Compiled by 3 News online staff
The Big Day Out is underway at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium today, for what will be the festival's last year in New Zealand.
Making an appearance at the 2012 festival are Soundgarden, Noel Gallagher’s HighFlyingBirds, Nero and Girl Talk among others.
3 News Entertainment Reporter David Farrier will be amongst the madness, along with Daniel Rutledge and Talia Blewitt, providing you with photos, video, interviews and updates throughout the day.
Bookmark this page or follow @3Entertainment on Twitter for the latest from the last Big Day Out.
Got your own photos, video or thoughts on the last Big Day Out? Email us noles@tv3.co.nz or join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #BDO2012.
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BDO 2012: As it happened
BREAKING: Big Day Out organiser Campbell Smith is offering free entry for anyone holding an old ticket or an official t-shirt from the festival, after a disappointing turnout to the festival's final New Zealand event.
The gate at O'Rorke Rd will be opened between 6 and 8pm tonight.
Anyone with a Big Day Out ticket from previous years or wearing an official Big Day Out t-shirt will be allowed free entry at Mt Smart, in time to catch 90s grunge heroes Soundgarden and Neil Gallagher.
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"Not many people here, which could be seen as a good thing. No loo queues, easy access to stages. Sweet," tweets @bucklesnz.
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My Chemical Romance are running 15 minutes late...
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"Still coming to terms with how quiet it is," writes Talia Blewitt.
As at 5:30pm, this was the Boiler Room:
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"Kimbra. What is she wearing?" tweets @suburban_ennui
"Hamilton's own Kimbra is amazing," tweets @AndoMaca
"Kimbra = amaze. Def a @bdo_official stand out," tweets @Nicky_Park.
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Midnight Youth playing while Tony Hawk takes to the ramp. Crowds gathering...
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“Nice thing about festivals like this is you always discover a new
musical love,” writes Talia Blewitt.
“Best Coast attracting a fairly
indie crowd, which always brings out the odd ones…”
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"This festival is a ghost town," tweets @amychica. "Cue tumbleweed."
"Best bdo ever !!!!! No crowds," tweets @DirtyRat200.
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The mass exodus from Six60 creates the first classic BDO bottleneck of the day:
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VIDEO: Highlights from the first half of the BDO
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The weather is improving as punters rock out to Six60
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Cairo Knifefight are "bloody loud", says Talia Blewitt. "Drummer setting my heart rate for me!"
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Madness...
Cavalera Conspiracy circle mosh for 'Refuse/Resist' (VIDEO)
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Noel Gallagher interview
David Farrier sat down with Noel Gallagher ahead of his BDO performance and says he was "hilarious".
After a public spat with his brother Liam, the former Oasis bandmember says he would advise his own sons not to form a band together.
You can see the full interview here
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This one from our friends at The Edge;
BDO 2007 at 1pm
VS
BDO 2012 at 1pm:
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Cavalera Conspiracy stage entry music is Bathory's Blood Fire Death intro. So, so cool!
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"I smell like sweat, sunscreen and alcohol. Music festival anyone?" tweets @Tenani
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Absolutely no toilet lines! An indication of the year's disappointing turnout?
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Where's wally? WE FOUND HIM
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Exodus to other stages is not bad this year and it's "nice to know you won't get trampled".
But, "$30 for four drinks? Get off the grass!" says one disgruntled reporter.
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BEASTWARS have taken to the stage! As expected, they're owning it.
Check out video from their set
They opened with 'Damn the Sky' & 'Lake of Fire'.
Meanwhile, spotted in the crowd:
... Oh dear.
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DJ Sir-Vere chilling with Kiwi rapper David Dallas
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Shihad frontman Jon Toogood has joined The Living End onstage to perform Nirvana's 'Breed'
The small crowd is not growing much. "Looks like this is about it."
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The weather has turned on BDO punters, leaving them wet and soggy and ruining DJ Sir Vere's mixer.
Das Racist fans are braving the elements as they take to the stage in the Boiler Room - now a small, outdoor area.
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Rumours swirling that Shihad's Jon Toogood is to join The Living End onstage for a cover of Nirvana's 'Negative Creep'...
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"The rain got into Sir-Vere's mixer and killed it, mid Big L finale. Gutting."
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Sir-vere just dropped an awesome 'Bigger Than Hip Hop' remix. Playing a great set.
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Crowds are "one quarter the size they usually are", Dan Rutledge says.
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Looks like the Motorolla foam tent is the place to be!
(Photo: Christine Lensberg)
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David Farrier warns: "It is very, very hot at the BDO. Wear your sunscreen."
"Stages are different [to previous years]," says Talia Blewitt. "Need to get orientated. And eat. Pace is key."
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First time BDO punters Kayly and Maddy tell 3 News they are "so in love" with The Living End and so glad they got in to the festival.
"Big Day Out will be an urban legend to the youth of today" - Talia.
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Cut Off Your Hands have taken to the stage and are sounding "fantastic".
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The gates are well and truly open at what organisers say will be the last BDO in New Zealand.
Meanwhile, 3 News Entertainment Editor Dan Rutledge says less people means "no queues for awesome rides!"
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"Driving here and getting the sense the crowds haven't swarmed like they usually do at this time," says 3 News online reporter Talia Blewitt. Moving the ticketing tent for booze outside is the "best idea since sliced bread", easing congestion for punters straight away.
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As we farewell the Big Day Out forever, why not revisit some of the festival’s highlights?
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What went wrong?
Changing musical tastes and tough economic times are driving the Big Day Out's demise, music promoters and commentators say.
Organisers of the New Zealand leg of the trans-Tasman festival, which has been a staple event for Kiwi music fans since 1994, announced this Friday's event would be the last because it was no longer financially viable.
Editor of New Zealand music magazine Rip It Up, Leonie Hayden, told NZ Newswire that festival goers were not willing to pay more for tickets while festival costs continued to rise.
"Social, economic and cultural changes inform what is available to us, what we can afford, what we identify with," she said.
"They have to charge more to survive, but audiences want to pay less. I suppose that's why the more boutique festivals are thriving."
Tickets to the day-long event cost $160.
This year's Big Day Out has been plagued by controversy, with hip hop star Kayne West removed from the line-up and rap act Odd Future axed after complaints about the group's homophobic lyrics.
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3 News