Out of the ashes of the Big Day Out rises a new festival, with the finishing touches going on this afternoon.
Auckland City Limits is a sister festival to Austin City Limits in Texas, and organiser Campbell Smith says it'll be different from his last event.
"Big Day Out was all about seeing as much music as you could in 12 hours," he says.
"This is about seeing music, having great food, looking at some art, sitting by the lake, putting your kids into kiddy limits.
"A broader cultural and entertainment experience is what we're after, in a more relaxed way."
Headlining are two very different acts: Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar and indie rockers The National.
The National are known for their sad love songs, but they're also a bit fun.
Their last Grammy-nominated album was released in 2013 and there's been talk of another album soon.
While they wouldn't commit to anything while talking to Newshub, they did say there may be a new record next year.
And they've been recording it in a somewhat unusual way.
"I have a really small house so I set up a tent," says lead singer Matt Berninger.
"Problem is there are a lot of barking dogs and helicopters. Barack Obama flew over our house and it's been recorded on one of the demos, so the president will be featured on the next National record."
They're closer to the president than that though -- in 2008 they played at an Obama rally and their song featured in his campaign material. The political climate has changed a lot since then.
"Donald Trump is a terrifying and disgusting thing, but I think what he's doing is coughing up all this nasty stuff that's been in America," Berninger says.
It's enough to drive you to drink, and lead singer Berninger is known for quaffing a few while performing.
"I drink less than I used to but more than I should," he says.
"I spit a lot of it out; most of it ends up in my beard. I drink a handful of cocktails, I suppose."
Twenty-thousand people are expected to see them tomorrow and organisers say they're already planning next year's festival.
Newshub.
