A day at Nostalgia

Words by Hannah Powell. Images by Fran Scrimgeour and Java Katzur.

As we enter the festival, I see blue skies, a dusty haze, and There’s a Tuesday kickstarting the Main Stage. The smell of the steam train mingles with hops and gin, and I think, welcome to Nostalgia, your vintage wet dream. Everybody’s dressed up in their finest flares, and film cameras swing from shoulders and hands. There’s truly something special about this Canterbury gem, and with an ethos of community, sustainability, and the local scene, my friends and I back for the third year, again.

Located in the Ferrymead Heritage Park in the Heathcote Valley, Nostalgia festival was back for its sixth year to boot. Christchurch’s apple in their summer’s eye, this year’s event did not disappoint. With three stages and an impressive line-up, everyone was in for a treat.

I spent most of my time hopping between stages. With Nostalgia’s brilliant layout of an old heritage park, much space was used to accommodate a myriad of moods. Stages were situated to boogie, and the market stalls laid out for a stroll. Food and drink were located in the heart of the park, with beverage tents split into craft gin, beer, wine, and martini. There was not a White Rhino in sight, but rather Cassels & Sons, Curiosity, Pegasus Bay, and Harpoon. The food trucks were a step up from last year, but vege options seemed to remain the same – they were limited, but I did manage to find a tasty baked potato from the Canterbury Canteen. Again, the food and drink are not tailored for a student’s wallet, so I advise you to save a few dollars up to make the most of what’s on offer.

The Main Stage, located in the Village Green, is the best place to start. Beginning with There’s a Tuesday at 1pm, and finishing with The Beths in the eve, dancing shoes were aplenty from kids to adults alike. Featuring strong New Zealand performers such as Deva Mahal, Leisure, and our nation’s music royalty, Bic Runga, as well as There’s a Tuesday and my personal favourite The Beths, the Main Stage had something for everyone.

If you’re into local indie or looking for a non-stop groove, then the RDU Stage was for you. Featuring fresh DIY talent and local beloveds, RDU 98.5FM hosted stellar songwriter Violet French and her band The Horrible, Yurt Party, Ha the Unclear, Hans Pucket, Wax Chattels, and Dirty Cash. Dancing shoes were laced up tight; Two Minds kept the beat going between. Highlights include Hans Pucket’s live saxophone solo in the highly anticipated performance of ‘Fuck My Life’. The hands were up, the crowd were loving it, and every mouth was in a tiny ‘o’ of sweet surprise as the sax went on. All in all, you could spend the whole day at the stage content.

The third stage was Spaced Out Sessions, great for those on the lookout for folk-induced zen. Featuring stunning vocals of the likes of Coyote, Katie Thompson, Deep Water Creek, Volts, and Ryan Fisherman, Spaced Out was a stage to relax and enjoy – set beside the creek and the weeping willows above; it was the perfect spot to sit and sip.

However, a highlight of the day was having a fossick through the vintage clothes that wound round the paths to and from the stage. I reckon it was the best selection of stalls to boot in my modest three years of attendance. But the best part of the day for me was The Beths. As an avid fan, it was no surprise that I was at the main stage 7 pm sharp, espresso martini in hand, having a boogie with the team and my friends.

See you next year, Nostalgia.