Bay Dreams and One Love are expected to draw in a combined 50,000 people. Photo / File
Big-ticket international artists set for Bay of Plenty stages this summer are already isolating in preparation for their first gig.
This summer Tauranga will again host two of the country's biggest festivals - Bay Dreams North Island and One Love - bringing in crowds of about 50,000 combined.
Whangamatā will host one of the country's biggest New Year's festivals at The Other Side festival on Joe's Farm, with Shapeshifter and L.A.B as the headlining acts.
Festival promoter Clayton Spence said they were on track to sell out to crowds of 15,000.
The combination of other big events between December 27 and February 7 is expected to bring in between 40,000 and 60,000 people.
Reaching this point has been no easy feat as promoters wrangle with the new normal in a Covid-19 world.
Part of the hard work involved was getting in international acts, which promoter Pato Alvarez, from Pato Entertainment, said had been a struggle.
"In such uncertain times, it's really been a crazy year to be a promoter."
But big-ticket international artists were booked in.
This included UK drum and bass heavyweights Sub Focus, Dimension, and Friction who are already in New Zealand in managed isolation, and British DJ Macky Gee, who will tour New Zealand, with a stop in Mount Maunganui on January 31.
Alvarez said they would be missing Christmas with their families, but this was work for them which they would not otherwise have.
The concerts and festivals would be postponed, not cancelled, should the country move into different alert levels as the whole year had been spent on getting them together.
The artists, venues, suppliers, and event staff jobs and incomes were at stake, which is why they would not cancel.
Promoter Mitch Lowe said the events would have an isolation area and medical facility should someone at the festival begin showing symptoms.
Everything they had in place - whether it be dealing with the country moving alert levels, sanitation at the event or a confirmed case at festivals - was done by the medical professional team which was advised by the Government.
Medical areas were standard, but this time would have more specific procedures for dealing with a potential Covid case, Lowe said.
Good communication was key in the follow-up response, and the crowds would be advised on the situation as well as told what the next steps would be.
While Tauranga was the spot for some of the biggest events, he and his business partners had 40 to 50 events around the country this summer.
"We're local ... this is special for us to deliver events here."
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Matt Cowley said events were a great way to quickly inject cash into the local economy while showcasing the city in a way that broke down stereotypes people held about Tauranga.
"Most people are excited for the city to be buzzing with domestic tourists over the break.
"Many people are proud of the city's pulse and energy over the busy summer months. They compare it to cities like Hamilton and Wellington that effectively shut down compared to Tauranga."
He said organisers would be mindful that their health and safety plans and initiatives would be under inspection to reduce the risks of it being a super spreader event.
Le Currents - Taupō
When: 1pm-9pm.
A selection of indie bands and funky disco beats will be among the trees at New Zealand's newest festival at Taupō's Riverside Park.
The arts, music, and culture event was created by promoters Toby Burrows, Pato Alvarez and Mitch Lowe.
The lineup will include indie and surf rock bands New Zealand bands including Mako Road, The Beths, Summer Thieves, and Marlins Dreaming, as well as house DJs.
Good Vibes Summer Festival - Rotorua
When: Starts at 3pm.
The sister festival of One Love Festival by Pato Entertainment will bring reggae vibes to the Village Green in featuring Katchafire, House of Shem, Sons of Zion, Laughton Kora, and Tomorrow People.
In July, the city hosted the winter version of the festival attended by 3000 people.
Katchafire Summer Roadie - Mount Maunganui
When: From 3pm.
The 116 Group announced a Katchafire Summer Roadie show featuring the HP Boyz, Sons of Zion, Tomorrow People and more at Mount Maunganui's Soper Reserve.
The Other Side festival
When: From 12pm on December 30.
Bringing in 2021 at one of the country's largest New Year festivals, the two-day event will be hosted at Joe's Farm, the property of a local farmer. Shapeshifter will headline on the 30th, and L.A.B will bring in the New Year. But the music will be varied, from the heavy drum and bass of State of Mind, to David Dallas.
Sub Focus, Dimension, and Friction - Mount Maunganui
When: 5.30pm-8.30pm.
A drum and bass trifecta of British DJs will have partygoers frothing at the mouth with excitement at the Soper Reserve.
This will be part of a four-location tour run by Audiology.
Mount New Year's Eve, Mako Road - Pāpāmoa
When: 4pm-12.30am.
Mako Road & Friends will hit Pāpāmoa's The Island to bring in the New Year along with Molly & The Chromatics, Summer Thieves, and Curdoroy.
Kaleidoscope NYE Festy, Our Place - Tauranga
When: Doors open 8pm-1am.
Lineup: Mini Simmons, The Leers, Strangely Arousing, Joes Van.
Bay Dreams North Island - Trustpower Arena
When: 11am-10.30pm.
A staggering 52 local and international artists will join thousands of festival-goers at the one-day festival at the Trustpower Arena, organised by Mitch Lowe, with Audiology, and Pato Alvarez, with Pato Entertainment.
The artists will range from reggae and surf-rock to pop and drum and bass. The 11 confirmed international acts included Peking Duk and Earthgang.
There will also be a pre-party the night before at the same venue, including Delta Heavy from the UK.
First We Eat - Tauranga
12pm - 7pm.
The new boutique food, wine, beer, and music festival featuring Dave Dobbyn and The Feelers will be at the Wharepai Domain for all ages.
More than 4000 guests are expected at the first-of-its-kind full-day festival, which co-founder Mitch Lowe says will capture what makes the Bay amazing.
Macky Gee - Mount Maunganui
8pm-11.30pm.
A tour for British drum and bass heavyweight Macky Gee will have a Mount Maunganui stop. He will be joined by K Motionz, also from the UK.
One Love
11am-6pm.
Some of Aotearoa's biggest reggae artists will bring thousands to the Tauranga Domain, including Fat Freddy's Drop, L.A.B, Sons of Zion, and Kora.
Earlier this year, the two-day event organised by Alvarez, brought 18,000 visitors to the city who spent more than $7.2 million.
This festival and Bay Dreams are expected to draw crowds of about 50,000-plus combined and pump millions of dollars into the economy.
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