Sun adds to event's ideal brew

Blues, Brews and BBQs returned to Hawke's Bay on Saturday, and the 2012 festival featured crowds colourfully dressed to take full advantage of the hot summer weather.



Last year, the event was cancelled due to wet weather but this year concert-goers were scampering for shade underneath trees and sun umbrellas at Hawke's Bay showground's Waikoko Gardens.

Festival co-ordinator Kevin Murphy said organisers hoped the crowd would comfortably top 1000.

"I think that we will end up doing just under 2000, I can't quite see it any more than that. It'll be interesting to see what we do on the gate, so if we get a strong walk-up crowd it will be just under 2000."

Previously held in the main oval, this was the first time Blues, Brews and BBQs had been held in its new location at the Waikoko Gardens.

"It's been the first time in this area and it has certainly been a bit challenging," Mr Murphy said. "But the area itself, it's probably one of the more scenic sort of areas in Hawke's Bay and it's a shame we don't use it a bit more," he said, citing the trees and the shade they provided as ideal for the festival.

The proceeds of the festival would go to good causes.

The 40 volunteers scattered across the event were members of the Stortford Lodge Rotary Club.

As event organisers, they give the proceeds back to the Hastings community.

"We've got all our man power out here today," said Rotary club organiser Peter Jackson. "It's fundraising for the Rotary Club so we can put more back into the Hastings community."

One such project would be the Rotary Youth Leadership Award, a programme which trained 14 to 30-year-olds in leadership skills, club president Brian Burrough said. "One of the big things our club likes to do is put money back into youth programmes," he said.

The festival featured 12 different beer stations, nine BBQ stations, and a music line-up consisting of Clap Clap Riot, the Phil Edwards Band, Devils Elbow, Naked Gun and Sir Duke.