Countdown to Sound Valley festival
Fine weather expected after Covid delay
Recent Covid-19 alert level 2 restrictions in Whanganui caused a hasty rescheduling and rehoming of the inaugural Sound Valley music festival, but it’s almost set to go at Oceanview Speedway this weekend.
Rain was falling as the the crew set up the stage yesterday afternoon, but fine weather is expected for the bands, campers and festival-goers over the weekend.
Organisers Gioia Damosso and
Koert Wegman have been joined by a team of friends and volunteers to set up at Oceanview, and Damosso said everything was shaping up nicely despite yesterday’s wet weather.
“It’s all coming together and the more infrastructure we put in, the more excited we get.
“We’re saying ‘wow, it’s happening, we’re putting on a festival’.
“People have jumped on board to help us out along the way, and a lot of friends have chipped in as well. We just had Pahia [Turia] here hauling and offloading trailer-loads of fencing for a few hours.
“It’s lovely, and we couldn’t have done it without them all.”
Tomorrow will be headlined by House of Shem and Sons of Zion, and Kora, Ladi6 and The Black Seeds head the bill on Sunday.
Damosso said the change of date and venue had resulted in a number of refunds, but a good crowd was still expected over both days of the festival.
“Before the alert level 2 announcement we’d been going up and up and up, and we were on track to hit where we needed to be to break even.
“It [alert level 2] obviously hit us pretty hard from an organisational and business point of view, especially as everything was so on track and going so well.
“Having something that is completely out of your control come along and derail you is frustrating, but we knew what we were getting ourselves into.
“We’re still super excited. Get behind us, get a ticket and get down here.”
Buses to and from Oceanview Speedway will leave Springvale Park in the mornings and the Whanganui i-Site building on Taupo Quay in the evenings on both days.
Gate sales are also available over the weekend.
Children under 12 are free (accompanied by an adult).
For a full artist line-up and bus schedule, as well as updates on the festival, follow www.facebook. com/soundvalleynz or go to www. soundvalley.nz.