Nostalgia & Coastella Festivals join forces to provide strong music lineups & a unique festival experience!
Over the past few years or so, Christchurch’s Nostalgia festival and the Wellington/Kapiti Coast’s Coastella joined forces to ensure their futures as independent, unique and innovative music events. The partnership is testament
to their determination and resilience in a market that is increasingly dominated by large music companies.
Coastella Festival co-founders Paul Brown and Gerry Paul started their venture in 2016, The pair reached out to
Nostalgia festival organiser Johnny Gibson. They found that they shared many of the same values, From creative
collaboration to event sustainability and uniting communities. Since then Johnny, Gerry and Paul have become mentors to
each other, as well as sharing resources and skills between them.
Attracting international acts is one of the many challenges the festival organisers face, but by working together they
can make it more worthwhile for those artists to make the trip. A couple of years ago, the trio got together over a few
beers and got to work; “... sometimes it takes a few years for the stars to align, but we’re really delighted about the
acts we managed to secure.”
This year festival goers in both cities, will be looking forward to catching two notable Australian acts; Mama Kin
Spender and C.W. Stoneking, as well as acclaimed New Zealand band Trinity Roots. Gerry, who manages the music
programming, works closely with the international artists to ensure their time in New Zealand is a unique and worthwhile
experience. Both festivals value the importance of programming emerging local artists, shown this year through bands The
Beths, The Miltones and Soaked Oats.
Their collaboration has been crucial in order for both festivals to survive in a highly competitive music event market.
In 2018 New Year’s eve festival Rhythm & Vines was sold to Live Nation, the world’s largest live music company. Similarly, Wellington’s Jim Beam Homegrown
relies on a huge alcohol sponsor to keep it afloat. Coastella and Nostalgia are staunchly independent, which allows them
to spend more time on creating boutique festival experiences for punters and musicians.
Coastella and Nostalgia are confident that their partnership gives them staying power for years to come.
NOSTALGIA - Christchurch
Saturday 16th February, 2019
Ferrymead Heritage Park
Website: www.nostalgiafestival.co.nz
COASTELLA - Kapiti Coast/Wellington Region
Saturday 23rd February, 2019
Southward’s Car Museum, Kapiti Coast
Website: www.coastella.co.nz
ends