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| Rhythm and Vines | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rhythm and Vines |
| Location | Gisborne, New Zealand |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Dates | New Year's Eve |
| Genre | Electronic, pop, rock, hip hop |
Rhythm and Vines
Rhythm and Vines is an annual New Year’s Eve music festival founded in 2003 that takes place in northeastern New Zealand; it is known for staging headline performances on the first day of the calendar year and for drawing large domestic and international crowds. The festival combines contemporary popular acts with local artists and has become a focal point in regional cultural calendars alongside events such as the Auckland Arts Festival, Splore, WOMAD and mainstream gatherings like Big Day Out. Over its history the event has intersected with touring cycles of global artists and the regional development agendas of institutions including the Gisborne District Council, New Zealand Tourism Board and national broadcasters.
Founded by a collective of promoters with connections to the New Zealand live-music circuit and agents working with festivals such as Tomorrowland, Coachella, Glastonbury Festival and Lollapalooza, the festival began as a boutique New Year’s celebration aimed at independent audiences. Early editions featured collaborations with managers and agencies associated with acts represented by Live Nation, AEG Presents and regional promoters active at venues like Eden Park and Spark Arena. Through the 2000s and 2010s, the event expanded as international booking networks shifted, paralleling lineups seen at Ultra Music Festival, Sónar and Electric Daisy Carnival. Its continuity has depended on relationships with national bodies including Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and infrastructure partners such as Auckland Transport when routing travel for artists and patrons. The festival adapted to the global disruptions of the 2020s, including policies from the World Health Organization and directives from the New Zealand Government.
The event is held on private properties near Gisborne, on the northeastern coast of the North Island, within the territorial jurisdiction of the Gisborne District. The site selection has involved negotiations with landowners, environmental regulators such as the Department of Conservation and utilities overseen by Transpower New Zealand and local energy distributors. Its coastal setting places it in proximity to landmarks like Matawhero and transport links including State Highway 35 and regional air services to Gisborne Airport, enabling access for artists flying from hubs including Auckland Airport, Wellington International Airport and Christchurch Airport.
Lineups have mixed international headliners and domestic stars from scenes represented by labels and agencies affiliated with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and independent labels known from festivals like South by Southwest and CMJ Music Marathon. Past performers have included artists whose careers intersect with events such as MTV Europe Music Awards, BRIT Awards and Grammy Awards circuits, and who have toured with acts linked to Radiohead, Kanye West, Beyoncé, The Rolling Stones and Arctic Monkeys. The festival has hosted prominent Australasian and Pacific artists who have performed at venues such as Sydney Opera House and Vector Arena, alongside DJs and producers associated with BBC Radio 1, Triple J and international labels. Special sets have featured collaborations reflecting networks that include managers, booking agents and festivals like Pitchfork and Roskilde Festival.
Programming typically spans multiple stages curated to showcase genres represented in global circuits like EDM and acts familiar to presenter networks including NPR Music, Billboard and Rolling Stone. Production draws on technical crews who have worked at venues including Madison Square Garden and festivals such as Isle of Wight Festival, employing sound, lighting and staging suppliers who service tours of artists from Madison Beer to legacy acts with histories at Glastonbury and Woodstock. On-site amenities and activations have been developed in collaboration with hospitality operators, local wineries connected to the region’s viticulture associations and vendors who also service events like Womad NZ and regional agricultural shows.
Attendance has grown from boutique beginnings to tens of thousands, with ticketing handled through national platforms and agencies that manage sales for events like Rhythm and Vines and larger tours routed by Ticketmaster affiliates. Economic studies commissioned by regional authorities have compared the festival’s visitor spend to impacts from major tourism drivers such as the Hawke's Bay Wine & Food Classic and sports events at McLean Park, estimating significant contributions to accommodation providers, hospitality businesses and transport operators. The festival’s timing around New Year’s positions it within national visitor flows tracked by the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and influences seasonal employment in sectors regulated by bodies such as MBIE.
Like many large-scale events, the festival has faced controversies linked to public order, environmental concerns and permitting, which invoked responses from agencies including the Gisborne District Council, New Zealand Police and health services such as Waikato District Health Board in consultative roles. Safety protocols evolved following incidents at other festivals worldwide monitored by organizations like the World Health Organization and law-enforcement best-practice groups; measures include crowd-control planning with NZ Police, medical responses coordinated with local hospitals and licensing overseen by regional councils. Environmental mitigation has referenced frameworks used by the Department of Conservation and regional resource consents administered under national legislation.
The festival has received regional tourism and entertainment recognition in circuits that include awards presented by bodies such as New Zealand Music Awards, NZTIA and industry associations that acknowledge contribution to live music, comparable to honors received by festivals like Splendour in the Grass and Laneway Festival. Its programming and production teams have been noted in trade publications alongside peers honored at events like the Pollstar Awards and recognized by broadcasters including TVNZ and RNZ for their contribution to New Zealand’s live-music sector.
Category:Music festivals in New Zealand