Gisborne Boys' High School students Calvin Braybrook and Jackson Maxwell and teacher Brett Summerlee have touched up the iconic sun stage art for the final Longline Classic music festival on Saturday. Photo / Kim Parkinson
Gisborne Boys' High School students Calvin Braybrook and Jackson Maxwell and teacher Brett Summerlee have touched up the iconic sun stage art for the final Longline Classic music festival on Saturday. Photo / Kim Parkinson
The sun will set for the final time on the Longline Classic festival stage this Saturday, but artwork created two years ago by students from Gisborne Boys’ High School will be shining as bright as ever.
Creators of the Longline Classic stage art have been busy this week touching upthe large painted steel artworks that frame and sit at the back centre of the stage.
Gisborne Boys’ High students, led by teacher Brett Summerlee, created art for the event in 2023. They painted 30 large murals, which were then set up around the outside of the Gisborne Soundshell.
In 2024 they turned the old Corona-branded artwork into their own original sun design.
Festival director James Bristow, of Nextgen Touring, said they were looking forward to Saturday and their core team, with assistance from a group of volunteers, would start setting up the site on Friday
“It’s been a hell of a ride,” Bristow said. “Every event has been awesome. It’s a shame it isn’t continuing, but we’re thankful for the great times we’ve had. We’re really excited for the weekend.”
With 1500 tickets already sold, Bristow said he expected a surge in sales this week, and while it would be possible to get tickets at the gate, he recommended people buy them in advance.
Around 40% of festival-goers are from out of town.
Longline uses mostly Gisborne suppliers for the event, including security firm STW Security.
Everyone involved was part of creating that homegrown atmosphere and relaxed ethos, Bristow said.
The Longline Classic music stage featuring sun artwork originally done by Gisborne Boys' High students.
A former GBHS student himself, Bristow was keen for the school to restore the artwork, rather than getting a professional supplier for the job.
Summerlie said the students had gained a lot of confidence from working on the Longline art and took pride in their work.
“They’ve also learnt from the Longline lads where your passion can take you.”
Bristow said he was open to the artwork finding a new home in the community after the event, but some of it could be used at other festivals.
“It would be cool to have a bit of Gizzy at The Coro Classic (in Matarangi) coming up in January, but otherwise the art pieces could go to schools or community groups that want them.”
The festival directors have pulled the plug on the Longline Classic because it is no longer financially viable.
Nextgen Touring also run festivals in the Coromandel and Tauranga.
'A hell of a ride' ... Longline Classic festival directors Kurt Barker and James Bristow are counting down to the last Longline Classic in Gisborne this Labour weekend.
In 2023, Gisborne Boys’ High School students painted 30 art panels for the Longline Classic. Pictured are RJ Ngaau (left), AJ Kinsella, Calvin Braybrook, Akira Makiri, Bay Bramwell and Longline Classic festival directors James Bristow and Kurt Barker. Photo / Rebecca Grunwell
