Start planning your New Year 2017 celebrations now! The southern hemisphere’s most epic new festival, Bay Dreams, is back with a first line-up designed to blow your mind. And, with the guarantee of several huge acts still to be announced in early September, this is shaping up to be ‘the’ party of summer.

The first installment features some of the hottest names in music right now, including headliners - the masters of psych, rock and reggae, Sticky Fingers; as well as legendary US hip-hop acts Grandmaster Flash and Bizzy Bone, alongside New Zealand’s finest including Katchafire, Kora, Concord Dawn and Home Brew.

After making its highly successful debut in 2016, Bay Dreams will be held on January 2, 2017 at ASB Bay Park Stadium once again - right in the heart of the ultimate summer hot spot, Mount Maunganui.

Set across four stages, it’s a music and party paradise like no other. Stay tuned for the second line-up announcement when Bay Dreams will confirm that it’s locked in one of the world’s biggest drum ‘n’ bass acts, as well as other club favourites.

In the meantime, here’s what you need to know about the first line-up of acts: 

Catering to all things live, the main stage will feature headliners Sticky Fingers in their exclusive New Zealand performance this summer. The Sydney-based rockers have new music on the way and as those lucky enough to have seen them live will tell you, frontman (and Kiwi lad) Diz Frost and his top-class band are a force like no other.

Peking Duk, as well as Kora and Katchafire (who are releasing new music this year) will also take their rightful place on the festival’s main stage.

Also joining the party is none other than the mighty Grandmaster Flash. Considered one of the pioneers of hip-hop, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was the first hip-hop act to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. He is quite simply, hip-hop royalty.

Bizzy Bone - of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony fame - adds his weight to the line-up too. The Cleveland rapper was a highlight at The Block Party Festival earlier this year and wowed crowds around New Zealand with his side shows.

Back due to popular demand will be the bass stage, which will play host to heavy hitters like Skism B2B Must Die!, Habstrakt, Concord Dawn and State of Mind. Meanwhile, house music lovers unite at the 360-degree indoor stage where Eats Everything and Kölsch will play.

Fans of the D-Floor will be pleased to hear about the introduction of a new indoor arena, which will provide the perfect setting for electronic acts such as Krafty Kuts, and Lunice.

The rest of the line-up reads like a who’s who of music right now: P-Money, Tom Francis, State of Mind, Quix, Jimbob Hines & Big Q, Chores, Mitch Jamesand Times X Two. And for those wanting to kick off the party early, there will be a warm up party in the indoor arena on Jan 1st. Watch this space for more information.

Also good news for those planning on settling in - there will be onsite camping for two nights from January 1st.

It all makes for what’s set to be one of the best festival line-ups of summer, but there’s still more in store. Save money by getting tickets early and sit back and wait for the second announcement that’ll take Bay Dreams to next level awesomeness.

Bay Dreams

Monday January 2nd: ASB Park Stadium, Mount Maunganui

THE 24-HOUR EARLYBIRD SALE STARTS 7PM WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24

Tickets via baydreams.co.nz