DJ Marco Polo (also known as DJ Balkanetic) has been entertaining audiences at festivals, parties and gigs around New Zealand and in Berlin for the last few years with a highly infectious, uplifting selection of world music guaranteed to set any dancefloor alight. A Marco Polo set encompasses the most danceable sounds from around the world featuring Balkan Beats, gypsy music, middle eastern and Bollywood tunes, afrobeat and a sprinkling of Latin and Pacific flavours.

DJ Marco Polo aka Nigel Braddock came from a musical family and studied piano from the age of five. At the age of twenty he graduated from Otago University with a Bachelor of Music in Classical Piano. After several years traveling he started his DJ career as DJ Lotus in the late 90’s playing at iconic outdoor dance parties such as The Gathering and Visionz. He set up his own record label, Monkey Records, in the year 2000 and under the name of DJ Monkey began djing NZ music from his and other like-minded labels. Following a trip to Berlin in 2006 and a meeting with renowned producer Shantel (Bucovina Club), Nigel was inspired to invent another DJ persona, DJ Balkanetic aimed squarely at the dancefloor, and since then has been in constant demand as one of NZ’s top world music DJs. DJ Balkanetic has recently evolved into DJ Marco Polo, a name which more accurately represents the truly global extent of his music selections.



 “With an upbeat eclectic mix of music from around the globe, (DJ Marco Polo) manages to span the music tastes of a wide audience while keeping his own unique style and gypsy flavours. Very uplifting and excellent dance music.”
Heidi Hughes, Jambalaya Festival

"(DJ Marco Polo) has brought back the most danceable energy beats on the planet. We have hired Nigel to play alongside our shows since the beginning and it has been a sure-fire recipe for success and good times."
Monsieur Escargot, The Mamaku Project

“(DJ Marco Polo) has played at several Prana New Year Festivals as a DJ and supported The Hot Grits, The Mamaku Project and The Benka Boradovsky Bordello Band. Every performance, he has brought our audience to ecstasy with his global danceable energetic choice of music. We highly recommend him.” Tom Meier, Prana Festival

“(DJ Marco Polo) was a highlight, his uplifting blend of organic, global grooves well appreciated in the uninhibited gyrations of all present.”
NZ Herald (article on Prana Festival)