REVIEW: Detonate festival New Years Eve Goes Off With A Bang!

Detonate definately lived up to its name; throughout the day numerous bombs went of and multiple things were blown up- a pool table, a go-kart and a car which had people's regrets written on it- and a helicopter dropped a caravan! The bands were just as hot as the explosions; sweaty,energetic, sometimes sleazy but always wicked; Abby Brown reviews Detonate 2011; well what she can remeber of it!

Detonate festival opened with a bang of an explosion - three that shook the ground - and a warning that whenever you hear the siren there will be an explosion-anywhere!

The first band on was called Painted Black; they did a combonation of originals and covers; The Black Seeds 'Fire' was a prefect choice for Detonate. Another explosion heralded the opening of the mudslides and barechested men showing  off tans and tatts.

Broken Avenue played a combination of covers and originals too; but theirs were more unique in that they played rock/metal and did songs like Rihanna's 'Umbrella' which you could see how much they enjoyed playing.

The bombs were wicked; even more so when you could let of a fire ball yourself; press a button and watch a fire ball erupt!

It was funny being in the backstage area and seeing one of The Rabble's members mums there- dressed in their merchadise and a pair of skin tight punk tartan pants- and seeing the singer politely hug her hello before they went and screamed, sung and sneered through their set. Good to see that they enjoyed Detonate, via Twitter, "Thanks to everyone who came out to Detonate Festival for new years celebrations and made the event such a special opener for 2011! It was a great time had by all and we were especially happy to start the year with a bang in the Naki!"

Autozamm chose to intiate their new bassist with an explosive first show with the band; he got into it and jumped around like the crowd. Songs like their new single 'Fifth Degree' sounded even better live, and the crowd loved the sleazy 'You know you want it'.

Steriogram had the honour of the last slot - and the obligatory countdown to the New Year - they invited all the other bands onstage to join them for it. Steriogram may have been out of the scene for three years but their songs are as popular as ever; like Walky talky man, white trash, ready for action and their new song Moving on.

I would be stoked to go to Detonate next year, as an audience member and/or with my band Stoker; hopefully the rockstars and pyrotechncians will keep pushing the limits with the explosions; I could see myself jumping out an exploding coffin whilst singing my song called Creative Spark which is about how life without art and rock would be like living in a coffin. I could also see the viablity of Taranaki business really supporting this festival; setting up stalls in the festival grounds, and really advertising and promoting joint packages with accomodations and activities to do before and after the festival. All I know is that Detonate rocked and I hope it keeps on exploding!

Review by Abby Brown.