Summer gig for 5000

BLACK SEEDS: Providing a taste of reggae at Summer Six, along with Katchafire.

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Saxton Field's new cricket oval is due to be shaken by its first bassline this summer. Alice Cowdrey finds out about Nelson's newest outdoor music event - Summer Six.

It may have taken the organisers "forever" to find a decent summertime festival venue, but they have finally done it. It's a cricket oval. Ideal for a sunny afternoon, summer sounds and six of New Zealand's most sought-after acts. On January 9, Dave White, the co-owner of Nelson's Phat Club and the organiser of the event, is hoping the area will be packed out by 5000 people kicking back on the grass, listening to hip-hop, reggae, drum and bass, and jazz.

"I reckon it will be a really relaxed picnic-style event, with people being able to share music with their younger kids."

White says the gig, dubbed Summer Six, has been planned so it captures the visitors still loitering around after the Christmas and New Year break. He is not too worried about noise being an issue because the stage will be pointing towards the sea and the high embankment surrounding the oval will act as a barrier.

The event will be "totally experimental" but if successful will mark the beginning of more outdoors music events, White says. The festival enthusiast also has a long-term vision of staging international performances in Nelson to build the region's profile – much as New Plymouth has done with its popular Bowl of Brooklands venue.

"It's a part of a bigger thing that will put Nelson on the map over the summer. We have been thinking about it all year."

White says American hip-hop group the Black Eyed Peas is an example of a group with broad appeal that could play a successful gig in Nelson.

Since moving the popular Phat New Years's Eve party to Inangahua in 2007, White says he has been on a mission to find a suitable venue for a party in Nelson. When he got chatting to Nelson city councillor Pete Rainey, who wanted to help him sort something out, he came across the oval. "We thought it was perfect. It's going to be exactly what Nelson needs."

After negotiations, it was all on, and now about 5000 tickets, costing $25 each, have gone on sale.

White has looked to Wellington's Summer Set, held annually at the Basin Reserve, as well as the Cheap as Chips gig in Christchurch for inspiration.

"We are basing it on Cheap as Chips, which has been running for years, to make it really cheap and go for a large amount of people."

In terms of securing bands for the event, White says the Black Seeds were the hardest because of their busy summer schedule. However, all acts are equally keen to get to Nelson for the day, which starts at noon on January 9. First up will be the mellow dubstep of Optimus Gryme at 1pm . The funky jazz of Nathan Haines and his live band will follow just after 2pm and after that, P Money will play some dancehall hip-hop. Reggae will follow with The Black Seeds and Katchafire. The night will finish on a heavier note with the drum and bass of Concord Dawn.

There will be food stalls, a full bar, a bouncy castle and shade provided. Presale tickets are $25, gate sales on the day are $40, and kids under 12 will be admitted free. Tickets are available from Everyman Records in Hardy St, Nelson; CyberWorld Cafe, High St, Motueka; or via everyman.co.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News