Crowds get ready for Big Day Out

12.30pm - By MEGAN BEDFORD and CATHY ARONSON

The crowds have descended on Ericsson Stadium in Penrose, Auckland, where the annual Big Day Out music festival is taking place.

The team from nzherald.co.nz will be here throughout the day to update you on all the goings on.

Traffic snarl ups on the motorway made the trip slow for many, including us, but arriving at the gates we were rewarded for the wait by an aural assault from the venue's six different stages.

A burst water main on the corner of Great South Rd near Big Day Out at Ericsson Stadium was causing major traffic problems as water flooded across the road.

A 300 metre section of Great South Rd near the Station Rd intersection has been blocked off since 9am while Fulton and Hogan clean up the road.

They expect two of the four lanes to open in about an hour to help ease traffic flow.

Commuters to Big Day Out are recommended to not take the Penrose turnoff from the motorway and instead take the south eastern arterial to Onehunga.

Seargent Tim Lockwood said it had caused major queues in Penrose and delays on the motorway.

"It couldn't have happened on a worse day. It's the main route that everyone takes and its causing huge traffic delays."

Police have so far not reported any major problems with crowds at Big Day Out and St John's Ambulance have had no medical emergencies.

St Johns officer Murray Bannister said they had a lot of requests for ear-plugs and sunscreen.

Many locals seem to be doing good business offering parking on the roads surrounding the stadium as the area.

The air becomes alive to sound with metal band 8 Foot Sativa taking the stage in front of an already hyped up crowd filling the mosh pit.

Strange fashions, coloured hair and costumes abound throughout the predominantly under-25 crowd.

Food stands, clothing stalls and carnival rides are dotted around the venue, with rides already doing good business.

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