Bay rocks in the New Year

LOVING THE MUSIC: Kate Thompson gets excited during the I Am Giant performance at Mount Vibes at ASB Bay Park. PHOTO/JOEL FORD

Revellers were out in force last night at Mount Vibes New Year's Eve Music Festival at ASB Baypark Stadium, Mt Maunganui.

At 6.30pm when one of the main acts, I am Giant, came on stage, the good-humoured crowd was already pumping in the evening sun.

"We are ready to party," said 21-year-old biology student Kate Buchanan, who was at the gig with her three school friends from Hamilton. Ms Buchanan said she was looking forward to "dancing into 2014" when DJ Optimus Gryme would be on stage to ring in 2014.

The event is the brainchild of organiser 38-year-old Tauranga local Morgan Dynes, who runs a truck haulage company by day.

"This is a first for me ... I dispatch trucks. A group of us sat down one night having a few drinks, then some more drinks, then 'nek minute' we came up with this idea and thought ... it is what Tauranga needs ... through my job I have contacts with people involved in events like this, band managers and the like, so we were able to pull it all together."

Mr Dynes said he was expecting a crowd of up to 6000 at the R18 event.

Tickets had been pre-sold to a range of age groups. "I have got everything from 18-year-olds and I have even got a 70-year-old here.

One hundred security staff and three police teams were manning the event. Mr Dynes said that three times during the night the three bars would be shut for periods to prevent intoxication. So far the crowd had been well behaved, although around 7pm an intoxicated man had to be escorted off the premises by police officers.

At edition time, Western Bay of Plenty police area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton said people had been well behaved so far. "The behaviour has been reasonable as far as I'm aware," he said.

Mr Dynes said the highlights of the event were three big New Zealand bands - The Black Seeds, I am Giant and Blacklistt.

The festival also hosted other local and national acts including Aaradhna, Home Brew, Optimus Gryme, Soljah, Sons Of Zion, State of Mind, Swiss and Tomorrow People.

Another big event in the city was The G2 Resolution 2013 New Year's Eve party at G2 Bar in Greerton, hosted by Stan Walker.

The Mount New Year's Festival hosted its annual beach party with fireworks, and the Papamoa Tavern also had a music event in the garden bar.