Rappers Public Enemy, rockers Franz Ferdinand and The Kooks, and DJ Carl Cox will help residents of the world's most easterly city welcome 2009 before anyone else on Earth.

Gisborne, New Zealand sits right on the international dateline and is the first city to welcome the sun each day. And it will be the first place to celebrate the New Year - a full 13 hours before London, 18 hours before New York and 21 before Los Angeles. The city is the site of the Rhythm & Vines festival which starts on December 29, running through to January 1.

The two British bands kick off the event on Monday with performances, before Public Enemy takes the stage on December 30. But Brit DJ Cox will have the honor of performing the first gig anywhere in the world in 2009 - by taking to the turntables 15 minutes after midnight on January 1.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)