Rippon to give Samoa contribution

Rippon Festival directors are prepared to give a slice of their ticket sales proceeds to aid relief efforts in the tsunami-stricken islands of Samoa.

The popular biennial Wanaka music festival has become a highlight for New Zealand musicians and bands since its inception in 1997.

Rippon Festival director Lynne Christie announced yesterday that proceeds of up to $4500 would go to towards aid relief efforts in Samoa.

Rippon Festival has a history of donating its profits to community-minded ventures and groups, predominantly within the Wanaka area.

Ms Christie said one dollar from each ticket sold would be used to help assist affected families and fund rebuilding programmes in Samoa, after the islands were devastated by a tsunami after a big earthquake last week.

Mrs Christie was confident all of the 4500 tickets would sell, based on the open-air event's reputation of selling out well in advance of the festival date.

"It's an absolute quality line-up, with many of the bands planning on adding something quite unexpected for the audience.

"They love coming to Wanaka because of the fantastic vibe the concert-goers bring to the day," she said.

Regular Rippon act Warren Maxwell said he could not wait to be back at Rippon for "one of our all-time favourite festivals".

Maxwell will take to the main stage at Rippon in two different guises - fronting his psychedelic rock outfit Little Bushman and as one of the members of popular Wellington funk group Fat Freddy's Drop.

Other New Zealand bands in the festival line-up include Opensouls, the Black Seeds, Eru Dangerspiel, Minuit, the Mint Chicks, and former Wanaka band the Slur-Tones.

Tickets for Rippon 2010 cost $118.50 and go on sale through Ticketek and Play It Again stores from October 12.