The Nugget: Hamish Pinkham

15 years ago Rhythm & Vines Co-Founder, Director, Hamish Pinkham sat with his newly-minted law degree thinking he had some really important life decisions to make. Like what the hell was he going to do for New Year’s?

The answer was simple. Grab two other friends, head to a farm belonging to one of their Dads, put on a mother of a shindig for 1800 of their closest mates, then flag the corporate world and help create an annual music festival that’s always always first to see in New Year’s and now rivals the very best anywhere. Phew!

The secret to success? Find the next “big things”, then shower them with classic Kiwi hospitality once here. Seems to have worked, given the likes of superstars Calvin Harris, Chance the Rapper and Pharrell Williams have graced the stage at Waiohika Estate in the mighty Gizzy.

Mind you, it wasn’t all plain sailing. Hamish remembers one year when the truck carrying the entire sound system went off a cliff 24 hours before gates opened. And even worse, the entire city of Gisborne ran out of pies, as it too adjusted to the festival’s burgeoning popularity.

It’s the mix of quality and relaxed style he’s helped create at the event that also draws Hamish to 3 Wise Men, including our short-sleeved shirt collection, navy Huxton pants (both $120 or grab any 3 for $300), and Baker Hill shoes ($230 or 2 for $300).

These days Hamish travels the world - working with his new global entertainment partner, Live Nation; booking stars, then looking after their special rider requests at the event - which have included private jets, Vintage Champagne and fresh Maccas cheeseburgers with no sauce or onions, in the middle of the night, which remained uneaten.

The rest of his time (!) is spent hanging out with his lovely girlfriend and his five nieces aged five and under, as well as being lead guitar God with his band, Black White Dynamite, who have themselves graced the main stage at the event. Mind you, friends have suggested this may have been more about them knowing the owner than Hamish’s self-described, “genre-defying”music style.Yep, there’s a bit to this top bloke, including a little bit more to read here.