Timeline - rock music festivals 1970-2010

On this page you will find a list of the main rock music festivals held in New Zealand between 1970 and 2010. Where possible, we have provided the name, location and date of each festival, along with any major acts that played there. If you know of festivals we have missed, or you know more information about the ones we have here, please let us know by emailing [email protected] or adding a Community contribution at the end of this page.

See map of rock music festival locations

1970

• Redwood 70 – 31 January / 1 February, National Music Convention, Swanson
  Headline act: Robin Gibb
• 1970 Pop Festival – Whangarei, November

1971

• Englefield Rock Festival – 6 February, Belfast near Christchurch
  Headline act: In Betweens (a forerunner of Slade)
• Waikanae – 11 April
  Highway / Sons & Lovers / Creation / Kal-Q-lated Risk
• Jam Factory – 5 July (?)
  Farmyard / Highway

1973

• The Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival – 7 to 9 January
  Black Sabbath / Sandy Denny
• Te Rapa International Rock Festival – January, Hamilton
  Slade / Status Quo
• Moller’s Farm – 1973 to 1978, Waitakere Ranges

1977

• Waikino Music Festival– 30 January, Waitawheta Valley
  Living Force / Forever / Dallas 4 / Hello Sailor / Th’ Dudes
• Harvest Festival – 1977–1982, near Matamata
  1977 – Mother Goose / Rockinghorse / Hello Sailor / Spats

1978

• Nambassa Music, Crafts and Alternative Festival – 28 to 30 January, Phil and Pat Hulses' 400-acre farm – Landlyst Rd, Golden Valley, north of Waihi
  Skyhooks / Living Force

1979

• Nambassa – Three-day Festival of Music, Crafts and Alternatives – 27 to 29 January, Phil and Pat Hulses' 400-acre farm – Landlyst Rd, Golden Valley, north of Waihi
  Little River Band / Split Enz

1980

• Brown Trout Festival – January, Waitahoro Valley, near Dannevirke
  Th’ Dudes / The Crocodiles / Rough Justice
• Sweetwaters – Festival of Music, Culture and Technology – 26 to 28 January, Ngaruawahia, near Waipa River
  John Martyn / Elvis Costello / Renee Geyer / Split Enz / Mi-sex

1981

• Nambassa – 22 to 26 January, Franklin Rd, Waitawheta
  Charlie Daniels Band / Dizzy Gillespie Quartet / John Mayall Band / Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee / Kevin Borich Express
• Sweetwaters – 24 to 26 January, Ngaruawahia
  Roxy Music / Split Enz (True Colours) / Cold Chisel
• Raw Rock 81 – 12 December, Tomoana Showgrounds, Hastings
  DD Smash / The Midge Marsden Connection / Screaming Meemees / Newmatics / Blam Blam Blam / Narcs

1982

• Sweetwaters – 29 to 31 January and 1 February, Pukekawa
  Ultravox / Meatloaf / Cold Chisel / The Angels / Mental As Anything / Men At Work
• Harvest Festival – 22 to 24 January 1982, Cedar Park, Hinuera
• Brown Trout Festival – 23 to 25 January, Waitahoro Valley, near Dannevirke
  Danse Macabre / Blam Blam Blam / Instigators / Newmatics / Mockers / Screaming Mee Mees / Chaos / Dabs / Tin Syndrome / Skeptics / Herbs / Fat n Sassy / The Mockers / Hot Café
• Rainbow Festival – 5 to 7 March, Solway Showgrounds, Masterton
  Kevin Borich Express / Knobz / The Mockers / The Spines / The Hulamen
• Nile River Festival – 6 to 8 March, Charleston, near Westport
  The Instigators / The Pedestrians / Mainly Spaniards / The Chills / The Stones / 25 Cents / The Volkswagons
• Pacific Peace Festival – 12 December, Western Springs, Auckland

1983

• Brown Trout Festival – 23 to 25 January, near Dannevirke
  The Dabs / The Screaming Meemees / The Skeptics / The Mockers / Tin Syndrome / Topp Twins / Shadowfax
• Sweetwaters – 28 to 31 January, Pukekawa
  Psychedelic Furs / UB40 / Toots and The Maytals / Tom Robinson Band / Taj Mahal
• Dargaville Music Festival – February, Tangowahine Marae
  Herbs / Legionaires
• Punakaiki Festival – 2 to 4 April, near Greymouth
  Mainly Spaniards / Sneaky Feelings / Naked Spots Dance / Stones / Max Quitz / Children’s Hour / Sheep Effect / Nocturnal Projections / Balloon D’Essai / They Were Expendable / Blue Meanies / Not Really Anything / First Fifteen / Look Blue Go Purple

1984

• Sweetwaters North – 3, 4, 5 February, Pukekawa
  Eurythmics / Jo Boxers / Pretenders / Simple Minds / Talking Heads
• Sweetwaters South – 6 February QE2 Park, Christchurch
  Talking Heads / Pretenders

1986

• The Rainbow Warrior Music Festival – 5 April Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
  Neil Young / Jackson Browne / Graham Nash / Split Enz
• Radio Central Rock Festival

1987

• Radio Central Rock Festival
• Mangawhai Womens Festival – 13 to 15 February 1987
  Dead Famous People
• Mushroom Ball – 1987–1994, Mid-year punk festival in New Plymouth

1988

• Full Moon Club, Coromandel
• Neon Picnic – 29 January to 1 February (cancelled), Old Sweetwaters site at Pukekawa
  The Pogues / Los Lobos / Bob Geldorf / Johnny Clegg and Savuka / Non Hendrix / James Brown / Roy Orbison

1989

• Full Moon Club, Coromandel

1990

• Stranded In Paradise – six-week celebration of New Zealand rock n roll – January, Carlaw Park, Auckland

1992

• Mountain Rock – January, Ballance, near Woodville
  Push Push / Midge Marsden / Shihad / HLAH

1993

• Mountain Rock – January, Ballance, near Woodville
  Shihad / Push Push / Muttonbirds / Shona Laing
• Strawberry Fields – March 1993–1995, Queenstown and Raglan
  Frente / My Conviction / Andrew Fagan Band / Moana and The Moa Hunters

1994

• Mountain Rock – 16 January, Ballance, near Woodville
  Bill Direen / Corben Simpson / Andrew Fagan / Rick Bryant and The Skills / Kevin Borich / Dave Dobbyn / Shona Laing / Straitjacket Fits / Hello Sailor / Supergroove / Dragon / JPSE / Exponents / Head Like A Hole / Sticky Filth
• Big Day Out – 5 February, Mt Smart Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
  Soundgarden / Smashing Pumpkins / The Breeders / Straightjacket Fits

1995

• Mountain Rock – 13 to 14 January, Aokautere, near Palmerston North
  Midnight Oil / Yothu Yindi
• Big Day Out – 20 January, Mt Smart Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
  Ministry / Primal Scream / The Cult / Offspring / OMC / Sisters Underground / The Clean / Dimmer / Sticky Filth / 3Ds
• Parachute Festival – 1995–2010, Waikanae, then moved to Totara Springs, near Matamata (2001), then Mystery Creek

1996

• The Gathering – New Year's Eve, Canaan Downs, Upper Takaka
• Mountain Rock – 11 to 13 January, Aokautere, near Palmerston North
  The Stranglers / The Cruel Sea / Mental As Anything / Joe Satriani / Pumpkinhead / HLAH / Knightshade / Shihad
• Big Day Out – 19 January, Ericsson (formerly Mt Smart) Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
  Porno For Pyros / Rage Against The Machine / Elastica / Rancid / The Jesus Lizard / Tricky / Billy Bragg / Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds / Shihad / Bailter Space / HDU / HLAH

1997

• The Gathering – New Year's Eve, Canaan Downs, Upper Takaka
• Big Day Out – 17 January, Ericsson Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
  Soundgarden / The Offspring / The Prodigy / Fear Factory / Supergrass / Shonen Knife / Lemonheads / Bic Runga / HLAH / Shihad / 3Ds
• WOMAD – Western Springs, Auckland

1998

• The Gathering – New Year's Eve. Canaan Downs, Upper Takaka
• Rippon Festival – 6 February, Rippon Vineyard, near Wanaka
• Vans Warped – 31 December, Athenree, near Waihi Beach
  NOFX

1999

• The Gathering – New Year's Eve, Canaan Downs, Upper Takaka
• Big Day Out – 15 January, Ericsson Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
  Ash / Deejay Punk-Roc / Fatboy Slim / Fun Lovin’ Criminals / Hole / Korn / Marilyn Manson / Roni Size / Sean Lennon / Sparklehorse / Shihad / Bic Runga / Bailter Space
• Sweetwaters – 23 to 26 January, Puhinui Reserve, Manukau
  Elvis Costello / UB40 / Pere Ubu / Finn Brothers
• Rippon Festival – 6 February, Rippon Vineyard, near Wanaka
• WOMAD – Aotea Square, Auckland

2000

• The Gathering – New Year's Eve, Canaan Downs, Upper Takaka
• Big Day Out – 21 January, Ericsson Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
  Atari Teenage Riot / Basement Jaxx / Beth Orton / Blink 182 / Chemical Brothers / Foo Fighters / Goldie & MC Rage / The Hellacopters / Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros / Nine Inch Nails / Red Hot Chilli Peppers / Happy Mondays / Beth Orton / Betchadupa
• Rippon Festival – 6 February, Rippon Vineyard near Wanaka

2001

• The Gathering – New Year’s Eve, Cobb Valley, Nelson
• Big Day Out – 19 January, Ericsson Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
  Black Eyed Peas / Coldplay / Happy Mondays / Limp Bizkit / Mudvayne / PJ Harvey / Placebo / Rammstein / Roni Size Reprazent
• Soundsplash Eco Reggae Festival – Raglan Town Hall

2002

• The Gathering – over New Year’s break, Cobb Valley, Nelson
• Big Day Out – 18 January, Ericsson Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
  The Prodigy / Garbage / New Order / The Crystal Method / NOFX / Jurassic 5 / Dave Clarke / System of a Down / Alien Ant Farm / The White Stripes / Peaches / Basement Jaxx
• Soundsplash Eco Reggae Festival –  Wainui Reserve, Raglan
• Rippon Festival – 6 February, Rippon Vineyard, near Wanaka

2003

• Big Day Out – 17 January, Ericsson Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
  Queens Of The Stoneage / Janes Addiction / Underworld / Foo Fighters / Kraftwerk / Wilco / PJ Harvey
• Splore – mid-February, Tapapakanga Regional Park, 70km south-east of Auckland
• Soundsplash Eco Reggae Festival – 23-24 February, Wainui Reserve, Raglan
• WOMAD – March, Brooklands Park & TSB Bowl, New Plymouth

2004

• Big Day Out – 16 January, Ericsson Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
  Metallica / Muse / The Dandy Warhols / Black Eyed Peas / The Darkness / Kings of Leon / The Strokes / Basement Jaxx / The Mars Volta / The Flaming Lips / Afrika Bambaataa / Peaches
• Rippon Festival – 6 February, Rippon Vineyard, near Wanaka
• Splore – mid-February, Tapapakanga Regional Park, 70km south-east of Auckland
• Lines of Flight – 3 October, Dunedin

2005

• Big Day Out – 21 January, Ericsson Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
  Beastie Boys / Chemical Brothers / System Of A Down / The Donnas / The Streets / Carl Cox / Blues Explosion / Slipknot / Le Tigre / Kid 606 / The Hives
• Splore – mid-February, Tapapakanga Regional Park, 70km south-east of Auckland
• Soundsplash Eco Reggae Festival – Wainui Reserve, Raglan
• WOMAD – March, Brooklands Park & TSB Bowl, New Plymouth

2006

• Big Day Out – 20 January, Ericsson Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
  The White Stripes / Iggy and The Stooges / Franz Ferdinand / Kings Of Leon / The Mars Volta / Henry Rollins / Sleater-Kinney / The Magic Numbers / Mudvayne
• Rippon Festival – 6 February, Rippon Vineyard, near Wanaka
• Splore – mid-February, Tapapakanga Regional Park, 70km south-east of Auckland
• Soundsplash Eco Reggae Festival –  Wainui Reserve, Raglan
• Lines of Flight – 5-6 October, Dunedin

2007

• Parihaka International Music Festival – Parihaka, near Opunake, Taranaki
• Big Day Out – 19 January, Mt Smart (formerly Ericsson) Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
  Tool / Muse / Violent Femmes / The Streets / The Killers / Kasabian / Crystal Method / My Chemical Romance / John Cooper Clarke / Hot Chip / Lily Allen
• Camp A Low Hum – 3 to 5 February, Brookfields Outdoors Education Centre, Wainuiomata
• Splore – mid-February, Tapapakanga Regional Park, 70km south-east of Auckland
• Soundsplash Eco Reggae Festival –  Wainui Reserve, Raglan
• WOMAD – March, Brooklands Park & TSB Bowl, New Plymouth

2008

• Parihaka International Music Festival – 11 to 13 January, Parihaka, near Opunake,Taranaki
• Big Day Out – 18 January, Mt Smart Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
  Rage Against The Machine / Bjork / Arcade Fire / LCD Sound System / Dizzee Rascal / Carl Cox
• Camp A Low Hum – 2 to 5 February, Tatum Park, Ohau
• Raggamuffin - 2 February, Rotorua Stadium
  UB40 / The Wailers / Maxi Priest
• Soundsplash Eco Reggae Festival – Wainui Reserve, Raglan
• Vodafone Homegrown , Wellington waterfront
• Rippon Festival, Rippon Vineyard, near Wanaka
• Splore – mid-February, Tapapakanga Regional Park, 70km south-east of Auckland
• Rock2Wgtn – 22 to 23 March, Westpac Stadium, Wellington
  Alice Cooper / Ozzy Osborne / Kiss / Whitesnake / Poison
• The Coromandel Peninsula Blues And Roots Music Festival (BluesFest NZ) – 22 March, Dakota Fields, Whitianga
  Buddy Guy / KT Tunstall / Keb Mo / Wilco
• WOMAD – March, Brooklands Park & TSB Bowl, New Plymouth
• Lines of Flight – 5 to 6 October, Dunedin
• Rhythm & Vines – 29-31 December, Waiohika Estate vineyard, Gisborne (2003-07 was 1 day festival held at same location on New Year's Eve)
  Public Enemy / The Kooks / Franz Ferdinand

2009

• Parihaka International Music Festival – 9 to 11 January, Parihaka, near Opunake, Taranaki
• Big Day Out – 16 January, Mt Smart Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
  Neil Young / The Prodigy / Arctic Monkeys / My Morning Jacket / The Ting Tings / TV On The Radio / Hot Chip / Dropkick Murphys
• Raggamuffin - 7 February, Rotorua Stadium
  Ziggy Marley / Eddy Grant
• Camp A Low Hum – 6 to 8 February, Homedale
• Splore – mid-February, Tapapakanga Regional Park, 70km south-east of Auckland
• Vodafone Homegrown – 14 March, Wellington waterfront
• WOMAD – March, Brooklands Park & TSB Bowl, New Plymouth
• Rhythm & Vines – 29-31 December, Waiohika Estate vineyard, Gisborne
  Moby / Empire of the Sun / John Butler Trio

2010

• Parihaka International Music Festival – 7 to 11 January, Parihaka, near Opunake, Taranaki
• Big Day Out – 15 January, Mt Smart Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
  Muse / Groove Armada / Lily Allen / Mars Volta / Ladyhawke / Dizzee Rascal / The Horrors / Devendra Banhart / Fear Factory
• Campus A Low Hum – 23 to 25 January, Flock House, Bulls
• Raggamuffin - 23 January, Rotorua Stadium
  Shaggy / Ms Lauryn Hill / Sly and Robbie / Steel Pulse
• Laneway – 1 February, Britomart, central Auckland
  Echo and The Bunnymen / The 3Ds
• Rippon Festival – 6 February, Rippon Vineyard, near Wanaka
• Splore – mid-February, Tapapakanga Regional Park, 70km south-east of Auckland
• Jim Beam Homegrown – 20 February, Wellington waterfront
• WOMAD – 12 to 14 March, Brooklands Park & TSB Bowl, New Plymouth
• Rhythm & Vines – 29-31 December, Waiohika Estate vineyard, Gisborne
  N^E^R^D / Justice DJSet / Shihad / Carl Cox