'Deeply grateful': Rhythm and Vines announces final Gisborne festival

4:49pm
The festival is set to have its last show at the Waiohika Estate venue in Gisborne later this year.

Rhythm and Vines has announced its last festival at Gisborne's Waiohika Estate.

Organisers said this would bring the annual three-day New Year event's "24-year chapter in the region to a close".

The move would also "support the festival's long-term future and continued evolution, with Rhythm and Vines relocating to a new, undisclosed location in 2027".

The first release of artists performing at the last Rhythm and Vines at the venue would be released next week, on Wednesday, July 29.

Rhythm and Vines Festival chief executive officer Kieran Spillane said: "Gisborne has been the heart and home of Rhythm and Vines for nearly a quarter of a century".

"We are incredibly proud of what we have built alongside the community, and deeply grateful to everyone who has helped create 24 years of New Year’s magic at Waiohika Estate.

Rhythm and Vines. File photo.

"We want to make sure we give Gisborne and Waiohika Estate the send-off it truly deserves – and we believe that this year’s line-up will deliver just that."

Details of the festival's future location would be announced in "due course".

The One NZ presale for the festival will go live on Monday, August 3.

The R&V Legends Presale will go live Tuesday, August 4.

A 24-year history

The idea of Rhythm and Vines was born in 2003 when three University of Otago students Tom Gibson, Hamish Pinkham and Andrew Witters decided to host an event with their friends at a secure location, according to AudioCulture.

The trio approached Witters' father, who owned the 6.7 hectare vineyard with a "natural amphitheatre".

In an interview with RNZ, Pinkham said the initial pitch was aimed at "promoting his wine".

Rhythm and Vines producer Hamish Pinkham.

"When we approached him and said we wanted to bring a whole lot of DJs and reggae bands to Waiohika, I think he was a little stunned."

The event began in 2003 with about 1800 people. Since then, it has grown in popularity.

By 2006, the festival was well-known and by 2013, was attended by an estimated 25,000.

In 2018, multinational entertainment company Live Nation acquired a controlling interest in the festival.

During its run in Gisborne, the festival injected plenty into the local economy, and has attracted big name artists such as Kid Cudi, Calvin Harris, Moby, Chance the Rapper, Tame Impala and Ice Spice.

It has also consistently featured local acts alongside the big international names, such as L.A.B., Fat Freddy's Drop, Dave Dobbyn and Six60.

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