NZ Fest Triples Audience

Almost 10,000 celebrated the arrival of 2014 to a bill that included the UK’s Rudimental and NZ’s Shapeshifter, David Dallas, Po-Money, Red Astaire, Bulletproof and The Funk Hunters.

Hamish Pinkham, who founded the event with Alex Turnbull and Kieran Spillane, said that while the previous site at Methven drew 3,000, “The Southern Lakes Region has a lot to offer visitors and as a result the festival has grown. The decision to move definitely paid off.”

Half the crowd camped on site.

The festival sold out a day before.

The festival’s success bolstered up some bad news from other festivals last month.

Camp A Low Hum declared that the Feb. 7-9 event to 1,500 punters would be its last.

It was founded in 2007 by Ian Jorgensen, who said, “It was never intended to be a permanent event, and I wanted to see it go on a high.”

La De Da on New Year’s Eve lost two major reggae acts, Kora and Katchafire, weeks out, citing “unfulfilled contractual obligations” by promoters.

Reggae and roots band Salmonella Dub Soundsystem quit Subsonic Music, citing “miscommunication” over payment.