Hopes high for festival's future

MC KPz, of the Sunshine Sound System, gets the crowd pumping at last weekend's Shotover Sunshine...
MC KPz, of the Sunshine Sound System, gets the crowd pumping at last weekend's Shotover Sunshine Festival.
Shotover Sunshine Festival co-organiser Simon Hendl is looking forward to growing the festival for 2013 after last weekend's inaugural event attracted almost 4000 people.

"We're definitely enthused about holding another one in a couple of years' time. We want to keep on building the brand and building people's awareness of it," Mr Hendl, who is also known as DJ Downtown Brown of Sunshine Sound System, said.

"I'm sure you're aware that awesome events like Rippon which happen every second year to ours, always attract a sell-out crowd, so we're really keen to keep doing it .. and build people's awareness of the festival so that we can get even more people along next time."

Some of the estimated 4000 attendees enjoy the party atmosphere.
Some of the estimated 4000 attendees enjoy the party atmosphere.
Pre-sales accounted for 3000 of the attendees and Mr Hendl estimated there were around 500 door-sales, in addition to the sponsors, workers and artists at the festival.

Police were also happy with the event, with just four people removed for detoxification and none for violent behaviour.

Thoughts have already turned to how the festival could be improved next time, including doubling the bank access and the number of toilets, and tackling transport issues.

Joe Dukie, of Fat Freddy's Drop, serenades the crowd. Photos by Joe Dodgshun.
Joe Dukie, of Fat Freddy's Drop, serenades the crowd. Photos by Joe Dodgshun.
Mr Hendl said serious planning for the festival started just over a year ago, but the vision was there much earlier.

"It's been amazing. I've been renting a room at the house on the site where this took place, and I've been looking down on this field for a couple of years now thinking wouldn't it be cool if we had a festival.

Looking out on Waitangi weekend and seeing a crowd full of people enjoying some awesome music, it's really really gratifying and satisfying, you know."

 

 

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement

OUTSTREAM