Editorial: Don't put blame on Rotorua

Raggamuffin is a Rotorua event, and as I've said before, if it's not in Rotorua, it's not Raggamuffin, writes Kim Gillespie. Photo / APN

So long Raggamuffin, it was nice knowing you.

Just like that we yesterday discovered that not only was Rotorua's annual reggae festival moving to Auckland, but that a date had already been set and the line-up sorted.

Instead of a beautiful late January event under sunny skies in Rotorua's southwestern suburbs, with sweet reggae sounds creating a relaxed atmosphere, Raggamuffin will play out on December 13, two weeks before Christmas, possibly the busiest, most stressful time of the year for many, at an unnamed, probably urban venue somewhere beyond the bustling, gridlocked streets and motorways of our biggest city, with a strange mix of Birmingham reggae a la UB40 and gangsta rap/hip-hop from the star of 22 Jump Street.

Of course, I'm making it sound worse than it is, but plenty of fans have expressed disappointment at this latest turn of events, with many saying the move won't work.

Raggamuffin is a Rotorua event, and as I've said before, if it's not in Rotorua, it's not Raggamuffin.

Raggamuffin didn't fail here because of Rotorua. As many have pointed out, a decent format, with a good line-up and a reasonable ticket price will work every time. If organisers couldn't deliver on all three, and many said they didn't this year, it's wrong to blame Rotorua.

The best outcome now from this sorry mess is that we know we can put on a great music event on a regular basis. We've got the location, the infrastructure, the venues and a host city that embraces visitors.

Who's to say another great festival won't come along?

Look at Gisborne with Rhythm and Vines or Taupo with its Summer Concert. Small regional towns with big gigs.

We can do it too. The question is, will we?