Hawera’s controversial Push Bike Pub Crawl has gone full cycle with the South Taranaki District Council officially riding pillion for this year’s event.
And as any good passenger would do, the council is pulling its weight by booking London-based Kiwi alternative rockers I Am Giant for a concert to coincide with the end of the December 17 ride.
For the last two years, Hawera police had tried to stop the event, which had grown from a ride attended by a few hundred locals to one pulling in thousands from around the country.
The event was regularly marred with boorish behaviour and drunkenness but police struggled to stop it, hindered by the fact it often had no official organiser.
Council’s decision to come in on the act is acknowledgment the ride cannot be beaten and so must be joined.
I Am Giant were booked as headline act at the inaugural ALT Fest at the Hawera showgrounds after the council researched what sort of music pub crawlers would appreciate.
“We thought, if we were going to do this we’re going to do it properly,” council chief executive Craig Stevenson said.
It turns out council’s economic and tourism manager Phil Waite had his finger on the pulse of what sort of rock band would fit the predominantly younger demographic.
“He did most of the work on pulling it together and researching it,” Mr Stevenson said.
“Hopefully we’ll get a really good crowd in there and bring a few people from out of the district.”
To minimise how much ratepayers will have to pay, the ticket price has been set at $27.
People can bring their own alcohol into the R16 event but the amount and use will be controlled.
The pub crawl is an unofficial 30-year-old ride held on the Saturday before Christmas.
The rock-fest is the planned gathering after the ride in which riders cycle from Hawera to Normanby and back.
After police attempts to shut the bike ride down in recent years, the concept of a controlled gathering at the end is seen as a way to continue the ride.
stuff.co.nz
Until next time keep rockin’
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
www.0800jukebox.co.nz
Today’s announcement doesn’t include several recent internet rumours, with Soundgarden, Hole, Weezer, Stone Temple Pilots and Blink 182 all incorrectly suggested as headlining acts across various blog sites.
A second line-up announcement is due later this year.
Tickets go on sale on October 8 and cost $150 plus booking fee. Anyone who purchases a ticket in October will go in the draw to win a trip to the Melbourne leg of the Australasian festival.
The full line-up:
Tool
Rammstein
MIA
Iggy and the Stooges
LCD Soundsystem
Shihad (playing The General Electric)
Lupe Fiasco
Grinderman
Deftones
The Black Keys
The Naked and Famous
Andrew WK
Wolfmother
The Jim Jones Revue
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Primal Scream (playing Screamadelica)
Bloody Beetroots Death Crew 77
Booka Shade
Six60
Die Antwoord
Vitalic
Kids of 88
CSS
Plan B
Ratatat
I Am Giant
John Butler Trio
Airbourne
Die!Die!Die!
Bulletproof
Birds of Tokyo
Street Chant
Crystal Castles
Big Day Out
January 21: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Until next time keep rockin’
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
www.0800jukebox.co.nz
Before I Am Giant head off to Australia and America, the band decided to sneak in a couple of extra New Zealand shows.
‘We were getting fans hitting us up on Facebook wanting us to play in their town, and since we had a weekend free before going overseas, we thought it would be a great thing to do !’ says drummer Shelton Woolright.
The gigs wraps up a few whirlwind months which have seen the band shoot a video featuring world surf champion Kelly Slater, recorded a live to air for XFM in the UK, complete a handful of London gigs, performed in Vietnam for Tiger Translate, fly to France to play at the opening of the new Quiksliver headquarters and tour New Zealand on the massively successful State of Rock tour.
I Am Giant’s first ever release, the ‘Neon Sunrise/City Limits EP’, recently debuted in the NZ singles chart at No 18 and is still in the Top 30. The EP will also be released later this year in Australia and Asia via Sony Records.
I AM GIANT UPCOMING DATES
New Zealand
Thursday August 5th New Plymouth – The Basement
Friday August 6th Palmerston North – The Royal
Saturday August 7th Ohakune – Hot Lava
Australia
Wednesday August 11th Sydney – Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach
Friday August 13th Melbourne – The Esplanade, St Kilda
America
Tuesday August 17th Los Angeles – The Viper Room
Tuesday August 24th New York – The Mercury Lounge
For more details go to www.iamgiant.com
NZ tickets $20 plus booking fee available via www.iamgiant.com and venues
Until next time keep rockin’
The 0800 Jukebox crew.