Bangin' beats bring in new year

BY JULIA WADE

For the ninth year east-Kaipara’s countryside came alive to the beat of an increasingly popular music festival which, for many locals and visitors alike, is becoming as essential to a Mangawhai summer as sand and surf.

The three day Northern Bass (NB) music festival wrapped up on New Year's Eve following an all-star final night which included Kiwi acts Fat Freddy’s Drop and Ladi6, American rappers Ghostface Killah and Freddie Gibbs, and British drum and bass icon Goldie.

Created and organised by promotions and production company Fuzen, this years event sold out faster than ever before, showing how far the festival has grown from its small beginnings in 2011 – a one-day concert at Haruru Falls in the Bay of Islands.

NB director Gareth Popham says that much of the festival’s success comes from continuing to focus on the same things as in the early days.

“Every year we strive to bring together the best music line-up possible,” he says. “We’ve been able to make the festival site better and better thanks to the Worsfold family who allow us to build on their beautiful farm.”

Due to problems in the past with festival goers pre-loading in driveways and private roads along Settlement Road before attending the no-BYO alcohol event, NB organisers, in collaboration with Kaipara District Council, arranged for temporary gates across residential properties as well as full-time security guards to monitor access. NB also ran free buses for campers to the Village and Heads.

Having to deal with piles of rubbish, including discarded tents, is a problem with many large-scale festivals, and NB asked partygoers to be mindful of the environment when purchasing items to bring to the festival such as reusable water bottles and good quality tents. At the 2019 event, eco-friendly ‘Kartents’ were introduced to help combat the

tent waste, and Popham says they sold a lot more of the temporary cardboard structures this year.

“Although there were still some tents left behind it was a vast improvement from last year. We’ve got a great audience, with many coming back every year, they’re the ones who make the festival what it is along with our staff, volunteers and sponsors,” he says. “Northern Bass turns 10 next summer and we’re already planning how to make it an extra special one.”

Photos 1-5 JAMIE LEES 6, 7 & 8 MAJLINDA HOXHA