Organiser proud of music festival as it comes to an end

A Dunedin music festival went out on a high at the weekend, its founder says.

Nearly 1000 people attended the 10th and final Lobofest on Saturday at a farm in Brighton.

Festival founder Ed Lobo said it was the right time to let the festival go, because it was becoming too big.

“We’re going on a high. It’s run its course and I think it’s nice to quit while we’re winning.”

He was looking forward to travelling, making more music and hosting smaller gigs at Dunedin venues such as Errick’s and DropKicks.

“We need to keep things smaller. We’re not abandoning Dunedin, but we just need to change the format,” he said.

He was proud of what he had achieved.

“The thing I’m actually proud of is the community.”

The festival had been put together by the community and every year the funds raised would go towards a good cause, he said.

However, since this year was the festival’s final year, the revenue would be split among the musicians.

The event started 12 years ago at the same place with about 15 of Mr Lobo’s close friends who were also musicians as a celebration for his birthday.

“Just as a musician myself, I invited lots of other musicians and we ended up with guitars serenading each other.”

The gathering grew in the following years as his friends began bringing their bands.

“It went from one band to more bands and I had to get a stage and I had to schedule the bands.”

It became a music festival and this year there were nearly 80 musicians performing.

mark.john@odt.co.nz