From a Queenstown cottage-turned-bar to a Bedford ambulance slinging brisket fries, here's what's confirmed so far.
Forsyth Barr Stadium, 27–28 November. Mark it down, because the first wave of who'll be behind the taps and the trucks this year has just landed, and it's a good one.
NZME are back as a major sponsor. Radio Hauraki and The Big Show return, with The Country joining the line-up this year too.
This year's major festival sponsor, Emerson's, a firm Dunedin favourite, will be onsite pouring for the weekend. Also joining them is Wanaka's Rhyme and Reason, fourteen taps deep and hauling the inflatable arm-waving tube man out of storage once again. You'll spot their site before you smell the hops. Speaking of taps, Searchlight out of Queenstown are going one better with nineteen, hand-pulled English ale included, five years after they first opened their doors.
Dunedin's own BS Brewing are doing things small: mates, a shared brew system, and one beer that's only ever poured at this festival. Down the road, Black Rock are turning their stall into a bit of a masterclass, teaming up with Dunedin Malt House Brewing Supplies to show punters exactly how a home brew kit earns its keep. And Noisy Brewing, always a crowd favourite, are cooking up something with Quick Brown Fox that exists nowhere else (a one-off collab!). Worth tracking down over the weekend.
Christchurch's Wigram Brewing arrive with 25 years under their belt but no festival history here yet, which makes this their South Island debut of sorts. Rifters, meanwhile, need no introduction if you've seen their gold miner's cottage rolling in on wheels, and this year they're also the name on your festival cup.
Quick Brown Fox are turning the focus to their liqueur range this year: Flat White Liqueur served in dark chocolate cups from Kāpiti, an espresso martini on tap, and a frozen twist on the classic for good measure. And Epic returns - a taproom takeover with a Mexican flavour, Cantina el Modelo in tow for masterclasses and taco-cart eats.
Citizens will once again park their converted Bedford ambulance on site, brisket loaded fries at the ready. Cromwell's Afro Bites bring something genuinely different to the food line — Swazi and Mozambican dishes you won't find elsewhere in the South Island, from peri-peri chicken to bunny chow.
For something to graze on between pours, Yum Yum's got karaage cups, curry puffs and prawn twists built for sharing. Liam's Lángos are back with their golden Hungarian flatbread, and Wild Az round out the food line with a menu — and a service reputation — that's earned them a regular spot at this festival.
That's the first wave. There's more to come, so keep checking back.
Two days, one stadium — get yours before the next announcement drops. GET TICKETS
