Big Day Out Promoter Launches New NZ Festival

Since the collapse of Aussie summer festival staple Big Day Out early last year by C3 Presents, and the consequent purchase of C3 Presents by entertainment behemoth Live Nation in December last year, the future of the festival has seemed tumultuous. However, C3 Presents, Live Nation and CRS have announced a new New Zealand festival — Auckland City Limits, the first international extension of the iconic Austin City Limits Festival. 

As NZ Herald reports, it was hopefully fill the summer festival void that Big Day Out has left and will be held on Saturday, 19 March at Western Springs in Auckland.

Auckland's festival will only be a one-day event starting out, while Austin City Limits has expanded to a three-day two-weekend event. 

Ex-BDO promoter Campbell Smith of CRS said, "I started talking to [C3] about doing something. And I guess if it wasn't going to be a Big Day Out it kind of opened up the opportunity to look at what really would work for Auckland."

Auckland City Limits aims to put an emphasis on good cuisine, fashion, a kids area, pop-up bars and shops.