Rhythm & Vines Festival Certainly Not One To Be Missed

A sellout crowd of 25,000 revelers flocked to Gisborne for new years 2010/2011 intent on being the first in the world to usher in the New Year at the festival Rhythm & Vines.

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Internationals N*E*R*D, Justice, Chase and Status, Tinie Tempah, Chromeo, Boys Noize and well over 100 other International and local acts pleased crowds that began arriving at the Waiohika Estate, north of Gisborne, fromWednesday the 29th December

Partygoers had more than 100 acts spread over five stages to choose from over the three days of the festival.

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Crowd pleasers on the 29th December included Kiwi favourites Hollie Smith and Mt Eden Dubstep, Canadian electro-funk groovers Chromeo, English five-piece Indie band Mystery Jets, Melbourne’s Miami Horror and legendary UK dance DJ Carl Cox.

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There was something for everyone on the 30th with DJ sets from French headliners Justice and the UK’s Chase & Status, experimental American multi-genre maverick Flying Lotus, and British rapper and grime artist Tinie Tempah.

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New Years Eve night was comprised of a super Kiwi contingent made up of The Naked and Famous, BARB, Blackbird, Dragon, P Money and Shihad amongst others ushered in the New Year to the biggest and most appreciative crowd yet, with a spectacular fireworks display and pyrotechnics. While internationals German electro producer/DJ Boys Noize and Belgian drum and bass producer Netsky ripped the roof off Waiohika Estate.

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Festival founder Hamish Pinkham said organisers were “stoked” with how the festival had gone, with a capacity crowd, record ticket sales and the occasional bit of wind not putting too much of a dampener on festivities.

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Best Festival award winner at this year’s NZ Tourism Awards and voted one of top five New Years destinations in the world by the UK’s Guardian and Times newspapers, Rhythm & Vines was home to the biggest ever crowd of 25,000 people over the three days and close to 2,000 onsite campers.

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“It is always challenging catering for such large crowds, but we are a well-oiled machine after eight years of fine-tuning,” said Hamish.

A further 13,000 campers and festival goers were based at BW Campgrounds on Waikanae Beach in Gisborne, which held daytime activities like volleyball, touch rugby and zumba fitness all on the beach and bikini competitions for its largely 18-24 year old crowd.

A festival within a festival, BW also had its own stellar line-up of international and local artists, operating in and around R&V with warm-up shows, daytime shows and late night after parties.

Kicking off on the 27th with a massive opening night featuring Kora, Six60, The Freestylers (UK), State of Mind (Live) and The Checks, this meant a whole week of music for those committed to maximizing their festival experience, making Gisborne undoubtedly the number one place to be for music lovers this summer.

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Back at R&V, those wanting a more relaxed atmosphere could watch the action on the hillside back from the main stage featuring dozens of hammocks. A waterslide that cost a $2 donation to Amnesty International to ride, or was free if you slid down naked, entertained groups for hours.

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A kapa haka group from local Marae Te Poho O Rawiri Marae welcomed guests on the 29th, and again helped bring in the New Year on the main stage on the 31st. UK superstar Tinie Temper were also treated to a powhiri by local Iwi.

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For more info, behind the scenes video and artist interviews go to www.rhythmandvines.co.nz or www.behindthevines.co.nz.

Rhythm & Vines 2010 also wishes to thank it’s Partners: MTV, ZM, Panasonic, Redbull, grabaseat, Coruba, Isaacs Cider, Jagermeister, Sony Ericsson, Digital Mobile and Amazon Surf Stores

ENDS

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