Three kilometres of fencing and hundreds of security staff help the Big Day Out run smoothly. Photo / Dean Purcell
We'll be covering the Big Day Out this Friday with regular updates, blogs and photos throughout the day at nzherald.co.nz/bigdayout.
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Organisers of Auckland's Big Day Out will use barcode scanners in an attempt to prevent concertgoers from using stolen tickets to gain entry at the annual music festival.
A sell-out crowd of about 45,000 people is expected at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium tomorrow.
More than 70 acts will
perform, 39 of which are New Zealand talent, with seven different stages for people to choose from.
Rage Against the Machine, Bjork, LCD Soundsystem, Scribe, Unkle, Dizzee Rascal and The Phoenix Foundation are among those set to perform.
The use of the barcode scanners, a first for the Big Day Out which is now in its 14th year, is part of the organisers anti-scalping initiative.
Organisers are busy with the huge undertaking of running the day-long event, which uses 17,000 rolls of toilet paper, 3 kilometres of fencing, 5250 cable ties, 16 boxes of gaffa tape and 107 people to rig the stages.
Fine weather is predicted - it has only ever rained on the concert twice - and organisers are urging people to drink plenty of fluids and to wear sunblock.
International acts have started arriving, including Icelandic singer songwriter Bjork who made an unforgettable entrance at Auckland International Airport.
Bjork allegedly tore a newspaper photographer's shirt in half, after he photographed her arriving on Sunday.
For New Zealand acts the Big Day Out is an opportunity for exposure to play in front of large audiences .
Singer and guitarist Samuel Flynn Scott of Wellington band The Phoenix Foundation said the band, which will be performing for the second time at the music festival, are a lot more ready to play this time.
"It was our first big outdoor show and I think we were a little bit daunted by the whole experience."
The most memorable part for the band was a signing by American metal band Slipknot at the same time The Phoenix Foundation were playing.
"There were about 3000 people watching us and about 3000 people queued up for the Slipknot signing and they were all wearing those outfits - all their fans had crazy make-up on.
"Wounded eyes and big fake lesions, ridiculous hairdos.
"It was bizarre.
"We had a good time, it was a learning experience but we're definitely more excited this time.
"We know we can actually play these shows and do them a bit better."
- NZPA
