Gisborne is the 'essence' of Rhythm & Vines, fans say

Rhythm and Vines superfan Ashleigh McCaull loves the music festival so much, she spent five New Years in a row there. On Tuesday, the news broke that festival is leaving Gisborne after 24 years of being staged at Waiohika Estate among the grape vines. The festival has been hosted in Gisborne for over two decades. Supplied McCaull says the festival has been an opportunity to connect with her Gisborne whanau and spend more time in the region. From 2018 to 2023 she spent the last day of the year there. "Not only were you able to listen to some great music but you really got a sense of togetherness there. "One thing that captured my attention and also made me fall in love was watching the New Year's Eve countdown - I can't do any other New Years festival now unless there is a countdown of the highlights and low lights of the year," she laughed. One of her best memories is of the song 'Afterglow'. "At my first RnV I fell in love with the artist Wilkinson and his song Afterglow. At my final RnV he played Afterglow along with Becky Hill who features in the song, and I was front of the mosh pit and just remember bawling my eyes out and being so thankful I was there in that moment," said McCaull. The crowd in 2024. Kaelin Wade The festival is arguably the biggest event on the summer calendar in New Zealand, growing from humble beginnings as a one-day festival with one stage headlined by The Black Seeds. It's now a massive four-day party that attracts international acts such as Rudimental, Pendulum, Calvin Harris, Disclosure and Kid Cudi. But back in the early days, when Diana Dobson was the festival's media manager, it was hard to get any coverage. "I remember sitting in this tiny office we had, calling every media outlet I could think of to try and hustle for journalists to come and cover the event - it was a really hard sell," she laughs. Diana Dobson with then-TV3 reporter Amanda Gillies at the festival in 2004. Paul Rickard/The Gisborne Herald But it didn't take long for the festival to take off. "I remember standing on the stage with Hamish Pinkham and I think Fat Freddy's or Kora were playing, and looking out... you could feel the waves of heat coming off the crowd.. there were people as far as you could see - and that wasn't even as many as they have now. "It was just incredible, the vibe, it was such a lot of fun and it was a real privilege to be part of - because it really did put our region on the map," Dobson told RNZ. Critical care paramedic Shane Clapperton has been working at the festival since it began in 2003, alongside his wife Jackie. They've been caring for festival goers every New Year's Eve for the past 24 years. "It's a long time.. the benefit is we do get to generally see the countdown together and see in the New Year together which is wonderful.. and I can't say that for all my staff who travel away from their families for that time," he said. It means that once the festival moves next year, Jackie and Shane might finally have a New Year's off working. Although Shane says the news it was moving away from Gisborne came as a shock. "It's sad and it's disappointing. It's a huge loss for Gizzy. It's the end of an era and it's been a fantastic journey," he said. Shane and Jackie Clapperton have worked as critical care paramedics at Rhythm and Vines every year since it began in 2003. Supplied Gisborne's Chamber of Commerce President Ashley Fisher said the loss of the festival will be a big economic hit. "There are lot of seasonal jobs not just in hospitality but also in the infrastructure around event itself... a lot of jobs are created for people setting it up and taking it down. It's sad we are losing it because it creates a lot of economic activity," he said. Fisher also has fond memories of the festival, having gone five years in a row from 2008 to 2012. "Calvin Harris and Pendulum that year in 2012, was probably the best year ever - I had a great time. "It's going to be missed, I'll probably make the effort to go this year even though I'm far too old... because it's the last one and hopefully a lot of locals support it," said Fisher. Where Rhythm and Vines moves to next is still a mystery - but fans are left wondering how it'll live up to its name in future. "Everything about RnV is still tied back to Gisborne, so I'm just struggling to see how the essence could be brought to life somewhere completely different," McCaull said.