WILKINSON makes his long-awaited return to New Zealand, with special guest MONTELL2099, bringing Kiwi fans a first taste of his new and critically acclaimed arena show, celebrating the highest selling drum & bass album of 2022 and his fourth studio album, COGNITION.‍

Off the back of his record setting New Zealand tour in 2021, Wilkinson returns to his official “second home” with the stunning and cinematic audio experience, COGNITION, hitting Wellington’s TSB Arena on Thursday May 4 and Christchurch Arena on Friday, May 5. The following week, the award winning British producer will take his high energy DJ set down to Dunedin’s Union Hall on Thursday, May 11, before signing off the tour with Arena performances in Auckland and Hamilton. The Auckland show will be his debut Spark Arena show on Friday May 12, finishing off with GLOBOX Arena, Claudelands in Hamilton on Saturday, May 13, 2023.

One of the leading names in dance music, WILKINSON has cemented himself as one of the most influential names in dance music history. After 10 years at the top of the game and headlining festivals around the world, he shows no sign of stopping as he returns to Aotearoa to tour his acclaimed fourth studio album COGNITION.

Collaborating on COGNITION with artists close to him including a rekindling with the unstoppable Becky Hill on “Here For You”, his partner Iiola on the euphoric “Close Your Eyes” and powerhouses Kanine & Clementine Douglas on “No One Else”, he’s achieved one of drum & bass’ holy grails: a fully dancefloor-aimed album that never dips in tempo or diverts away from D&B, yet never crosses over into the classic ‘collection of bangers’ sensation so many D&B albums end up as.

At points it’s gentle, emotional and sincere, but it’s also riddled with a vibe that ensures all tunes will work on the dancefloor and vitality that won him the scene’s affection in the first place. Showing no signs of stopping either, we are elated to be bringing WILKINSON back to his second home.

Supporting WILKINSON on his arena tour is renowned Kiwi producer MONTELL2099 (excluding Dunedin), UK Drum and Bass producer DISRUPTA and local support from PORIS.

Undoubtedly one of the most promising up and coming figures in the drum & bass genre, DISRUPTA, 23, has been quick to establish his own unique and versatile sound. With chart topping music on notable labels such as Hospital Records, V Recordings, UKF and of course, Sleepless, he is gaining boundless recognition for his work by some of the biggest names in the scene. Having won 'Best Breakthrough DJ' at the Drum & Bass Awards 2021, Disrupta is fast becoming a headline act with a long career ahead of him both on stage and in the studio.

‍PORIS has swiftly established a reputation as a highly accomplished DJ, recognized in the top 3 best DJs in New Zealand at the 2021 Georgies. PORIS (actual name Paris), who made her debut in early 2020, has since been on tour practically nonstop. She has already performed on the big stages at New Zealand’s top festivals, and the bulk of the most infamous venues in New Zealand.