Rhythm and Vines

What Rhythm and Vines does

Rhythm and Vines is an annual New Year's Eve music festival platform founded in 2003 and headquartered in Gisborne, New Zealand, operating legally as R&V Live Nation Ltd, a subsidiary of Live Nation Entertainment. Each year the festival runs a four-day event (December 28-31) at the Waiohika Estate, hosting international and New Zealand artists across multiple stages in genres including electronic, hip-hop, and indie-pop, with the 2026 edition (Chapter 24: The Final Dance in Gisborne) marking the final year at the venue before a relocation announced for 2027. The audience is exclusively adults aged 18+, with attendees drawn from across New Zealand and a smaller international contingent, treated as a horizontal customer segment of adult music-festival enthusiasts.

The commercial product stack centers on tiered 3-day festival passes (from NZD 359) and 4-day camping + festival bundles (from NZD 489), supported by an elaborate accommodation ladder (Glamping, Vintage Club VIP, themed camps such as Bass, Rhythm, Meadow, Premium, Treble, Greenfields), side-of-stage upgrades, bus passes, and off-site hotel/motel packages. Distribution runs through the Moshtix official ticketing platform (with Afterpay BNPL, Ticket Return, and Resale functionality), the exclusive One NZ telco presale channel, and the in-house R&V Legends loyalty programme that captures tenure-based benefits. Sponsorship revenue (One NZ, Red Bull Playhouse), RFID cashless on-site F&B and bar spend, and merchandise via the Shop Rhythm e-commerce store provide diversified revenue streams beyond ticket face value.

The festival operates as a small, asset-light team of 34 employees that leans on parent-group infrastructure (Live Nation) for marketing, profiling, reporting, and technical support. Marketing is multi-channel across social (YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Spotify), email via R&V Legends, content marketing via the 'Behind the Vines' editorial series and The Gizzy Guide local tourism directory, and strategic brand partnerships. Technologically, the event is a cashless venue using RFID wristbands for all on-site transactions, and there are no disclosed AI/ML capabilities or proprietary models in the stack.

Name

Rhythm and Vines

Legal name

R&V Live Nation Ltd

Website

https://rhythmandvines.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rhythm and Vines is a New Zealand-based annual New Year's Eve music festival (since 2003) operating as R&V Live Nation Ltd, serving adult (18+) music-festival attendees through 3-day festival passes, camping packages, VIP experiences, and RFID cashless on-site spend at Waiohika Estate in Gisborne.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Music Festival Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Festival Organizers & Promoters (MPAGAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA)

Keywords

• Music festivals
• Live event ticketing
• Festival camping
• Cashless event payments
• Festival merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

Gisborne

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Festival Tickets: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales including 3-day festival passes starting at $359 and 4-day camping packages starting at $489, with various VIP tiers and add-ons.
2. Camping and Accommodation Packages: Glamping, premium tent, and various themed campground packages including Treble Camp, Rhythm Camp, Bass Camp, and Meadow Camp with varying amenities.
3. VIP Experiences: Vintage Club VIP passes, side-of-stage experiences, backstage tours, and premium upgrade options for enhanced festival access.
4. On-site Food and Beverage: Cashless venue revenue from food vendors, bars, and refreshments purchased using RFID wristbands at Waiohika Estate.
5. Merchandise: Official R&V merchandise available through the Rhythm shop online store and likely on-site merchandise stands.
6. Sponsorships and Partnerships: Commercial partnerships with sponsors including One NZ, Red Bull, and other brands seeking exposure to the festival audience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rhythm and Vines is a 3-day annual New Year's Eve music festival held 28-31 December at Waiohika Estate in Gisborne, New Zealand, offering multi-stage live music performances by international and Kiwi artists. The core offering is complemented by 4-day camping packages (ranging from general camping to glamping and themed camps), Vintage Club VIP tiers and side-of-stage upgrades, on-site RFID cashless food and beverage, official Shop Rhythm merchandise, and the R&V Legends loyalty programme for returning attendees.

Product overview

Rhythm and Vines is a New Year's Eve music festival platform offering a 3-day core festival experience at Waiohika Estate in Gisborne, New Zealand (with camping packages available for 4-day stays). The product portfolio centers on the main festival (General Admission and Vintage Club VIP tiers), supported by the R&V Legends loyalty programme (which consolidated the former Club Gisborne), The Gizzy Guide local discovery tool, and Shop Rhythm merchandise. Premium upgrades include Side of Stage experiences, bus passes, and off-site accommodation packages. The 2026 edition (Chapter 24) marks the final festival at Waiohika Estate before relocation in 2027.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• R&V Legends: Official loyalty programme for Rhythm and Vines offering presale access, ticket discounts, and exclusive perks based on festival attendance history.

Products and services

• Rhythm and Vines Festival Annual New Year's Eve multi-stage music festival held at Waiohika Estate in Gisborne, New Zealand, featuring live performances by international and New Zealand artists across electronic, hip-hop, and indie-pop genres; for adults aged 18 and over.
• Festival Passes (3-Day GA and Vintage Club VIP) 3-day festival admission tickets offering access to the festival grounds, with General Admission and premium Vintage Club VIP tiers featuring enhanced amenities and viewing areas.
• 4-Day Camping + Festival Passes Combined festival and camping bundles including Glamping, Prem-Tent, and themed camp options (Treble Camp, Treble Camp Gold, Lil Treble, Lil Treble Gold, Rhythm Camp, Premium Camp, Meadow Camp, Bass Camp, Greenfields Camp), starting at $489 per person.
• Shop Rhythm Merchandise Official online merchandise store selling Rhythm and Vines branded apparel, collectibles, and festival merchandise.
• Bus Passes Transportation service providing bus transport to and from the festival venue at Waiohika Estate for festival attendees.
• Hotel/Motel Package Deals Off-site accommodation packages including Emerald Hotel Package, Bella Vista Motel, and Ahi Kaa Motel for festival attendees seeking lodging outside the festival grounds.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24 consecutive years of operation (2003-2026) at Waiohika Estate
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• One NZcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 July 2026One NZ is the exclusive telecommunications partner for Rhythm and Vines 2026, providing One NZ customers first access to secure tickets during an exclusive 24-hour presale beginning Monday 3 August at 10:00am. One NZ rebranded from Vodafone (formerly mentioned as historical sponsor).
• Red BullminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Red Bull partnered with R&V for the Red Bull Playhouse bar, providing illuminated tropical oasis entertainment and refreshments among the vines, bringing artists and summer cocktails to enhance the festival atmosphere.
• MoshtixcoreTechnology or IntegrationMoshtix is the official ticketing platform for Rhythm and Vines, handling ticket sales, personalized e-tickets, Ticket Return/Resale, and Afterpay payment processing.
• Live Nation EntertainmentcoreOthersRhythm and Vines operates as part of the Live Nation Entertainment group, sharing personal information within the Live Nation family of companies for services including marketing, profiling, reporting, and technical support. R&V Live Nation Ltd is the legal entity operating the festival.
• Waiohika EstatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaiohika Estate is the venue for Rhythm and Vines from 2003 to 2026 (24 years), hosting the final edition of the festival at this location in December 2026. The festival is relocating to a new undisclosed location in 2027.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Falls Festival: Australian multi-day New Year's Eve music festival (Lorne/Marion Bay), almost identical in timing (NYE), demographic, and multi-day camping format. The closest cross-Tasman analog competing for Southern Hemisphere NYE festival-goers.
• Splendour in the Grass: Australia's largest contemporary music festival, multi-day with camping. Comparable in scale, multi-stage programming, and target demographic; competes indirectly for international artist bookings.

Broad incumbents

• Glastonbury Festival: The world's largest greenfield music festival, a multi-day UK event with comparable camping, multi-stage programming, and loyalty-driven repeat attendance model. Sets global benchmarks for festival scale and cultural relevance.
• Coachella: US-based multi-weekend mega-festival by parent company Goldenvoice (also owned by Live Nation/AEG). Comparable multi-stage programming and cultural-anchor positioning; sister property under shared Live Nation corporate ownership.
• Tomorrowland: Belgium-based electronic music mega-festival with global brand recognition. Comparable multi-stage, multi-day camping festival model with strong loyalty/loyalty-program monetization — a benchmark for festival brand equity at scale.

Others

• Live Nation Entertainment (Parent): Parent company of R&V Live Nation Ltd and the world's largest live entertainment conglomerate. Comparable as the corporate ecosystem that owns and operates R&V, providing shared services, artist pipelines, and sponsorship infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Le Guess Who?: Utrecht-based multi-day music festival with multi-stage programming and curated lineup. Comparable in festival-as-cultural-experience positioning and audience demographic, though operating in a different geography.
• Splore Festival: NZ multi-day music and arts festival held in summer, comparable in scale, demographic (adults), and multi-day camping format. Direct competitor for the NZ festival-goer wallet.
• Laneway Festival (Auckland): Single-day indie music festival touring Auckland and other Australasian cities, targeting similar 18+ indie/alternative demographic. Comparable in artist booking model and urban festival format.
• Bay Dreams: New Zealand multi-stage music festival held annually in summer across multiple NZ locations, targeting 18+ audiences with similar electronic/hip-hop/indie lineups. Direct domestic competitor for festival-goer spending and sponsor attention.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RHYTHMANDVINES
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHYF6fEScM4cx5Zkhld6fIw?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/RhythmandVines
• Instagraminstagram.com/rhythmandvines
• TikToktiktok.com/@rhythmandvines
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rhythmandvines

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rhythm and Vines