Rain won't stop party at Rhythm and Vines

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30 Dec, 2012 08:39 PM2 mins to read

Kimbra performs at Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne. Photo / Supplied

Rhythm and Vines festival organisers are happy a bit of rain isn't going to put off concert-goers.

The three-day musical festival is in its 10th year and more than 30,000 people are expected to attend what was once just a single night event with less than 2000 attendees.

Festival director Hamish Pinkham said tonight is going to be a memorable 10 year celebration for the festival.

"Some light rain, but nothing to dampen and deter the spirits of festival goers. Gisborne's going to be the place to be," he said.

Mr Pinkham said everyone can also rest assured the sound system is 100 per cent ready for New Year's Eve following a few issues on opening night.

Organisers have apologised to ticket holders after damaged equipment made for poor sound quality on the first night of the three-day festival.

The sound equipment was damaged when a 16-wheeler truck it was in went off the road near Opotiki on Friday.

The damage was initially reported as minimal with festival spokeswoman Sara Cairney assuring patrons that in a worst-case scenario situation back-up equipment may need to be taken from other stages.

After first reporting a successful first night which left crowds smiling and "massively hyped" last night, organisers later issued an apology for poor quality sound in the main arena.

"We pride ourselves on our production, but this crash was obviously unexpected. To plan and prepare a system of the calibre needed for an audience or the size of R&V requires days of meticulous work, not hours," said Ms Cairney.

Organisers were in the process of bringing in more equipment, although availability was limited over the New Year period.

The festival's head system technician had worked throughout the evening to configure a hastily assembled replacement system, but was unhappy with the result, they said.