A great wrap up of the amazing Splore Festival, by Base FM DJ and Eddie Numbers front man, Edgar Mahon:

It’s Thursday Night and tomorrow morning I’ll be up early on my way out to Tapapakanga Regional Park for Splore 2012. I’m agitated and restless like a child the night before Christmas.

Before you know it I’m in the thick of the rat race, lining up for a car search with Stolen Rum hidden in the trunk like its prohibition. High vis’ vests and volunteers sending us this way and that. I am now in the organised confusion that is festival life.

With a tent for rent for the next few days, a dead phone and the sun will be my alarm clock.

Its late afternoon and I’m chest deep in the Pacific Ocean watching the Yoots from side of stage singing along to the waiatas that schools up and down this country have us signing at assemblies.

 I have been to a few festivals in my short life time and I have never felt the surreal magic that was surrounding the anticipation of  Erykah Badu’s performance, set to take place at 8.30 this evening. Rumours of her not playing in the rain and rider requirements aside, at 8.30 It was like we were in the eye of the storm as Badu performed to a hypnotised crowd. Her drummer’s perfection almost seemed impossible as he seamlessly rolled through the next hour and a half. Proof that she had held the weather in the palm of her hand came when she opened the heavens above with a down pour during her encore performance of, ‘Bag Lady’.

Later that night I guess you could say I was in festival mode and any report I made on performances after Erykah Badu’s wouldn’t be fair. I just saw one of the best shows of my life.

Day two and I am sitting on the beach along with the washed up hang over’s, beach bodies and come downs. Situated near the DJ Stage music is travelling nicely to where I am seated.

Then it’s back to the main Stage for Im Eno, Funkommunity and @peace. Nodding my head on the hill its bands like these that make you proud to be a Kiwi.

Later that night I was down at the hut and off to the lagoon to watch art installations. Blocking my nose as I passed portoloo trucks, competing with crowds like rush hour at spaghetti junction; my eyes were closing and my feet where sore. However I managed to squeeze in two more acts before I passed out in my tiny tent.

QBert and Reeps one were a mind blowing act and I then rushed back to the DJ tent to watch New Zealand’s own alphabet head. Back up the hill to my tent I went.

Day 3 for me was an early rise and a quick pack down leaving Splore behind at 8.30am. With 8,000 different Stories from this weekend this is just mine.

Below are my performance highlights keep in mind I didn’t get to see everything…

Erika Badu - The Healer

DJ Hubert and Reps - One back Forth battle

@peace Feat Esther Stephens - Sky Is Falling

Art in the Dark Game - Toy Installation

Funkomunity - With you in my bed