Festival Review: Good Vibes Festival - Auckland

Walking into the Logan Campbell Centre on Friday night, my nerves had my stomach tied in knots. The previous concerts I’ve been to at the Logan Campbell Centre were the likes of Schoolboy Q, Kehlani & Lil Uzi Vert, and so I was anxiously excited to lose my reggae v-card and to experience something different.

The atmosphere was undeniable walking into the venue. The drinks line was popping with concert-goers eager to have a good time, alongside the line for the wharepaku (toilet). A perfect combination really. 

The first set, Lion Rezz started at 6:30pm, but on a Friday evening getting to central Auckland in peak hour traffic made me miss their set. However, they had definitely set the tone for the night because walking to our seats, people were standing on chairs, dancing, laughing and singing.

LaTasha Lee graced the stage with an aura that could be felt by the audience. She broke into a waiata (song) in which members of the audience joined in, swaying side-to-side, you could feel how soulful the mood was. With fog lingering on the stage, she sang & danced her heart out while the crowd cheered and whistled in excitement.

Josh Wawa was up next. Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait long for the stage to be set up. Such a humble presence with such a huge voice. His vocals rippled through the crowd with each and every song, resonating with members of the audience, you could tell his songs were more than just songs, they had meaning to people in the room as they literally sang their hearts out with him.

1814 stormed the stage next, Darren Katene, the lead singer, had the Tino rangatiratanga flag on the back of his jacket and another one in his hand as he waved it around to the encouragement of the crowd’s cheers. The 2 wahine (women) next to him were singing vocals with huge smiles on their faces and dancing in sync. It was literal good vibes and it was bloody contagious. The talent of the artists and bands so far was undeniable and felt throughout the crowd.

As the red, green and yellow lights pulsated, Tomorrow People entered the stage to a loud roar from the crowd. “LESSSGOOO Tāmaki Makaurau”, they chanted. I’d never seen such a reaction from an audience before. It was like a huge drink up. People from all ages littered throughout the venue, all getting lit and singing their favourite songs together. Tomorrow People played some of their classic tunes, where people in the upstairs front row would hang over the edge, closing their eyes and singing whatever sorrows they had away.  

The energy of the crowd was electric. People were laughing and talking to strangers. There were people wearing #ProtectIhumātao t-shirts. There were the aunties on Facebook live. L.A.B was on next. With the lights on the stage dancing on everybody in the crowd, everyone was clapping and boogieing to the beautiful voices of L.A.B. There was an appreciation from the audience for the artists on stage tonight that I’ve never witnessed anywhere else, a different kind of respect and appreciation for them and what their songs meant to the audience.

Katchafire was the last act on at 11:40pm. At this point, I was getting a bit tired as the festival was quite long but when Katchafire blessed the stage, it was like everyone’s energy was renewed.  People were swaying harmoniously side-by-side, whether in a drunken stupor or not, it was all good vibes. With the amazing vocals and the talent from the band, it was a perfect end.

At the end of the show, it is just a fact that the artists made the show. Period. Although, for such a long festival, it would’ve been better to choose a bigger venue, one specifically with more than one toilet or drinks line as they were both very long and when standing in one, there were complaints at every end. Overall, the Good Vibes festival lives up to its name and as someone who has never been to a reggae concert before, I will definitely be going to another one.

Good Vibes finishes up in Hamilton and Tokoroa this weekend. Click HERE for all information on the festival.

Interviewed By: Breanna Tugaga-Rogers
@bretugs