Billy Bragg and the Vienna Boys' Choir will lead a colourful and eclectic conga through Dunedin in the biennial arts festival in October.
The 2012 festival would have a typically diverse programme but with an added family and youth focus, director Alec Wheeler said at the programme launch in the Dunedin Public Art Gallery last night.
"There are a couple of things focused on kids and families this year.
"Our festival guests are a comedy duo called Monkey Business, who will be popping up all over the place with a mixture of street theatre, circus comedy and dance.
"We gave them one direction: to go out and cause trouble."
On the opening festival weekend the Octagon will be closed for the "Chalktagon" chalk drawing on October 6.
Music, theatre and dance all feature strongly.
Other international acts include French-Canadian folk group Le Vent Du Nord, Korean violin virtuoso Hahn-Bin and Brazilian dance troupe Bale Folclorico da Bahia, which will arrive in Dunedin after performing at the Olympic Games closing ceremony in London.
Local performers include Maori songbird Whirimako Black, the Zephyr Wind Quintet, the Comrade Z Radio Hour and the Dunedin premiere of The Middlemarch Singles Ball.
The ever popular "St Paul's At One" lunchtime concert series returns to St Paul's Cathedral with pianist Michael Houstoun, harpist Helen Webby, pianist and trumpeter Trevor Coleman, saxophonist Nick Cornish, poet Brian Turner and guitarist Carlos Navae.
The "Late Night Festival Club" will feature cameo performances every night from 10, in the Dunedin Public Art Gallery.
Art exhibitions are also being held at many galleries in conjunction with the 10-day festival.
The 2012 Otago Festival of the Arts runs from October 5-14.
