Kings of Leon are heading to Christchurch for Electric Ave

Kings of Leon are returning to Christchurch for the first time in 19 years, headlining Electric Avenue 2027 alongside Calvin Harris.

The multi-Grammy-winning rockers will hit Electric Avenue on February 26 and 27, bringing a catalogue that includes five No. 1 albums in New Zealand and, presumably, one almighty Sex on Fire singalong.

It’s a pretty massive return. Kings of Leon have spent the years since their last Christchurch visit headlining festivals including Glastonbury, Coachella, Bonnaroo and Roskilde, plus playing a record-breaking five nights at London’s Hyde Park.

They’re not just turning up to raid the back catalogue either. The band have a new album, O My Beloved, due out in November.

And the rock side of Electric Avenue is looking particularly stacked this time around.

Christchurch rockers The Response are also on the bill, adding a bit of homegrown noise to an already stacked rock line-up. Kasabian are also Christchurch-bound, fresh from their newly released album ACT III going straight to No. 1 in the UK, giving them their eighth UK chart-topper.

And of course, a bunch of other artists are on the line-up. Lime Cordiale, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Ladyhawke and Th’ Dudes are also joining a huge bill featuring Jungle, Underworld, Major Lazer, Wilkinson, Bebe Rexha, Tove Lo, Kehlani and plenty more.

Festival director Callam Mitchell reckons the mix is exactly the point.

“You can come for Kings of Leon and Kasabian, Calvin Harris and Major Lazer, Bebe Rexha and Tove Lo, Jungle and Lime Cordiale, or Hybrid Minds and Wilkinson.

“It shouldn’t necessarily all work on one festival bill – but it does.”

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