Kieran Spillane: Rhythm and Vines CEO says relocation necessary for growth

Rhythm and Vines festival has announced 2026 will be their final year in Gisborne after 24-years in the region. 

The new location is yet to be revealed.

CEO Kieran Spillane told Andrew Dickens they want to make this years R&V 'the biggest and the best' so far.

"We really want to go out with a bang and say a huge thank you to the wonderful people of Gisborne who have helped, and supported this festival over the years."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Right.

Speaker 2 (00:01):
In shocking news, Rhythm and Vines is no longer going
to be on the Vines. This year will be the
last time the long running New Year's Eve music festival
is held at the estate in Gisbon. Kieren Spallane is
Rhythm and Vine CEO and joins you now Kieren.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
Hello, Okay, Andrew, how are you good?

Speaker 2 (00:17):
So so the festival keeps going because we've had some
bad news about festivals recently, the festival keeps going. You're
just moving.

Speaker 1 (00:25):
Yeah, that's that's did a nutshell really.

Speaker 3 (00:27):
I mean, our goal for Rhythm Vines is to be
in this game for the long term and it means evolving.
So after twenty five you know, amazing and interesting years
in Gisbon, it's it was time for for a hard decision.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
Okay.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
Was the vineyard sick of the mess each year? And
was it affecting their business?

Speaker 1 (00:46):
Oh no, not at all.

Speaker 3 (00:47):
I mean the vineyards are they're not commercial vineyards, so yeah, no,
that the land and basically this decision. We review the
festival each year after after the festival and we just
check it it's relevant in the marketplace, so it's relevant
towards you know, for our customers. And and and our
festival fans, and you know, over the last year or so,
these reviews have certainly been pointing us towards a location

(01:10):
that will help us grow and help us.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
You know, you're a victim of your own success. Will
will will the Will the new venue be in Gisbone?

Speaker 1 (01:20):
No, it won't. Well I'm not going to get drawn
into the into where the venue.

Speaker 3 (01:25):
Will be, but this will be yet R and V
this year will be our last, our last Rhythm Bans
after twenty four years.

Speaker 2 (01:30):
Well, the Gisbane Mays says, she's very said, and the
Gisbone businesses are very said. And what do you say
to them?

Speaker 3 (01:36):
I mean, listen, yet we we it's yeah, we know
how this affects people who have been part of R
and B for for for for many, many years.

Speaker 1 (01:44):
And we don't we don't take that lightly. We have.

Speaker 3 (01:47):
Yeah, we're here to support a smooth transer, you know, transition,
and to try and give these you know, these businesses
as much notice as as we possibly can, which we
think we've done in terms of this is obviously decision
made for December twenty twenty seven.

Speaker 2 (02:01):
Homegrown recently moved from Wellington to Hamilton are you going
to Hamilton?

Speaker 1 (02:06):
I said, I'm not going to get I'm not going
to get drawn.

Speaker 2 (02:07):
I know you said that. I know he's I'll say it.

Speaker 3 (02:11):
I'll say it again. Yeah, with a lot of work
to go, so we're not going to get drawn. That
will will in due course, will make the announcement.

Speaker 2 (02:18):
Come on, give us, give us something. Who who is
your headliner this year?

Speaker 1 (02:24):
I can't tell you that either, so I'm sorry.

Speaker 2 (02:28):
But are you promising a bigger and possibly even better
festival than ever before?

Speaker 3 (02:33):
Yeah, we're hoping this will be This will be the best,
biggest and the best R and B we've ever had.
We really want to go out, go out with a
bang and say a huge thank you, so that the
wonder people of wonderful people of Gismond who have who
have helped them and support this festival over the years.

Speaker 1 (02:46):
We owe them a lot.

Speaker 3 (02:47):
And you know, Gismond will be always be kind of
part of the DNA of Rhythm and violence as we
move forward. So, yeah, we're really excited about the lineup
has been announced on the twenty ninth of this month.

Speaker 1 (02:58):
We think we've got an amazing lineup. Yeah, we're really excited.
As I said, we're going to go out with a
big bang.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
Western Springs will be good. But you're not going to
answer that either. So I thank you so much for
your time and all the best and all the greatest
of success. There's a whole lot of kids on New
Year's Eve, depending on you. Kieran Spillane, Rhythm and Vine CEO.

Speaker 3 (03:15):
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