The first Sweetwaters festival

A scene from the first Sweetwaters festival, which was held from 26 to 28 January 1980 near Ngāruawāhia. Unlike the venue for many music festivals, the site was not a natural amphitheatre.

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Image: Wikipedia.

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The first Sweetwaters festival, URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/first-sweetwaters-festival, (Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 1-Jul-2014

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joe gilmour Posted: 13 Jan 2011

Yes i was there. There was about 50 of us from Stratford. One of our tents and some sleeping bags were pinched on the first nite.It was hotter than hell and impossible to keep the drinks cool. The eating stalls were very dodgy, as was the longdrops.I remember one night my friend was taking a dump and the girl in the toilet next to him caved in.She was up to her neck. Most of us had the shits by the second day. It was worth a visit the bands were fantastic. We also went to the second one.

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joe gilmour Posted: 7 Feb 2011

Could you imagine. No plastic bottles, no mobiles, no ipods. Lots of lovely ladies topless, men all with cutoff jeans. Long hair and Pot galore. I remember when the Hells Angels rolled in. Very noisy. I can't remember seeing any fights. Just 3 days of listening to great music and partying on. Brian Ferry was fantastic. An experience I will never forget.

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Rob Posted: 14 Mar 2013

I was there as a 17 year old. A group of us drove up from Napier in a Vauxhall Velox which only had 2nd and 3rd gears, no reverse or 1st. We couldn't keep the beer (Fosters) cold either, and most of it got stolen. I got the shits as well from eating at a place called 'Decent Feed' I remember a guy in the longdrop who had fallen in too! The bands were amazing!

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Glen Cassidy Posted: 17 Apr 2013

Yeah I went 3 times I can remember you could follow the beer cans from Hamilton Double Brown I remember Talking Heads Simple Minds Brian Ferry Elvis Costello Split Enze 3 DAYS OF Awesome I had my first trip there Good ol Days

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Brenda Beardshall Posted: 12 Jul 2013

Sweet waters yeah ... 2 magical summers. It began my life long love affair with music. I remember the guy falling in the long-drop it was towards the end of the weekend poor guy. Highlights sitting on top of the hill listening to Hello Sailor play Blue Lady (thought at the time it was about some sad pale woman lol ) Remember the Hells Angels and vaguely recall one incident where one of the guys started to push some guy around it was getting heavy and the people around erupted in such a united front of "not here" and "don't be uncool" that it stopped straight away was very cool. Remember the sexy mud fights in the river and a group coming down on a big log singing 'brick in the wall' by Pink Floyd. Great memories Sweet Days, Sweet summer Water days.

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John Blackwell Posted: 2 Nov 2013

Attended the first two Sweetwaters concerts. Like Woodstock Kiwi style. Saw Roxy Music, Ultravox, Inxs, Talking heads,and many more bands.Split Enz? Angels? All a bit fuzzy now as I was wasted most of the time.

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Jac Posted: 13 Apr 2014

Was the best time! Bro & I got dropped outa town by mum to hitchihike from outa New Plymouth. That was cool, we were 16/17 yrs old!. Got a fab lift from truckie dropped us at corner of road leading 2 Sweet waters. ngarawahia? Then got picked up by old bloke (prob 30!) who set us up in his camp, with food & kept eye on us younguns. No dramas. Thanks bud if yre out there. Was muddy as but had a fab time. Those were the days! The fun had almost ways out the music....sooooo long ago!

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Annette Posted: 29 Jun 2014

I was there as a 17 year old. There were three of us that went down in my mini. We got two flat tyres on the way from Auckland. One of the guys had to hitch-hike to Huntly to get one of them fixed. Haha!!

We brought no food because we didn't know there were no pass-outs. We had 6 cans of Double Brown between the three of us. There were lots of generous people that shared with us. Such good times!

I loved all the bands. Especially Split Enz, Mi Sex, Roxy Music, Ultravox, Cold Chisel and Icehouse (who were then called Flowers.)

I remember the guy that fell in the long drop too. Yuck!

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Doreen Poupouare Posted: 22 Dec 2014

far out I just posted a status on my fb page with some pics...was reminiscing cause I been doing a few gigs in the last cple of years and so dug out the pics I took at this one and posted them on my page....but this was my first ever gig, I was 18 and I had a Blast!!!!!!

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john pitihira Posted: 28 May 2017

The best concerts ever, Split Enz were world class, loved Renee Geyer, UB40 always good value x2, Simple Minds playing Waterfront, Annie Lennox got every1 rockn, never forget Talking Heads Burning down the House, accompanied by a fireworks display. Think I went to them all.Massive...

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Gonzo Posted: 28 Nov 2017

82 & 83.... A bunch of Airforce Guys (5) from Auckland... first time was just in cars and we meet up gradually with about 10 AF others over the weekend - 3days.. atmosphere was so cool.. police were friendly. Smell of ... in the air did not make them investigate . Took 20 x 20 double browns 500 ml.. Almost finished them between 5 of us. beautiful sites ... ladies ..... Music was great. I rolled down the hill accidentally to the song .. I see red I see red... and bounced up onto to my feet like boom !!! as if nothing happened ... but alas no .. cheers and claps from all around.. Ultravox with the swinging light bulb.... Got lost coming back from stage . woke up 20 metres away from our camp when sun came up... 83 ... left a day ealier and will stay a day longer - 5 days. We had it sorted - Ha ha .... A mates old truck partially converted to sleeper.. travel down SH 1 - 6 hours from AK- had to keep refilling radiator. chilly bins full. A beauty topless on a horse. Blew up a Hydrogen balloon approx 1 metre in diameter- ex military for spotting liferafts . Blew up in my face - couldnt see for the rest of the day. stung like sh....t. mates blew up the second one - success. sat on roof of truck scoring the fine ladies.... Oh Yes Great music once again....

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Anonymous Posted: 16 Aug 2018

Best time of my life. I was 20 great group of friends 6 of us in tents..music was awesome not that I remember all of it !!! Do remember bathing in the great waikato river after the second day and how bad the long drops smelt lol..oh and all the mud but I've never had so much fun and great memories made..2 of those beautiful people I was with have sadly passed..way before their time..hope your both rocking on to your own sweet waters up there my dear friends..no one else knows our good times .....

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Anton Posted: 21 Jan 2020

Came up from Wellington in a Renault dofine (850cc) with two girls me lying across the back seat, I was 17, mind blowing music great people a party like no other took hours just to get to the stage, never forget it

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David Posted: 13 Apr 2020

Traveled up from Stratford with mates, just 16yrs old not knowing what to expected, not much money, drinks, or dope but found 60 dollars and had a blast, always remember up front of stage when the Angles were on and one of the guitarist was hit in the head with a piece of watermelon, the guy never missed a beat and kept on playing. The best of times were had at Sweetwaters..

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John Posted: 20 Apr 2020

Rode up from Wellington after work (CPC Databank) on my Kawasaki H2 750 ........there was a place just for bikes so left it there and went looking for my friends. Somehow I found them ....pitched my tent in the dark and hardly slept at all for the next two or three days....wonderful times

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Naaki Posted: 16 May 2020

I was there with mu older brother and his wife at the age of 17 years fell asleep on the hill listening to Mi Sex whatta blast that was!

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Mandy Posted: 22 Jul 2020

That scene is exactly as I remember it.
I was 18 and we had all driven up from Dunedin.
My boyfriend was in the Netherworld Dancing Toys. It was almost one of the first performances they did.
Exciting days.
It was Hot, and dusty— lots of police presence and the air was thick with pot.
I do remember that someone had drowned in a river on the property ....I think it was due to alcohol.
Was an awesome festival and we could move around to different stages during that time as many bands were playing there.

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Neil finn Posted: 18 Aug 2021

A mate and i attended this event spending all our money on alcohol
And didnt think about where to sleep ended up sleeping under our little morry minor withh just oud heads sticki g out the back

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Mike Posted: 8 Aug 2022

Started badly when a numpty pulled a U-turn in front of us on SH1 and we hit them. Local garage offered us their gear and we got the car going again.

Then things got way better....

Toy Love and someone throwing their shoes at/to Chris Knox. That was one glorious performance. Top band!

Being in the midst of the Elvis Costello crowd and being adopted for the show by an older crowd.

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Steve. W. Posted: 16 Oct 2022

Never forget it big event back then had my 17 yr old girl of my dreams to impress indecently still got her met Elvis Costello at main Street in Auckland got autograph on cocktail menu remember the line up mi sex dragon split enz Elvis Brian ferry narcs list goes on absolutely pinnacle of memory's for me and my geogous wife man we're we spiolt for talent always remember the helicopters flying the Waikato River taking pictures of all the nudes bring back the good old days of freedom and innocence!!!!

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evilray Posted: 14 Mar 2023

ya i was there good weather good music good people good Thai stick thanks to to mr. asia so it was high times for me and sharon

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Dave U Posted: 3 Dec 2023

Yeah a cuz and myself drove up from Rotorua in his Ford escort van with our crate of Red Heather wine(flagons of course) and an ample supply of weed...through some convincing banter with the security on duty that 1st day we got to park up behind the main stage with all the artists,which was a blast...met a few of them too...

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