Get set for Rhythm and Vines

Media Announcement

Thursday 19th June 2008

Get set for Rhythm and Vines like you’ve never seen it before!

Dates:            29th December 2008, 30th December 2008, 1 January 2009

Venue:           Waiohika Estate and BW Campgrounds, Gisborne

Tickets:          www.rhythmandvines.co.nz

Gisborne based festival organizers are extremely pleased to announce that due to popular demand Rhythm & Vines will grow this year to a huge 3 day format. The back to back festival days are planned for the 29th, 30th and 31st December.

Toby Burrows, Rhythm & Vines Marketing Director explained "Expanding on the original Rhythm & Vines concept to the new 3 day format will allow us to showcase many more international headliners, And that’s not all that we’ve improved – to enhance the Rhythm and Vines experience the production elements will also be stepped up; expanded arenas, improved sound systems, hi tec lighting, visual and special effects. Plus we’re laying on the usual competitions, crazy MC’s, huge countdown and the killer midnight fireworks display”, says Burrows.

The 29th and 30th December will run from 1pm closing at 1am, giving you 12 hours of day and night Rhythm & Vines action. While the 31st December celebration kicks off a little later at 4pm and runs until 8am on the 1st January 2009.

The music for this year’s mammoth event is set to be huge. Hamish Pinkham, Program Director and founder, revealed to AJPR "We're very proud to be promoting so much Kiwi talent this year alongside our biggest international line-up yet. There'll be lots of exclusive sets, we'll be keeping it rootsy but also exploring a lot of fresh new music from some brilliant emerging Kiwi acts,” he says.

Rhythm & Vines fans can buy a 3 day multi price, starting at only $145. Or they can purchase individual day tickets priced at $65 for the 29th and 30th, while New Years Eve will have a fixed price of $135.

The BW Campground will once again be a highlight of Gisborne from the 27th December until the 2nd January!; A long list of beach side action will take place, including Kiwi & international music, surf competitions, the massively popular "BW Bikini Jam", volley ball tournaments, competitions, celebrity appearances and plenty of other summertime activities both day and night.

The history of Rhythm and Vines

During Dunedin winter in 2003 University friends Hamish Pinkham and Tom Gibson had an idea to organize an event to invite their networks of friends from around New Zealand to join at one central scenic location – Gisborne!

The next step was teaming up with local Gisborne lad Andrew Witters who agreed to use the amazing purpose-built concert amphitheatre at Waiohika Estate for their inaugural event. With its beaches and sunshine, not to mention the uniquely kiwi destination Gisborne seemed the perfect spot for the party. With the support of all Andrew's family the boys were on their way launching the beautiful vineyard set party.  The event would be called ‘Rhythm and Vines’ and would feature top up and coming act the Black Seeds amongst other acts. The event went off without too many hitches under the bright blue Gisborne skies and accommodated 1800 impressed guests.

In 2004/05 the event was well on its way to becoming the class event it is today. and entertained around 5,500 people. A second stage was put in place with more of a dance focus.  Crowd favourites the Black Seeds returned to perform a memorable sunset show, while headliners Salmonella Dub had the vineyard thumping following a spell binding New Year’s celebration. 

The event grew further in 2005/06 to accommodate a new main stage and a capacity for 12,000 people. Security measures were up, flushing toilets and permanent power facilities were implemented. Fat Freddy’s Drop had just been crowned New Zealand’s number 1 band at the NZ Music Awards and people clambered to buy tickets. 

In 2006 the event underwent massive growth with 15,000 people over 4 stages and internationals such as Mylo, Crazy P, Shapeshifter, Kora and Dick Johnson headlining the event. 

Last year the fifth year anniversary bought a colossal stable of both festivals goers and artists to Gisborne.  Four stages were now in place at Waiohika and catered for everything from indie to dance, roots to punk. The goals of the initial event rang true as up and coming local acts performed with the likes of returning kiwi heroes Hollie Smith and Scribe and internationals MANDY and New Young Pony Club. The now famous midnight display bought the 16,000 strong crowd to a standstill as Ariel fireworks and lasers lit up the main stage basin.

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Rhythm & Vines Ticketing                                            

Festival Package (Pass to all days 29th, 30th and 31st Dec)

“Pruning”    $145 + b/ fee*   ON SALE NOW, LIMITED TO 5,000

“Budburst” $185 + b/fee*

“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&V festival site for all 3 days.  To reserve your spot, select Early bird Bus when you buy your tickets. 

If you have any ticketing questions please email us at tickets@rhythmandvines.co.nz

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