premium live experience for all attendees." 'At our core, Manuka Phuel is all about energy reimagined and giving people the fuel for unforgettable experiences. This partnership is built on a shared vision to push creative boundaries, reimagine what we know and energise audiences - 2026 is shaping up to be the biggest, boldest chapter yet for both Manuka Phuel and Synthony' said Alex McDonald, Co-Creator of Mānuka Phuel. Tātaki Auckland Unlimited CE, Nick Hill adds: 'We're delighted to again be supporting this world-class event which is a cornerstone of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland's summer events line-up. The calibre of local and international artists appearing at this festival is second-to-none and we look forward to welcoming music fans, whānau and visitors from around the region and the motu to this extraordinary event.' MĀNUKA PHUEL SYNTHONY FESTIVAL Saturday 21 March, 2026 Auckland Domain FAITHLESS (FULL LIVE BAND) (UK) PEKING DUK (AU) SYNTHONY No.7 (NEW SET LIST) HOT DUB TIME MACHINE (AU) THE BLACK SEEDS THE EXPONENTS
Scoop
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
First Line-Up Announced Formānuka Phuel Synthony Festival 2026
Press Release – 818. (New Zealand, Thursday 7 August) Duco Events has today revealed the first wave of artists set to take the stage at Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival, returning to the Auckland Domain on Saturday 21 March 2026. The line-up features both local and international acts Faithless (Full Live Band) (UK), SYNTHONY No. 7, Peking Duk (Australia), Hot Dub Time Machine (Australia), The Black Seeds and The Exponents. Leading the charge is iconic British electronic dance act Faithless (Full Live Band), returning to perform in New Zealand for the first time in over two decades and playing their first live shows in eight years. With a 25-year legacy, 20 million album sales, 10 Top 10 singles and streams nearing one billion, Faithless are true festival royalty. Kiwi fans can expect an electrifying live set packed with classics like Insomnia, God Is A DJ and We Come 1, alongside powerful new material that marks an exciting new chapter for the band. This long-awaited return to the stage is a celebration of dance music's golden era, complete with abstract visuals, immersive lightscapes and laser-led moments that promise a full sensory experience. Also on the line-up is ARIA Award-winning electronic duo Peking Duk, made up of music producers Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles. They first broke out in 2012 with a Passion Pit bootleg, and cemented their place in the scene with their 2014 smash 'High', which went triple platinum and won Best Dance Release at the ARIA Awards. Known for their huge energy and genre-blending sound, Peking Duk continue to dominate stages at festivals like Australia's Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival, and Spilt Milk, and now – Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival! The 2026 festival will mark the global premiere of SYNTHONY No.7 – featuring a brand-new set list created exclusively for next year's event. Festivalgoers will experience multiple tracks that have never been performed at any SYNTHONY show in its eight-year history, all reimagined with Auckland Philharmonia conducted once again by Sarah-Grace Williams. Known for their infectious grooves and boundary-crossing fusion of funk, dub, soul and roots-reggae, Wellington's The Black Seeds are set to join the stage at Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival next year. The band have built a global following off the back of platinum-selling albums and an electrifying live show led by vocalists Barnaby Weir and Daniel Weetman. Also on the lineup are beloved Kiwi band, The Exponents! The band will reunite exclusively for this festival, marking their first Auckland performance in three years. Led by Jordan Luck they are set to play all their crowd favourites, including 'Why Does Love Do This To Me', 'I'll Say Goodbye (Even Though I'm Blue) and 'Who Loves Who The Most'. The final act in the initial lineup announcement is Australian party-starter Hot Dub Time Machine, known for his epic decade-spanning sets. Hot Dub is a main stage regular at festivals all over the world, including Europe's legendary Tomorrowland, Benicassim, and Coachella in the USA. This first release offers just a taste of what's to come, with more local and international acts to be revealed later this year. The 2025 edition of Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival saw a sold-out crowd of 40,000 descend on Auckland Domain, with a $1.8 million production and 2,000-strong working crew. Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival has fast become a landmark moment on the summer calendar – blending electronic music, orchestra, visuals and nostalgia into NZ's biggest one-day music event. Duco Events Founder David Higgins commented: 'We are excited to bring Faithless, one of the most iconic names in dance music, to Auckland for Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival 2026. This year's lineup showcases a strong mix of international artists and leading talent from Aotearoa. We are continuing to elevate the festival in 2026, with enhanced sound, world-class visuals, creating a premium live experience for all attendees.' 'At our core, Manuka Phuel is all about energy reimagined and giving people the fuel for unforgettable experiences. This partnership is built on a shared vision to push creative boundaries, reimagine what we know and energise audiences – 2026 is shaping up to be the biggest, boldest chapter yet for both Manuka Phuel and Synthony' said Alex McDonald, Co-Creator of Mānuka Phuel. Tātaki Auckland Unlimited CE, Nick Hill adds: 'We're delighted to again be supporting this world-class event which is a cornerstone of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland's summer events line-up. The calibre of local and international artists appearing at this festival is second-to-none and we look forward to welcoming music fans, whānau and visitors from around the region and the motu to this extraordinary event.' MĀNUKA PHUEL SYNTHONY FESTIVAL Saturday 21 March, 2026 Auckland Domain FAITHLESS (FULL LIVE BAND) (UK) PEKING DUK (AU) SYNTHONY No.7 (NEW SET LIST) HOT DUB TIME MACHINE (AU) THE BLACK SEEDS THE EXPONENTS
Daily Mirror
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Faithless star Maxi Jazz leaves jaw-dropping sum in will with huge donation to charity
The musician's will has revealed the huge sum he left behind after his death, some of which Maxi Jazz set aside for donation to a Buddhist charity Faithless frontman Maxi Jazz left behind a £3 million fortune in his will, along with an impressive gift to a Buddhist charity close to his heart. The pioneering dance music star, born Maxwell Fraser, died in December 2022 at the age of 65 following a long illness. Jazz was the voice behind Faithless anthems like Insomnia, God Is A DJ and We Come 1. Newly released probate records reveal that the musician's estate was valued at £3,119,567 before deductions, with around £60,000 reduced due to costs. It comes after Sir Michael Palin says he is preparing for the end of his life in sad update. Katie Price worries fans with appearance in family photo after explaining weight loss Cruz Beckham 'steals' his dad's tiny white trunks and family have epic response According to The Sun, 20 percent of the estate, amounting to approximately £624,000, was left to Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a global Buddhist charity. Jazz became a devoted follower of SGI's Nichiren Buddhism after being introduced to the practice by a girlfriend in the early 1990s. SGI teaches that individuals can transform their lives through chanting and personal empowerment. Despite its widespread following, the group has attracted criticism from some former members, and it remains a controversial presence in global religious circles. The remaining estate was left to friends and his niece, Michaela, who will inherit her share once she turns 30, according to the 2019 will signed off by the High Court last week. Maxi Jazz had no children. Jazz was born in Brixton, South London, and first made waves on pirate radio in the 1980s before co-founding Faithless in 1995 at nearly 40 years old. He once said the group's name reflected his feelings of spiritual emptiness before discovering Buddhism. The group's breakout single Insomnia was written during a sleepless night caused by a painful tooth abscess. Jazz said writing music was the only thing that kept him going. The track became an instant club classic and is still a defining anthem of the era. Jazz remained with Faithless for over two decades, performing in front of massive festival crowds including a 100,000-strong audience at Glastonbury in 2002, before leaving in 2016 to pursue new creative projects with his blues-reggae band, Maxi Jazz & The E-Type Boys. After his death, Faithless paid tribute to the frontman with a heartfelt statement, which read: "He was a man who changed our lives in so many ways. He gave proper meaning and message to our music. He was also a lovely human being with time for everyone and a wisdom that was both profound and accessible. It was an honour and, of course, a true pleasure to work with him. "He was a brilliant lyricist, a DJ, a Buddhist, a magnificent stage presence, car lover, endless talker, beautiful person, moral compass and genius." Jazz was also a devoted Crystal Palace supporter and became an associate director of the South London football club in 2012. After his passing, players walked out to Faithless music at Selhurst Park in his honour. Club chairman Steve Parish also commemorated him, saying: "He was such a huge talent, a massive supporter of the club in every way and just a wonderful kind-hearted man. He made the world dance, sing and laugh and someone I was privileged to call a friend. RIP Maxi."
