Clash of the dance parties

By STEPHEN JEWELL

On paper, Waitangi Day's dance party showdown between Groove in the Park in the Auckland Domain and Vibes On A Summer's Day at Western Springs Stadium promised to be an intriguing battle.

Grooves' line-up consisted merely of two British DJs plus local heroes Nice 'n' Urlich while Vibes boasted over 30 international and local acts. But while Groove was a free, all-ages party, Vibes was R18 and cost $75.

In reality, there was only one winner on the day as more than 20,000 people packed out the Auckland Domain while a meagre 2000 to 3000 punters attended Vibes.

However, Brand Events' Mark Cathro, who promoted Vibes with rock promoter Manolo Echave, is confident the festival will return to New Zealand. But Cathro refuses to be drawn on whether Vibes will continue to take place on Waitangi Day, or if it will be staged in Auckland again.

Cathro says Vibes, which was announced in late November last year, was scheduled for Waitangi Day long before the St James, Auckland's main dance party venue and promoter, decided to stage Groove as an apparent spoiler.

The St James would not comment on the timing of Groove in the Park and the Herald was informed that company spokesman Chris Cole does not speak to the media.

Cathro is also critical of the roles Nice 'n' Urlich and Ponsonby dance music radio station George FM played in both events. He states Nice 'n' Urlich were offered to Vibes - as part of the George FM proposal to present Vibes - to perform on a George FM stage. But a day before the official media release Nice 'n' Urlich pulled out and George FM subsequently withdrew from presenting the festival.

According to George FM station manager Jef Kay, Nice 'n' Urlich were never confirmed to play Vibes.

Peter Urlich also denies that he had agreed for Nice 'n' Urlich to perform at Vibes and says Groove in the Park was originally his idea.

"From the outset of my dealings with Mark Cathro, I expressed no inclination to play. He was way out with our fee and seemed surprised we weren't interested in playing," says Urlich.

"I told him from the start I had something else in the pipeline because I've been working on Groove in the Park for about eight or nine years.

"No one wanted to know about it and finally Chris Cole made it happen."

Urlich admits he had prior knowledge of Vibes taking place on Waitangi Day but says that date was the only time the Auckland City Council would allow Groove to take place at the Domain.

"Waitangi Day is our national holiday and it's obviously a great day to have a gig because the weather is so good," says Urlich. "You can't own Waitangi Day."