Backyard Beats brings audience to their feet
It was a warm evening that followed a hot day.
Picnic blankets and camping chairs were set up in front of the stage on the Rhododendron Lawn in Hamilton Gardens.
Eager spectators arrived before the scheduled start time of 6pm, but had time to grab a hot dog or burger from food vendors before Backyard Beats kicked off.
Held on the last Friday of the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival, the event was predicted to be one of the most popular.
The opening act were Kiwi performers J Geeks, who continuously jumped the barrier between the stage and the crowd to interact with the audience.
Multiple times they asked for volunteers to come up and although I was hiding lower in my chair, brave spectators made their way to the front of the crowd.
They were asked to show off their dance moves and all received uproarious praise from the audience.
It was a highlight to see New Zealand’s Got Talent finalists J Geeks showcase their talents and quintessential Kiwi humour.
The sun started to set and the second layer of clothes was put on during the second act, Summer Thieves.
Hailing from Dunedin, the four-piece Summer Thieves performed a melting pot of reggae, hip-hop, rock, and funk tunes.
They encouraged spectators to escape the comfort zones of camping chairs to which quite a few obliged.
Performing originals such as Coast Roads gave the vibe Backyard Beats was expected to pro- duce. With hot chips in hand and blankets on the grass it definitely felt like your own private gig.
Ending with an encore, Summer Thieves disembarked the stage which was then set up for the final act.
This took a good half an hour and although the wait depleted my energy, the concert-goers didn’t seemed fazed. The sun had set and the stage lights shone down on vibrant spectators as they boogied in front of the stage.
Hipstamatics definitely put the fun in funk with stunning vocals and stellar instrumental skills, opening with a saxophone beat that instantly brought the crowd to their feet.
The chilled-out vibe of Backyard Beats was embellished with the perfect musical accompanies. It made for a great night and great atmosphere.