Every year for more than a decade John Waaka has helped out behind the scenes at Lakeside - then turns out on the night to watch.
The Rotorua man reckons the concert just keeps getting better and thinks this year's is shaping up to be one of the best yet.
Mr Waaka, who is part of the onsite crew at Lakeside, was one of a team of people who yesterday helped to construct the stage ahead of Saturday night's concert.
Preparations are well under way for Lakeside 2013 - Come Together, with sound and lighting to be set up today. Friday will see the screens and cameras installed at the site before artists arrive for sound checks.
Lakeside event manager Monty Morrison said after many years of running the event, the set-up was down to a fine art.
"Work is continuing at pace now."
Mr Morrison said these days the massive 16m by 12m stage is a customised trailer which is driven in and hydraulically set up within hours - a vast difference from years ago when the stage took more than a week to set up.
Those wanting tickets in the reserved seating area needed to get in quick with tickets almost sold out, Mr Morrison said
The line-up for Lakeside 2013 - Come Together includes Rotorua's own Russell Harrison, former Taupo man and New Zealand Idol runner-up Michael Murphy, Tina Cross, Suzanne Lynch, actor Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Ria Hall, Seth Haapu, Eve Gordon, Mike Edwards, Sharon Emirali, Cameron Clayton, trombone quartet BonaNZa, Opera Factory, Diamond Entertainment, a kapa haka ensemble and the Lakeside Orchestra conducted by Mark Dennison.
Tickets for reserved seating are available from Ticketmaster for $30. The concert is at The Village Green starting at 7.30pm.
See A4 for more details on Lakeside 2013 - Come Together.