Media Announcement
October 2008
Rhythm and Vines goes international!
Dates: 29th December 2008, 30th December 2008, 31st December 2008, 1 January 2009
Venue: Waiohika Estate and BW Campgrounds, Gisborne
Tickets: www.rhythmandvines.co.nz
Rhythm and Vines is set to go international this year as people from around the world journey to Gisborne this New Year
to watch the first sunrise in the world for 2009!
Located on the eastern tip of the Eastland region in the North Island of New Zealand, Gisborne is not only the sunniest
destination in the country, it’s also the very first place in the world to see the sunrise each day. Now the Rhythm and
Vines event is fast becoming recognized by international music lovers and critics as one of the world's key New Year’s
Eve calendar events.
Six years on and still going strong, Rhythm and Vines has grown to a bigger three day music festival event, and for the
first time launched an international Public Relations campaign to accommodate overseas partiers.
“The R festival is going to be a magnificent event this year and on a par with any of the leading festival events in Europe; A
true contemporary music festival with a history and a strong Kiwi spirit and identity. The concept definitely has appeal
to an overseas audience and the response has been testament to that. The international media, particularly the European
market, have thrown their support behind what they see as a strong world class program by anyone’s standards coupled
with the events unique and ‘exotic’ location,” says Paxton Talbot, Festival organizer.
The event has also received strong national media support through a list of official partners, which include MTV,
JuiceTV; radio stations 95bFM, George FM and 91ZM.
Overseas guests can look forward to journeying to one of the most picturesque festival spot in New Zealand. Waiohika
vineyard estate features a number of natural amphitheatres set between the sun-kissed hills and vineyards of eastern
Gisborne; the perfect base for this unique 25,000 person summertime event.
Marketing Director Toby Burrows is thrilled with the international response.
“This year tickets to Rhythm and Vines have been selling hard and fast from right around the world! Europe, UK, Asia,
the Americas, Australasia, South Africa and the Middle East are just some of the places that we’ve seen sales from; its
37 countries now and increasing
There is wider international appeal this year which has been created by moving to the three day format, having a classic
festival venue, the draw of New Zealand itself and big international artists. We’re flattered by such an immediate
uptake, and really excited about the flavour this is going to create,” says Burrows.
Also appealing at an international level is the lengthy list of well over 100 acts scheduled for this December. The
line-up includes a number of major international headliners sharing the experience with New Zealand’s top musicians.
“We’ve gone all out this year to present a true festival line-up and its appealing to a worldwide audience. There’s a
good selection of well known acts. We have somewhere close to 40 international acts coming to New Zealand for Rhythm and
Vines, but there’s just so much more to discover; acts who aren’t famous now but are going to be! This equally applies
to the hot New Zealand acts, a good number of whom are already enjoying acclaimed success abroad but are still to really
hit the mainstream in New Zealand; everywhere you look, its quality.” says event founder Hamish Pinkham.
Event organisers hope that it won’t be just the fans who benefit from the massive event growth of Rhythm and Vines as
they tick off many of the artists on their must see list. The New Zealand musicians who are lucky enough to be playing
at Rhythm and Vines this year will gain a rare opportunity to mix with some of the world’s most influential music
business organisations and musicians.
“We as a festival feel we have a moral responsibility to do whatever we can to support New Zealand music and are loving
every part of it; we have at our disposal an international platform that can expose Kiwi artists to international media,
record labels, management, bookers and industry. We want this to be a significant and ongoing promotional opportunity
for our talented acts who are more than capable of holding their own in the international arena," says Pinkham.
The three day line up
29 December
Franz Ferdinand (UK), The Kooks(UK), Santogold (USA), Jamie Liddell (UK), Liam Finn, Ajax(AUS), The Mystery Jets(UK),
Cut off Your Hands, Katchafire, South Rakkas Crew (USA), Aquasky (UK) Emerson Todd(AUS), The Ruby Suns, Anna
Coddington, The Enright House, Lydia Cole. Jonny Love. Tim Richards, The Constituents, Brazil Beat Soundsystem plus more
to come…
30 December
DJ Nu Mark (JURASSIC 5 / USA) / Cut Copy (AUS), The Phoenix Foundation, Anika Moa, The Datsuns, Ladi 6 (MC & DJ Set)Late of the Pier(UK), Ladyhawke, Recloose LIVE, Busy P & DJ Medhi (FRA), Fort Knox Five(USA) DJ Switch (UK), SJD Antiform LIVE & MC Twin Cam Die Die Die Little Bushman, An Emerald City, Batrider, DJ Audit(CAN) The Naked and Famous, Soane, Olmecha
Supreme, Module LIVE, The Coshercot Honeys, House of Shem, Blackbird, Over the Atlantic, The Secret Knives, Unity
Pacific. DJ Lotion, Daniel Farley and loads more again…
31 December
Shihad, Carl Cox (UK), Digitalism LIVE (GER), The Black Seeds, Adam Freeland(UK), A-Trak (CAN), The Cribs(UK),
Antix(LIVE) Dick "Magik" Johnson, Vinyl Slingers (AUS),
P Money So So Modern, Disco Not Disco(AUS), Honey Claws(USA), Sampology feat Tom Thumb(AUS), Motocade, Disasteradio
Bang! Bang! Eche, Trei Cool Kids Club, 38:40 DJ's Clap Clap Riot
BW Campgrounds
Our official accommodation partner is the ever growing BW Campgrounds. Due to very popular demand BW is filling fast and
has opened up 2 new camps to cater for the demand. “Band Camp” and “Skools” will offer a more secluded spot for campers
The entertainment at BW Campgrounds is set to go off! The list includes:
Kora, Kid Kenobi & MC Shureshock (AUS), State of Mind, Concord Dawn, Opensouls, Stafford Bros (AUS), Fast Crew, Solaa, Kolab, Dan Aux
(AUS), Ben Wah, Thomas Sahs (USA), 38:40 DJ Collective, Skankamelia, DJ Exile, Beat Mafia - plus more to come!
And don’t forget about the Bikini Jam, R pre and after parties, beach parties, tow-at surfing comp, skate comp, beach soccer comp amongst a host of other summer
time activities. For more details and to reserve your crew a spot visit www.bwcampgrounds.co.nz
Looking for your own accommodation in Gisborne?
There is still plenty of accommodation available in Gisborne over the New Year period, from camping grounds to hotels to
houses for rent but it does pay to get organised.
We recommend you check out the Tourism Eastland website. There are literally 100's of accommodation options on this
website including options for motels, hotels, b's, lodges, home stays, backpackers, holiday parks and private homes.
www.gisbornenz.com/accommodation/
For houses in the Gisborne and nearby regions check out
www.HolidayHouses.co.nz
Rhythm & Vines Ticketing
www.rhythmandvines.co.nz
Festival Package (Pass to all days 29th, 30th and 31st Dec)
“Pruning” $145 + b/ fee* SOLD OUT!!
“Budburst” $185 + b/fee* ON SALE NOW
“Harvest” $210 + b/fee*
Day visit only Tickets
29th Dec (DAY ONLY) $65 + booking fee*
30th Dec (DAY ONLY) $65 + booking fee*
31st Dec (NYE ONLY) $135 + booking fee*
* VIP (Special Reserve)
Details will be released soon – We recommend that you grab a discounted package while they last. You will be given an
opportunity to upgrade to VIP later.
*Booking Fee. We now use eTickets! No more paper tickets or courier fees. eTickets also means a reduced booking fee
of only $4.50 per ticket.
Earlybird Bus Special - Book the bus now for only $18. This includes return trips from BW campgrounds to the R festival site for all 3 days. To reserve your spot, select Early bird Bus when you buy your tickets.
ends