Organizers of the inaugural EarthTonz New Year's Eve music festival headlined by American rap metal star Tommy Lee are calling the event a success, even though the turnout was far smaller than they had hoped.
The Otago Daily Times estimated up to 2000 people turned out throughout a scorching Gibbston Valley day on Saturday for the festival's centrepiece - a line-up of predominantly international acts that took dancers through to the early hours of yesterday morning.
Festival producer Dan Allen estimated crowd numbers at between 2000 and 2500 with final ticket sales yet to be counted, and said the feedback had been "outstanding".
Organisers had originally planned for a crowd of 10,000.
However, Mr Allen said yesterday the event "went really great".
"I came back early in the morning after leaving at 5am and everybody I talked to had a great time and complimented the organisation, line-up and setting," Mr Allen said.
"It's just a shame that more people were not there to experience the atmosphere of the first one [EarthTonz]."
A line-up of New Zealand acts played on Friday for the campers who set up hundreds of tents, and it was here most of the daytime punters took shelter from the blistering sun, setting up marquees between vans, dozing and drinking in tents.
Not everyone took shelter, though. More than 100 people sprawled before the stage, throwing balls, and a small core group danced to opening acts Heatbox, Minuit, Ana Sia and Boombox.
During the afternoon, Dutch duo Kraak & Smaak got more afternoon loungers up and dancing, before DJ Muggs (Cypress Hill) took the stage with the setting sun, drawing a solid crowd.
The Freestylers took the party forward before drawcard and headliners Tommy Lee and DJ Aero started their bass-heavy DJ set and light show.
They launched into a new-year countdown mid-song.
With the crowd cheering in the new year, the pair picked up where they left off, upping the tempo. Punters danced to the Crystal Method and Planet of the Drums until at least 3am.
Mr Allen said there were some aspects they would improve if the festival happened again - such as providing shade - but said he was incredibly proud of the first EarthTonz.
His said talks would be held in the next few weeks to determine if it would return next year.
"We are going to be making a decision quick, as if we are going to be doing it again, we need to get started as soon as we can."
