Sunshine, sound and a new city: Homegrown settles comfortably into Hamilton

The clouds parted just in time.

After a week of forecasts hinting at rain, the skies cleared over Claudelands Oval on Saturday morning, turning what many expected to be a grey day into a hot and bright celebration of Aotearoa music at Jim Beam Homegrown.

By early afternoon the grounds were filling with festivalgoers. Families wandered between stages, music-enthused couples settled into patches of grass, while rowdy groups of friends and tightly knit girl gangs moved through the park with drinks in hand. It was the kind of cross-section Homegrown has always attracted — different generations and different musical tastes converging in one place.

The addition of new act and dance stages broadened the footprint of the festival, injecting fresh pockets of energy across the park while maintaining the mixed-genre atmosphere that Homegrown is known for. The dance stage hosted a breakdance and hip-hop competition offering a $20,000 prize, where competitors ranged from experienced veteran breakers to a new generation of rangatahi stepping confidently into the spotlight as dancers spun, flipped and battled through the rounds.

The Pepsi Fusion Stage kicked into life early with Rei opening the day. Blending Māori hip-hop with haka-inspired movement and fusion sounds, their performance brought both rhythm and physicality to the stage, setting an energetic tone for the afternoon ahead.

Not long after, David Dallas drew a steadily growing crowd with hits from his Rose Tint era. As he led the audience in a chant of “make money, make money, money money,” the crowd swayed from side to side, soaking up both the unexpected sunshine and the nostalgic energy Dallas carried onto the stage.

Beyond the music, festivalgoers had plenty to explore across the park. Tucked away near the electronic stage, a semi-hidden container rave hosted by George FM offered a high-energy pocket of drum and bass for those who stumbled upon it. Nearby, Manuka Phuel hosted a laid-back beer pong challenge, while carnival rides rose above the grounds, drawing curious festivalgoers throughout the afternoon

By around 3pm the festival had hit its stride. Katchafire played to an enthusiastic audience dancing to their reggae classics, while across the grounds P-Money kept the tempo high at the Manuka Phuel stage, blending pop and hip-hop favourites that kept bodies moving in the afternoon heat.

Between sets the park hummed with conversation and music as people drifted between stages, catching glimpses of different artists along the way.

For many attending, this year’s festival also carried a sense of curiosity. Homegrown has been a fixture of New Zealand’s music calendar since 2008, when it launched on Wellington’s waterfront as a festival dedicated entirely to local artists. Over nearly two decades it built a reputation for bringing together rock, reggae, hip-hop and electronic acts across separate stages in a single celebration of Kiwi music.

In 2025, organisers announced the festival would relocate after 18 years in Wellington, moving north to Hamilton’s Claudelands Oval. The decision prompted discussion among longtime attendees, with many wondering whether the festival’s distinctive atmosphere could translate to a new city.

By late afternoon on Saturday, that question seemed to answer itself.

As the music rang out and festivalgoers danced, connected and soaked in the atmosphere, the event appeared to settle comfortably into its new surroundings.

If the move came with expectations, Homegrown looked more than capable of meeting them. After nearly two decades on Wellington’s waterfront, the festival has found a new setting — and judging by the energy inside Claudelands Oval, it may well have found a new long-term home.