Sold-out Rhythm & Alps a huge success

Sold-out Rhythm & Alps a huge success

Ten thousand partygoers rung in the New Year at Wanaka’s record-smashing Rhythm & Alps (R&A) music festival last night.

The festival welcomed the biggest crowd in its seven-year history with 5,500 campers and 4,500 day-pass holders converging at Cardrona’s Robrosa Station to see international music superstars TASH SULTANA, LITTLE DRAGON and CIGARETTES AFTER SEX as well as Kiwi favourites FAT FREDDY’S DROP and LORD ECHO.

Although attendance numbers were well up this year, R&A festival director Alex Turnbull says the event still went without a hitch.

“It’s been an incredible few days of epic live music and good times,” he says. “The crowds have been fantastic and the vibe throughout the entire event has been really relaxed.

“We’re also stoked with all of our artists who put on a spectacular show, right from our opening acts to Tash Sultana and Little Dragon, who were two of our New Year’s Eve drawcards. Nothing but world-class performances in the best spot on the globe.”

Temperatures at the renowned festival – which kicked off on December 29 and closed today, January 1 – rose to the mid 20s, however Turnbull says the event is always well-equipped to deal with any weather situation.

“It was great to see everyone getting out and enjoying themselves,” he says. “We made sure there was always plenty of fresh water and ice-cold beer readily available, as well as a swimming hole and lots of shade. We’ve also had the emergency services and St John Ambulance on standby throughout the three days but once again we had no arrests, which was great.”

More than 50 acts performed on R&A’s four stages, all of which featured a technical mix of state-of-the-art video projection mapping, LED screens and lighting, high-spec audio and bespoke visuals.

The 2017 event was the festival’s fastest selling in history. It was also the third sold-out show for R&A last year; the company brought hip hop artist SCHOOLBOY Q to Lake Hawea on December 28 and is set to host legendary performer GRACE JONES in Queenstown on March 2.

ENDS

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