Tahuna Breaks makes its Rhythm and Alps debut in the Cardrona Valley this New Year's Eve, but the New Zealand reggae, soul and electro-funk outfit has thrilled Southern Lakes audiences many times before.
Marty Greentree said the band had enjoyed playing Rhythm and Alps' elder sister festival, Rhythm and Vines, in Gisborne, and was looking forward to delivering its ''hour of power'' in the same party atmosphere down south.
''Everyone's there to really enjoy themselves and it's in celebration mode,'' Greentree said.
''This is probably the most exciting part of what we do, playing live, especially at festivals, so we can't wait.
''We're playing Rhythm and Vines the day before we play Rhythm and Alps, so just the way that festival's run and what it represents and the range of acts they've got on there, it's ... enjoyable because of all the other acts playing as well.''
Band members had found time for bungy jumping and jet-boating when in Queenstown, Greentree said.
''We're always keen to get amongst it,'' he said.
''The last time we were in the area might have been the end of August, at the end of the Winter Games. We played at the closing party and it was a beautiful day and the country was coming into spring.''
The Auckland sextet released its third album, Shadow Light, under the guidance of United Kingdom-based artists Crazy P, in March.
Singles Moves, Smooth and Fearless have received considerable airplay and have been regulars on the weekly George FM top five chart.
The melodic new single, Stars, is out now.
Greentree said the band had been working on new material for next year in a similar ''funky disco soul-on-the-up'' vibe, but was taking a break right now before gearing up for summer.
The band had a busy middle of the year, with debut tours in the United Kingdom and South Korea, he said.
''The people in South Korea are very kind and made it for us. If there's one thing that stuck out for me, they're quite organised and sensible. They were definitely into it, coming out and partying.''
Expat New Zealanders in the UK swelled their crowds.
''I found that myself when I've gone anywhere overseas, everyone gets this surge of national pride and [they] cling on to anything that reminds them of home, so we benefit from that a bit.''
