L.A.B. performed at Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne in 2019, and they're heading back again. Photo / Gisborne Herald
Up to 22,000 people are expected to flock to Gisborne’s Rhythm & Vines next week, and organisers say preparations are in full swing.
“This is year 23 for us. So, it’s what we do for a living,” Live Nation director of festivals Kieran Spillane said. “So, we’re always very excited to be putting on another fabulous show in Gisborne. Yeah, very excited [about] what we’ve got on offer for this year.”
The New Year event is taking place at Waiohika Estate from December 29 to January 1.
This year, the festival will feature international artists including rapper Kid Cudi, US hard rock band Turnstile, UK EDM artist Wilkinson, American rapper and singer 070 Shake and a top Kiwi contingent led by the likes of L.A.B. and Gisborne’s Messie.
Spillane was looking forward to the appearance of Turnstile.
“I’m very excited to see Turnstile. Musically, it’s a new direction for R&V where, you know, traditionally we’ve had a lot of electronic acts, a lot of DJs and hip-hop artists, but Turnstile is an American kind of hard rock band.
“I think ... the next two or three years are going to be absolutely huge [for the band]. So, that’s something personally I’m very excited to go and see.”
Spillane is also a fan of the Kiwi artists on the line-up.
“There’s obviously our local heroes L.A.B., Lee Mvtthews and a whole raft of Kiwi acts, which is always great to see New Zealand acts on the stage and giving them a platform to perform in front of large crowds.”
This year’s festival has a strong fitness and wellness focus.
“Certainly with the younger crowd now ... fitness and well-being is a key focus for them.
“So, this year we’ve brought the gym back, the Shred Shed back. Thank you to Red Bull.
“We’ve also got a volleyball court, five-a-side football pitch, there’s a run club for those who want to get up and run to the top of the hill and around the site.”
Spillane said stages have had redesigns, too.
“Our second stage, the Rhythm stage, has been totally redesigned, which is something we’re very excited about.
“It’s probably a key reason why we’ve been around for 23 years is constantly reinventing and kind of re-looking at what we offer. So there’s always something fresh and new.”
The crew had been working on the site for several weeks.
“They started the last week of November. So, typically it’s a five to five-and-a-half-week build. Obviously, four days of the show and then two weeks to pack it all down. So yeah, it’s a significant amount of work.”
The crew is big too. “Somewhere between 100 and 130 people are working on site, probably at the moment.”
The Gisborne Herald went to the site on Tuesday and saw some prep work underway, as the site begins to take shape.
“Yeah, it’s a pretty big undertaking,” Spillane said. “There’s a lot of work involved. You know, 10km of fencing, 500 toilets, 300 showers, 300 security, police, St John. Yeah, there’s quite a bit to it. It doesn’t just fly up overnight.”
Thousands of people are set to pour into the event, many of whom have never attended before.
“Typically for us, half our audience are first-timers, which is really exciting. And the other half are people who are returning for their second, third, fourth, 23rd time.
“It’s always great to see new faces. And that probably forces us, with half our audience being new, obviously, there’s new trends, new music taste that needs to be catered for.”
Organisers are hoping for good weather.
“With good weather, people see the best of Gisborne. A lot of our patrons go to the beach during the day and see the wonderful beaches of Gisborne and to the Rock Slide and get a chance to go around town and spend some money in town, at the cafes and restaurants and bars. And that’s kind of really important for us that there’s some economic benefit for Gisborne for us being there.
“At least in some way we’re giving back to the region that has been very welcoming hosts over the last two decades.”
Live Nation appreciated the relationships it had with the mayor, the council, health personnel, Hato Hone St John and many others.
“Their support has always been very much appreciated. So, it’s nice for us to be able to give back in some way.”
Spillane said up to 22,000 are expected to attend the event this year.
“Every year we strive to be better than the year before, and I think we definitely will achieve that this year.
“There’ll be another few days of pretty hectic workload, but yeah, we’ll get there. We always do, and looking very much forward to putting on another wonderful Rhythm & Vines and, fingers crossed, in the Gisborne sunshine.”
Keen fans can also look forward to the appearance of DJ SuperGran, 81-year-old Molly Pardoe, who will be the oldest performer the festival has yet had.