Features
Two New NZ Festivals
New Zealand is getting two new music festivals. Australia’s Meatstock, which combines barbeques and blues and country bands, makes its debut in Auckland Feb. 25-26 at ASB Showgrounds.
“Punters can enjoy their favourite cuts of meat along with a side serving of great music,” said founder Jay Beaumont. “There’ll be plenty to digest.” Meatstock made its bow in Sydney earlier this year and shifted 10,000 tickets. It returns to Sydney in May, after an inaugural event in Melbourne in April. Top Paddock is a new country music festival on New Year’s Eve at the Lake Hawea Hotel, promising a bill of major country and rock acts.
It will be the core event of the Lake Hawea Festival, which also includes a Rhythm & Alps warm-up night and the Wanaka Rodeo After Party. Top Paddock replaces The Branding, with co-owner Ants Alderson applying for approval for 500 more attendees than the earlier festival’s capacity of 2,000. The Branding was canceled early July with director Sarah Perriam citing challenges with the NYE date and a personal business restructuring.