Rhythm & Vines 2009 / 2010

Finally...

I've just returned from an epic two week summer holiday... The highlight, of course, being Gisborne's New Years Party - Rhythm & Vines. A three-night bender of the best partying I have ever experienced. Here's a brief dear diary of time well spent...

29.12.09

- Me and my crew arrive at R&V just in time for UK post-punk / rock band Editors. It was still light (about 7pm), and the crowd hadn't reached its full capacity, but this show was real quality. Front of house mix was delicious, the band performed like they were stoked to be there (I always appreciate it when international acts appear genuinely stoked to play in little ol' New Zealand), and being the only non-DJ act I saw throughout the three days made me appreciate it all the more.

- Missed Bag Raiders due to unforeseen circumstances.

- Major Lazer completely tore apart the 'Vines Stage' with his entourage of Jamaican MC's / Dancers / Hype Crew. When he dropped 'Pon De Floor' everybody lost their shit and it became the 'it' song of Rhythm 09 (every single DJ I saw dropped this track... no exaggeration).

Major Lazer - Live Highlights @ Rhythm & Vines 09

- I actually caught the very end of Bag Raiders at the 'Cellar Stage' before Ajax took over and rocked one of the most slammin' / memorable mixes of the festival. Pure bliss!

30.10.09

- Really wanted to make it in time for Bionic Pixie... Didn't.

- Caught half of The Juan Maclean (US - DJ Set) which was utterly boring and littered with mediocre mixing. Lets just say I didn't feel toooo much sympathy when the crowd started chanting "Proxy! Proxy! Proxy!" towards the end of his set.

- Proxy (Russia) was incredible! Such creative, tight, explosive mixing, and he dropped all the hits - Raven, Dance In The Dark, Who Are You and more!

- Left Proxy a little early... but with good reason. 2manyDj's were scheduled to begin on the main stage. These guys are next level, league of their own, genius kinda dudes - potentially the best live show I have ever seen. The tuxedos, the playlist, the mixing, the zany album art visual production and the light dusting of rain made for one of the best nights of my life.

2manydj's Live @ Rhythm & Vines
...this mix between proxy - raven, tiga - shoes, sidney samson - riverside & crookers - we love animals is pure genius!

31.12.09

- MayaVanya are the sexiest sister DJ-duo ever! Maya was ridiculously intoxicated and treated the crowd to an extra special stage show while Vanya took control of the decks. It was entertaining, but I've seen them perform better technically. Still, they proved they are New Zealand's #1 party girls.

- Cool Kids Club followed. It seemed they had put a lot of thought into their Rhythm set, and it really paid off. It was creative, extremely tight, and really brought the party to the Cellar Stage. New Zealand's #1 party boys?... Probably, yes?...

- Caught a little bit of Midnight Youth as we sat on a hill, enjoyed some refreshments, and re-energized for 'New Year' celebrations. I heard lots of f-words... But it sounded good.

- New Year Party... some dudes dancing, flashing lights, fire etc. Nothing 'spectacular'... then the fireworks began. Some were fairly mediocre, but they had these really cool ones that felt like they were falling down onto you like some kind of mythical fire-rain. I was buzzing!

- Krafty Kuts kicked out the jams for the New Year party and he kicked them out hard. Incredibly 'crafty' mixing, remixing on the fly, scratching, sweet tracks - Loved it!

- Caught some of Aural Trash at the Cellar Stage before my overly tired friends decided they had had enough... I bought myself 15 more minutes of raging via txt before submitting to the majority and packed it in... Goodbye Rhythm & Vines, Hello 2010.

Rhythm & Vines 'Top Tracks'
a.k.a the tracks that every DJ played... pretty much.


#1 Major Lazer - Pon De Floor - DOWNLOAD

#2 Sidney Samson - Riverside

#3 D.I.M & T.A.I - Lyposuct

#4 Proxy - Raven

#5 Crookers feat. Soulwax & Mixhell - We Love Animals

#6 Fake Blood - Fix Your Accent