lifeislikeabucket: R&V 2011

Concrete Playground asked me the big questions last month about the first installment of R&V2011:

Hamish, you have just released the first installment of the 2011 Rhythm and Vines lineup, with Pendulum Live and Calvin Harris as your two headliners. Talk us through what Festival attendees should expect to see and why you hedged your bets on these two heavy hitters?

Pendulum are the defining act for a popular genre here in New Zealand and an act we have been looking at for a while. After their memorable performance at Big Day Out a few years ago, I think kiwis fell in love with the big riffs and deep bass lines. After seeing their live show at Glastonbury this year (in the comfort of my own home on youtube) I was blown away. Can't wait to see the Wai-O-hika hillside get their stomp on for this hard hitting band. Calvin Harris is one of the hottest artists in the world today. By the end of the year he will be a number 1 artist and it is a cool to have him in New Zealand to help us celebrate the new year. Perfect summer beats in the vines.

There are a number of relative unknowns in the Lineup in terms of mainstream appeal. Rhythm and Vines has built a reputation for doing this and the public come to trust the Festival and its selection of performers. Who is your “Tinie Tempah” of 2011 and why?

I'm excited by an act like Foreign Beggars. They are taking their hip hop infusing it with dubstep and taking it to the masses. They will own the Vines stage, the crowd will love it. In the past the most memorable acts at R&V have been urban MC-driven acts like Santigold, Major Lazer and Tinie Tempah - I feel Foreign Beggars are on set to bag this award for 2011.

There are a couple of returning artists also. Cut Copy and Netsky stand out. Tell us more about why they are coming back. Did they request to come back? I know Boris had a ball last year.

Cut Copy we hosted for the first time in New Zealand back in 2008. They were already hugely popular in Australia with their sun drenched electro pop, they were relatively unknowns here. With the new album out this year it only made sense to have them back on the big stage. Netsky after last years memorable performance closing the vines stage we just had to ask him back. Probably the most talked about act from last years lineup. Plus he enjoyed the local wine too much.

Who are your pick of the Kiwi Artists and why?

Six60 have built a huge following in New Zealand. It is great to see young talent coming through. Their new album is about to set the bench mark for the roots sound in NZ. Plus I used to live across their flat Six60 Castle Street in Dunedin so a bit of a soft spot for their Scarfie roots.

Also great to have Ruby Frost back at the festival, a real performer with tons of talent.

You're turning the big 3 0 this year. How do you keep in touch with what the core audience are listening to and latest trends?

It just means I have to go to more University parties. No, I have a passion for the music and try to follow the trends. Luckily enough to visit some festival overseas and see what is working. Plus a great team behind us, everyone is pretty passionate about working on this show. We have a few new young interns at the office who are always happy to add their thoughts on the direction the program is going.

How is Jimmy the R&V Protégé going? Will we see another Protégé?

He is doing great. Often rolls in slightly late on a Friday morning but it is great to have him in Auckland. A fast learner he really gets the brand and what we are trying to achieve with the festival. We are going to look for a new position towards the end of the year so stay tuned on this.

Is there more to come? And when can we expect to see the full lineup in all it’s glory?

Stay tuned for further release at the end of September. Full day lineup should be out then as well. Also stay tuned for accommodation and pool party madness. Bringing some of the Coachella vibe to little old East Coast NZ. For the full lineup and details.