ALANA Estate’s concern about hosting a new music festival over New Years was that people might buy more beer than wine.
“I told them they just need to price their wine cheaper,” laughs La De Da festival organiser Josh Mossman. “They’re going to do their own La De Da pinot, which you can take home as a memento, and get signed by bands.”
Mossman and business partner Daniel Warwick were watching American singer Sheryl Crow perform at Alana Estate in Martinborough in the summer of 2009, and decided the vineyards would be an “idyllic” location for a music festival.
The pair were also frustrated that there were no big New Years Eve festivals near Wellington, and young people had to spend big money travelling to events in other parts of the country each year.
“We’ve been to all the festivals – Rhythm and Vines (Gisborne), Phat (Inangahua), and back in the day I went to The Gathering in Nelson – I’ve done the rounds, and it all costs a lot of money [because] they are a long way away,” Mossman says.
So the idea of La De Da was born.
“Alana Estate have been backing us right the way through, which was great, because getting a venue that would hold 12,000 people and be happy to do so, would have been the biggest hurdle,” Mossman says.
Venue secured, the organisers went to the masses, and asked over Facebook what bands people would most enjoy seeing.
Mossman says people joined up quickly, and instant standouts for music choice included Kora and Six60, as well as the 10 other homegrown acts La De Da will feature.
Planning in June last year, and early bird tickets have just gone on sale.
For an extra $35 camping facilities will be available at the next-door farm, now dubbed Lullaby Lane, which will also include its own stage and entertainment.
“It fits 10,000 tents, but there is accommodation in Martinborough for people who don’t want to stay in a tent,” says Mossman.” People can arrive anytime from the morning of the 30th (December), and set-up. There’s a river that runs down the farm, so if it’s baking hot you can go and jump in to cool off.”
Chartered buses will take people from Wellington to the vineyard.
Mossman has big plans for the La De Da festival, which will become a yearly event.
“Martinborough has so much space, so the sky’s the limit,” he says.

The line-up:
Kora, Katchafire, Hollie Smith, Salmonella Dub, Six60, Minuit, The Upbeats, Mt Eden Dubstep, 1814, The Thomas Oliver Band, Nick D, Clarke Gayford.
La De Da festival, December 31, Alana Estate. Visit www.ladeda.co.nz for all information.