Gather round one and all
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What: Gather Round.
Where: TV3.
When: 2.00pm, Sunday.
COMEDIAN Radar takes on the challenge of pitching a tent and donning party gear as he heads to The Gathering, the New Year's Eve three-day dance party in Golden Bay, for Gather Round.
"As someone who normally avoids New Years Eve crowds, the idea of joining the thronging masses not only for the night but for three days did initially strike me as eminently stupid. However it proved to be a thoroughly enthralling experience."
The beat of tribal drums draws Radar to a group of men wallowing in a pool of mud, where they explain the mysteries of the universe before painting Radar with sticky red markings.
Hypnotised by his new understanding of life, Radar is almost convinced to join them in the slurry puddle, before he is reminded of his contractual obligations to meet and talk to top Kiwi musicians like Pitch Black, rotor+, The Black Seeds and DLT.
After a hard time in the dance zones, down in the mess tent Radar meets with the Jesus Food people who are hoping for a miracle to help feed thousands of hungry "gatherers". He winds up eating a plate in the early morning, while waiting for one more big name to arrive.
The Gathering organisers hooked one of the world's top DJs, Londoner John Digweed, to play for the thrashing crowds. They stupidly allow him to speak to Radar, who challenges John to tell him what he really does.
Over the three days Radar checks out the seven dance zones, meets the country's top electronic acts, welcomes in the New Year alongside thousands of other revellers and has a very close call with a large group wielding fire poi.
[Illustration]
Caption: COMIC ANTENNA - Radar spends New Year's Eve at the Gathering in Gather Round.