Oceanview Speedway will host Sound Valley on March 13 and 14. Photo / Bevan Conley
Oceanview Speedway will host Sound Valley on March 13 and 14. Photo / Bevan Conley
The Sound Valley music festival, originally scheduled for February 20, this Saturday, at Cook's Gardens, will now take place at the Oceanview Speedway on March 13 and 14.
Organiser Gioia Damosso said the decision was made shortly after the Government's Covid-19 alert level 2 announcement on Sunday.
"It feels likewe're organising a whole new festival," Damosso said.
"We're keeping the original lineup though, and, because it's now over two days, we'll be able to add a whole raft of local acts and a couple from out of town as well."
Cook's Gardens was still intended to be the venue for the new date, Damosso said, but a clash with the Relay for Life on the new dates meant the festival would head to Oceanview instead.
The Black Seeds will still be performing at the rescheduled Sound Valley festival in Whanganui. Photo / Reef Reid
"We had to make the decision (to change dates and venue) before the Covid announcement, because coming out of level 2 on a Thursday with our event on a Saturday didn't leave us enough time to then crack into it.
"With the three new community cases that popped up, I didn't think we would actually be coming out of level 2 anyway, so I thought it would be best to play it safe and give people the opportunity of another date, as opposed to not being able to give anybody anything."
Camping would be available over the weekend at Oceanview, Damosso said, with the event now open to people of all ages.
Children under the age of 12 will get free entry, and those aged 12-15 will have access to $20 tickets.
"From 15 upwards it'll be the same ticket price. People have been asking if the price will go up because of the extra day, but no, they'll get two days for the price of one."
All the artists and managers had been "really amazing" in dealing with the date and venue change, Damosso said, as had the volunteers and stall holders.
"Everyone has come to the party and they've been so supportive.
"After months of summer festivals and all these bands playing, to pop into a (alert) level change for three days and back out again, it managed to absolutely derail what we were up to.
Gioia Damosso (right) with fellow Sound Valley organiser Koert Wegman. Photo / Bevan Conley
"It was incredibly bad timing, but we like to stay optimistic and think that this is a blessing in disguise. Hopefully, this new event will be even bigger and better."
As well as local artists being added to the bill, another major New Zealand act was also close to signing on, Damosso said.
"Oceanview will be absolutely perfect for the festival, especially with all that room for camping and all the room for parking.
