The Big Day Out had been an institution in New Zealand for almost 20 years - then, last year, we were told it was never coming back.
Noel Gallagher played 'Don't Look Back in Anger' as the final song ever at a New Zealand Big Day Out. Today, however, it was announced that the festival is indeed coming back after all.
"Well, when we pulled out in 2012 it was a very definite we were doing that," says says Auckland Big Day Out promoter Campbell Smith.
"Since then we've thought about it and it's not the return of the same show. [The new Big Day Out] is made and curated for a New Zealand audience."
What does that mean? Well, a change of location from Mt Smart to Western Springs.
The new venue already has a history of concerts. It's hosted the Foo Fighters, Elton John and the Rolling Stones to name but a few.
"The bulk of the bands that go to Australia will come here - it may not be all of them, it may be different bands - that's part of the point of distinguishing it," says Smith.
The trick to hosting the Big Day Out at Western Springs will be getting resource consent. Organisers have applied and will know in two months whether or not they get it.
"The Springs has consented to five hours of use and the Big Day Out is 10 hours," says Auckland Mayor Len Brown.
The new Big Day Out is being proposed as a 'broader cultural event', whatever that means. But Brown is hopeful the event will happen - he even has a pick for headliner.
"Bon Jovi - that would rock the house," laughs Brown.
Although the mayor laughed about the issue, it is serious business. For 40,000 music fans this year was the Big Day Without, with nothing to satisfy the need for a fix that began in 1994.
3 News
source: newshub archive
