Bay Dreams music festival draws terrific crowd to Tauranga

Bay Dreams Baypark. L-R Sam Painter, Britley Bennet, Luke Mower, Jess Pukas. Photo/George Novak

Thousands of revellers poured into ASB Baypark Stadium for the 2017 Bay Dreams music festival yesterday.

Set across four stages with an epic line-up of home-grown talent including Katchafire and P-Money as well as international acts including US hip-hop star Yelawolf, the festival was one of the hottest tickets around.

Tickets to the event sold out two months in advance, prompting organisers to make another 3000 tickets available on top of the 15,000 already sold.

Three 6 Mafia from Memphis, Tennessee, United States, put on a show for the crowds at Bay Dreams. Photo/George Novak

Shapeshifter, Sticky Fingers, Kora and as well as Peking Duk, which also performed at the Frequency NYE rave party, were just a handful of acts hitting the stages.

Tickets sold for $155 through Bay Dreams but were going for up to $400 on Trade Me.

Security was tight at the gates and in and around Baypark Stadium yesterday, but the wait get in through the security checks failed to curb the enthusiasm of festival-goers.

Lucy Campbell and Justin Mullen Jnr from Kapiti Coast, Wellington enjoy the music at Bay Dreams. Photo/George Novak

In the crowd, dancing to the tunes of American hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia, were Michelle Nuku and Shannyn Taft, both from Arataki.

"It's an awesome event. Why wouldn't you come? We're loving it and can't wait to see Yelawolf take the stage. It's going to awesome," Ms Nuku said

Kirsten Broad and a group of her friends, all from Rotorua, were also anxiously waiting for Yelawolf to perform.

"It's been really great fun and there's lots more to come. I can't wait," Ms Broad said.

Home Brew, Sticky Fingers and Yelawolf were the must see acts for Auckland friends Sam Painter, Britley Bennett, Luke Mowler and Jess Pukas.

Ms Painter said they had come to Tauranga, especially for the festival.

"What better way for us to spent our New Year. It's an awesome event," she said

The rain failed to dampen the spirits of the young revellers, many who parked up and walked from Bayfair to the ASB Baypark Stadium.

Thousands of the festival-goers were from out of town, including Lucy Campbell and Justin Mullen Junior from Kapiti Coast in Wellington.

"We have come a long way to be here and wouldn't have missed it. We're having an awesome time," Ms Campbell said.

The 2017 Bay Dreams Music Festival draws an awesome crowd. Photo/George Novak