The crowd enjoying what's on offer. Photo: RNZ/Diego Opatowski
Yes, it’s happening: Laneway Festival will take place next year at Albert Park, a venue organisers describe as their “dream location”.
The event has spent its last five years at Silo Park in Auckland, but the move means more space and, thankfully, way more shade. According to festival co-promoter Mark Kneebone, the festival will take place on four individual stages which will be in the park and on the surrounding streets in the precinct.
“We’ve been working with Auckland Council and the Mayor’s Office for the past 12 months to make sure we have the best possible inner-city location and we are all relieved and excited it has come together,” he said.
Photo: Max Lemesh
“The new site is 70% bigger, but despite the increase and for comfort’s sake we are keeping the crowd capacity the same. Music fans can come and hear some of the most exciting music acts on the planet, have plenty of space to relax in the shade under the beautiful trees and have a really amazing day.”
Laneway first came to the city back in 2010 where it was held in Britomart. It moved to Aotea Square the following year before settling into Silo Park in 2012. You might recall last year that the event was rumoured to move to Auckland Domain, as work was set to begin on a redevelopment of Silo Park, but that ended up being a no-go (organisers were eventually granted one more year at the waterfront venue).
The full line-up for the festival, which is going down on Monday 30 January, will be announced next Wednesday. In the meantime, revisit our review of Laneway 2016.