Rhythm & Vines grows up!

November 26th 2008

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 & Vines grows up!

It all started on a Gisborne summers day in 2003 with 1800 guests grooving away to The Black Seeds and being the first group of people in the world to welcome in New Year’s Day 2004. Now Rhythm and Vines is all grown up! Six years on this gathering of people has exploded into a mega 3 day music festival with more than 20,000 guests, five stages and over 100 national and international music acts.

Founder and visionary of the event Hamish Pinkham talks about the growth of Rhythm and Vines.

“The past six years has been an exciting ride! What started as a gathering of university friends has evolved into a major scale international music festival, run by a large team of professionals. It’s great to see so many of the people and musicians that supported the event in the early days still involved in Rhythm and Vines today,” he says. 

One such long term supporter is radio host Clarke Gayford who has MCed the event since its beginnings and thrown in his “2 cents worth” along the way. Gayford grew up in Gisborne and has enjoyed watching the event grow year on year. 

“I spent a whole lot of my childhood mucking about at Waiohika Estate, I remember back to when there were no grapevines at all, and I used to use the natural amphitheatre where the stage is to shoot turkeys! Being a local it’s been a surreal experience watching it all unfold. Rhythm and Vines has expanded in incredible ways, from a large party for friends into a full blown dominating New Zealand festival. I've been impressed with the organisers’ vision for expansion and the actualisation of this vision. They’ve always had a great focus on all the little things like transport, toilets and onsite facilities. It’s these details which all contribute to a positive experience for their most important asset - the people,” says Gayford. 

Renowned New Zealand bands The Black Seeds and WBC have also been involved with Rhythm and Vines since its inception. Matt (The Black Seeds) and Matiu (WBC) were flown into Gisborne in 2002 by Hamish Pinkham so he could share the event vision and convince them to journey to Waiohika Estate to play New Year’s Eve.

“After checking out Gisborne with the organisers we were sold. We played the first ever Rhythm and Vines back in 2003, which was a real buzz! Then we followed with 2004! Now we’re really looking forward to coming back to Rhythm & Vines again this year.  It's great to see how it's evolved over the years into such a diverse music festival.  Bring on the summer,” says Matt from The Black Seeds.

Matiu Sadd from WBC says he’s proud to have been involved with Rhythm & Vines from its humble beginnings.

“We played the event three times and it was definitely a gig that as a band we all looked forward to playing. It has been amazing to see Rhythm & Vines evolve and grow over the years into what is now the premier New Years Eve event,” he says. 

Another artist who has been involved with the event since its origins is award winning DJ and music maker Matthew Chicoine (Recloose).

“I've loved playing at Rhythm and Vines over the years and I look forward to an electric debut-performance with the Recloose Live Band this year. My experiences have been nothing but positive and it’s no surprise that Rhythm and Vines reigns as one of the best summer festivals,' he says.

As the following and popularity of Rhythm and Vines has grown, so to have the musicians and talent that have been involved with the event since the early days.

“As Rhythm and Vines has developed, so have many of the artists. Recloose, The Black Seeds, An Emerald City, Ladi 6, Dick Johnson, Honey Claws and State of Mind are just some of the acts that have grown with the event over the years. We’re excited to still be working with these artists today and hope to use Rhythm and Vines as a platform to bring through a new breed of up and coming New Zealand talent in years to come,” says Pinkham.

While the planning for the event has expanded, Pinkham reflects that the vision has largely stayed the same. It’s always been about bringing together to celebrate New Year in a safe secure summer location while entertained by the best of up and and coming and established music.

Guests at this year’s Rhythm and Vines will have even more facilities and options available to them, with onsite camping at Waiohika Estate, as well as onsite VIP camping, side of stage VIP hang out areas and event presence from media partners MTV, George FM, 91ZM, Nzgirl and Juice TV.

The last few tickets on sale now!

 If you haven’t already purchased your ticket to New Zealand’s biggest music festival event this New Year then get cracking because tickets are selling out fast!  More than 17,000 tickets have sold already and organisers are predicting the final “Harvest” 3 day tickets won’t hang around long. 

Go to www.rhythmandvines.co.nz to purchase your ticket now!

Onsite Premium Camping is now available
For those customers who wish to relax in the beautiful and quiet rural surrounds of the Waiohika Vineyard Estate for the duration of the festival and never be more than a stone’s throw away from all of the action then the Onsite Premium Camping is for you! Onsite Premium Camping includes hot shower facilities, lock ups for valuables, communal BBQ areas and free use of the Festival town centre shuttle service to Gisborne which runs regularly, 24 hours a day. It’s just a short walk to the festival from your tent, designed so that guests can enjoy the best of both worlds – The music and onsite action as well as the comfort of camping in stunning vineyard surrounds. This is the first year that we have introduced onsite camping, and numbers are limited. So please book soon to avoid disappointment.

$35 per person per night (sold as 4 night package $140.00). To learn more visit: http://www.insta-tent.co.nz

Grab yourself a VIP area ticket! (Now available)

Treat yourself to a VIP Ticket at Rhythm & Vines and you’ll enjoy special after hours DJ nights, comfortable seating, great views of the main stage, waiter service, and of course exclusive upgrades with VIP festival facilities – fine food, cocktails and tended toilets, plus you can rub shoulders with the bands and celebrities onsite this year!

 Tickets for this year’s VIP are $50 per day, or $125 for a 3 day pass and can be purchased here www.etickets.to/buy/?e=1867

Onsite VIP Luxury Tented Village (Now available)

We have an extremely limited amount of exclusive Luxury Tent Packages available.

The Luxury Tented Village is the most exclusive way to experience Rhythm and Vines if you’re staying with us onsite. Located just a stone’s throw from all the festival action in one of the most serene locations at the Waiohika estate; book a ready furnished luxury tent at R&V this year, be it as a couple or with friends to share. On entering your large spacious tent you will be greeted by crisp white linen and cosy duvet on a queen sized bed. Find fresh cut flowers at your bed side, and some goodies on your pillow. These big tents are large enough to comfortably walk around in, the tents suit couples (double bed) or 2 friends sharing (2 singles). Further perks included are Hot showers/wet rooms, 24 hour shuttle to and from Gisborne, lock-up for belongings, and 24 hr security, and only a short walk to the markets and eateries on site.

Packages include:

• 4 nights luxury camping 28th to the 31st (depart by 4pm 1st January)

• Large, high quality, Kiwi Camping Co, water proof raised stand-up tents with flooring.

• Beautiful views. From your tent you will find the most beautiful sunset views directly backed onto a forest over looking fields of vines.

• Power inside each tent for laptops/mobile/hairdryer etc.

• Wireless internet

• Comfy Mattress, linen, Pillows and quilt.

• Onsite hot showers/wetrooms and bathrooms.

• Bedside Tables & lamp.

• Free Onsite priority parking.

• Free Local bus transfers to and from Gisborne (operating 24 hrs).

• Lock-up for belongings.

• Communal BBQ’s, couches and fridges for your storing your drinks and food.

• Tents are pre erected and the beds are made and waiting!

• 24 hour security.

LUXURY MAGNUM PACKAGE: 2 Person tent: $780.00 per package

LUXURY JEROBOAM PACKAGE: 4 Person tent: $1350.00 per package

LUXURY METASULA PACKAGE: 6 Person tent: $1,890.00 per package

Great value for under $100 per person per night! For details go to www.insta-tent.co.nz

Bring a Caravan, motor-home or Campervan to R&V 08 (Now available)

Rhythm and Vines is pleased to introduce its onsite motor-home option. The onsite motor-home option is for those customers who wish to relax in the beautiful and quiet rural surrounds of the Waiohika Vineyard Estate for the duration of the festival and never be more than a stone’s throw away from all of the action. Once again availability is limited. The onsite motor-home option includes your pitch, hot shower and bathroom facilities, lock ups for valuables, communal BBQ areas and free use of the Festival to Gisborne town centre shuttle which runs regularly 24 hrs.

$30 per person, per night non-powered (sold as a 4 night package $140.00) For more information and to purchase go to: www.insta-tent.co.nz

NB - These pitches are not powered, though we may be introducing this in the future.

ends

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