Amplifier

The Mount is the hottest place to be this February, with the Global Breakthrough Festival rounding off summer with music, art, surf and skate.

The festival (17-20 February) will hold its main event at Baypark stadium 3 to 9pm on February 19th and fringe events will run at various Mount locations over the four days.  Set to become an iconic festival for the Bay of Plenty, ticket sales reached over 1500 in the first 10 days.

Embracing the sounds of New Zealand music are festival favourites Sola Rosa, Tahuna Breaks and Opensouls. Also returning home is Ben Merito, the youngest son of Gerry Merito of the Howard Morrison Quartet, who has been making a name for himself overseas. With live street artists, a skate exhibition and a supreme creative market the festival will ensure there is something for everyone. And just for fun, the world's biggest inflatable slide and mechanical surfboard will be other attractions on the field of Baypark.

Global Breakthrough Festival Founder Jamie Joseph says the festival was established to ignite community spirit and create a platform for the Bay's creative industry.

"With an early bird price of $20 until midnight February 1st, and kids 10 and under go free, we have made the festival attainable to the widest community. So many industry people are getting involved and adding their own flavour to this cultural melting pot. These are exciting times for our City."

Joseph has also established the Pay It Forward campaign as a part of the Global Breakthrough Festival which gives businesses the opportunity to be part of this massive community effort by making a contribution.  In return they receive tickets for staff and consumers and are promoted as a festival sponsor. Burgerfuel (Mount Maunganui and Tauranga) were the first to step up and are offering a free Global Breakthrough ticket with every $30 spent at either branch.

Tickets are available at dashtickets.co.nz or from outlets listed on lovethemount.co.nz