New Zealand’s biggest one-day festival Electric Avenue will become a two-day event in 2025.
“By comparison, next year’s festival will be the equivalent of this year’s one on steroids,” festival director Callam Mitchell told 1News.
It’s hoped the event will attract more than 60,000 punters across both Friday, February 21 and Saturday, February 22 next year. There are estimates 35,000 will attend on Saturday alone.
The line-up will be announced in September when tickets go on sale, and will feature 20 international artists and 40 local acts across four stages in Hagley Park.
“This year the entire city sold out weeks in advance and because next year’s line-up is so strong the problem is going to be worse,” Mitchell said.
More than half of last year’s attendees were from outside of Canterbury.
“Last year’s one-day festival generated the largest visitor spend of any of our portfolio of major events for Ōtautahi Christchurch, at $6.3 million,” ChristchurchNZ’s head of major events Karena Finnie said.
Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger said it’s amazing to have an event of this scale in the heart of Central Christchurch, and for it to be one that appeals to a broad range of people.
“When we invest in events it’s to develop them to become internationally significant, so this is a prime example.
“Electric Avenue also doubles as an opportunity to showcase our local talent alongside international acts. It’s such a bonus the event itself is homegrown too.”
Next year will celebrate 10 years of the event’s growth into what it is today, with Mitchell highlighting New Zealand’s live music industry going from strength to strength.
“We’ve seen phenomenal growth in the sector over Electric Avenue’s 10-year history. Also, as our profile has grown internationally, interest has grown among the artists who now really want to perform here — hence the reason for wanting to celebrate our 10th birthday with a bang.”
Globally, he said contemporary music festival culture is growing exponentially.
