Clarke (63), who has supported the Sex Pistols, New Order, Joy Division, the Buzzcocks, Elvis Costello and Siouxsie and the Banshees, will perform at Sammy's with Dunedin musician Martin Phillipps, of The Chills.
"The festival is getting to the stage it can take on some bigger events now. It's really established itself and we have artists from around the world coming to Dunedin," festival director Paul Smith said at the 2012 programme launch at Ironic Cafe last night.
The focus of the festival was to champion innovation, by both emerging and established artists, he said.
"The Dunedin Fringe has built a reputation as a launching platform for innovative artists, many of whom have gone on to perform throughout the world.
"The Fringe is the place where new ideas emerge and new talent is discovered and we encourage audiences to share in the discovery," Mr Smith said.
"This year's festival has a special focus on experimentation. As audiences, we want to be surprised, intrigued, and entertained and, sometimes to achieve that, you have to take a wee risk and step out of your comfort zone."
Dunedin Fringe Festival Trust chairman Warren Taylor said the festival engaged the whole community.
"Dunedin has a thriving arts community and the Fringe has got stronger and stronger. It has a very broad appeal for its eclectic mix, which involves so many people from all sectors of society," he said. This ninth festival will be the largest yet, with 50 events involving 370 New Zealand and international artists, and include 25 world premieres.
The 2012 Dunedin Fringe Festival runs from March 15-25.
