Le Currents, the new kid on the block

Words by Hannah Powell

Design by Tui Wright.

Yo Vocal had a good old chat with Walt Robberds, one of the guys behind a brand-new indie festival, Le Currents. Helping to curate the line-up for this year, Walt has picked some sweet, sweet sounds for a summer’s day festy.

Finding a home next to our biggest roto, Taupo, Le Currents is the new kid on the block. With its offering of a refreshing indie and house vibe, the festival is on the 27 December, so it’s the perfect stop-off prior to your New Year’s events. With an impressive local line-up and two stages to boogie at, this is one you definitely won’t want to get fomo from.

Born from the guys’ brains at Neptune Entertainment (behind A Summer’s Day Disco, and Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminal’s recent tour), Le Currents is self-described as a festival for the artists, by the artists.

“[There’s] not many opportunities for artists to play overseas – a lot of the bands in the line-up do quite well in Australia and that, but that’s not an option,” Walt explains. “[The festival] is just another chance for artists to get out and play”.

As lead singer and guitarist from Sumner-based band, The Butlers, Walt sees it from an artist’s point of view. “As an artist, the more opportunities there are to play, the better. Especially on a platform that caters to your kind of music”.

Walt Robberds. Taken by Maria Vernacular at Byron bay on the northern 2020 Australian The Butlers Tour.

Carefully curated by Walt and the team, I ask him about the line-up for this year. “[It’s] a really nice mix of indie,” he replies. “You’ve got your indie bands like Marlin’s Dreaming, The Beths, and Soaked Oats, mixed in with those surfy sounds like Mako Road and Summer Thieves”. Not to mention The Butlers, too, that will be making an appearance.

There’s a great mix of unique and beloved artists alike. The jazzy sounds of Molly and the Chromatics are set to ensure a boogie or two on the RIVA stage, as well as Christchurch’s indie sweethearts, There’s a Tuesday. Wander on over to LA DANSE, and you can pick ‘n’ mix with some beats from Otosan, K2K, Two Minds and more.

“This festival’s all about the line-up,” Walt says. “[It’s] natural, organic-style… it’s all about the music.” Even better, there’s a tight-knit, passionate team behind the event. Alongside the guys from Neptune Entertainment, Walt has been instrumental in helping to theme and curate the event, with his girlfriend Tui Wright behind the design. His mate Louis Godfrey did the sweet promo video too.

Mako Road scheduled to play at Le Currents, image taken by Luke DC.

There’s a Tuesday scheduled to play at Le Currents.

With a stellar reception and over 50 per cent of tickets sold, Le Currents is down to the final tier. If the fear of a sell-out doesn’t tempt you for a ticket, let the words of Walt tempt you instead. I asked him what Le Currents 2020 will look like. “[Think] a beautiful sunny day, great food, the coolest venue that people have ever seen... to transport you to a new planet, or maybe transport you back in time. [Think] really cool music, lots of dancing…and smiles”.

Sold? I know I am.