Shotover Sunshine Festival organisers Bretti Lydiard and Si
Hendl at the grounds off Littles Rd, near Queenstown. Photo
by Olivia Caldwell.
The stage is set and if organisers' predictions are
right, the second Shotover Sunshine Festival will be more
successful than the first two years ago.
The festival was created so people could enjoy some of New
Zealand's top musicians against one of New Zealand's best
backdrops.
The festival show takes place from noon tomorrow to 1am on
Sunday and Tiki Taane, Kora, the Black Seeds, Ladi6, the
Upbeats and Sola Rosa will all play in what is forecast to be
fine weather.
Organisers Si Hendl and Bretti Lydiard were expecting a
bigger crowd than 2011 given the number of tickets sold.
The grounds below Mr Lydiard's house in Littles Rd,
Dalefield, can hold more than 5000 people, but it is expected
about 4000 music fans will go through the gates tomorrow.
''We are on track for a bit more than last year,'' Mr Hendl
said.
The organisers have advertised further afield than Queenstown
this year as they agree people are likely to come and
continue their holidays in Queenstown after the show.
''Queenstown is generally a destination and people are keen
to check it out when they can.''
The inaugural festival in 2011 brought in 3500 people and the
return of the Black Seeds was a sure sign the festival had
some pulling power for the artists, too.
Mr Hendl said the reason the likes of Kora, the Black Seeds
and the other big names took part in the show was because of
the Southern Lakes crowd, the quality production and the
quality of artists around them.
''Any one of the eight bands could be someone's favourite
band.''
Most tickets sold so far have gone to those aged between 18
and 35. However, children under 10 get free entry into the
show, which Mr Hendl hoped would encouraged more families to
attend. Tickets cost $140 on the day.
Transport issues of 2011 had been addressed by bringing in
1000 bus seats costing $5 a seat if bought before the show.
''Last time we totally underestimated the amount of people
wanting to use bus transport, so we have more than quadrupled
the bus capacity,'' Mr Hendl said.
''We want to make this festival as sustainable as we can.''
He suggested those coming to the concert arrive early as
there would be heavy-hitting artists right from the start.
The two organisers created the event to fit between Wanaka's
Rippon festival, which runs alternate years, and hoped to see
theirs grow beyond 5000 concert-goers.
Each day this week, more than 40 staff have been working on
setting up the grounds.
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