Festival Tops $2.5M For Gore In Fourth Festival Year
The figures are in for this year's Bayleys Tussock Country – New Zealand's Country Music Festival, held in Gore from May 23rd to June 1st.
With 72 events packed into ten days, the fourth annual festival attracted a 26% increase in attendances and an 18% rise in unique visitor numbers from across New Zealand and Australia. That surge in interest translated into an impressive $2.52 million injection into the Eastern Southland economy, according to post-festival economic data.
Festival goers also stayed longer and did more while they were here. The average stay in Gore increased a further 7% from last year, and the number of events attended per person grew by 10%, highlighting the festival's broadening appeal. Additionally, average spend per visitor rose by 6%, reflecting stronger engagement with local businesses and hospitality.
'This was our fourth festival and it felt like there was a notable lift in patron numbers, and new faces from all around New Zealand,' says Trust Chair Jeff Rea. 'We're ecstatic to see that reflected in the data also, and the trajectory of growth is nothing but exciting for the region of Eastern Southland.'
Festival organisers attribute the ongoing growth to an ever-expanding programme of events that appeals to a wide range of audiences. A prrivate home and room rental scheme supported by the community has also made it easier for visitors to stay longer in town.
'There's no doubt this year's lift can in part be attributed to the 50th celebrations of the MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards,' says Rea. 'We acknowledge the tireless work of volunteers and key event organisations — the Gore Country Music Club, the NZ Songwriters Trust, the MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards committee and the Gore District Council — who all share our vision of developing this relatively new festival concept into one of New Zealand's biggest and most successful annual music events.Witnessing the festival's growth and the benefits it's bringing to our community is a welcome reward for the efforts of many.'
Bayleys Tussock Country – New Zealand's Country Music Festival will return to Gore from May 22nd to May 31st 2026. Artist registrations open in September, with tickets on sale from November of this year. www.tussockcountry.nz
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Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Festival's increase in patronage helps pump $2.52m into local economy
Visiting bands Butter Wouldn't Melt (Wellington) and Rufous Whistler (Australia) jam at Gore's Table Talk Cafe in May as part of the Bayleys Tussock Country Music Festival. PHOTO: CALLUM THOMAS Gore had an increase in country music festivalgoers this year, with visitors coming from far and wide, injecting an estimated $2.52 million into the Eastern Southland economy. Bayleys Tussock Country Music Festival had a 26% increase in attendees and an 18% rise in new visitors, a statement from organisers said. According to post-festival economic data, the average visitor's spend went up by 6%, leading to a calculated $2.52m being fed back into the local economy. The data showed that individuals also stayed longer at the 10-day festival and attended more of the 72 events on offer. The increase in numbers illustrated the festival's broadening appeal, which festival trust chairman Jeff Rea said was palpable. "This was our fourth festival and it felt like there was a notable lift in patron numbers, and new faces from all around New Zealand," he said. "We're ecstatic to see that reflected in the data also, and the trajectory of growth is nothing but exciting for the region of Eastern Southland." Festival organisers said the ongoing growth was due to an expanded programme of events, appealing to a wider range of audiences. This growth was predicted by organisers a couple of months ago, when the festival's Gold Guitars competition had a record number of entries. Jeff Rea and Phillip Geary. PHOTO: SUPPLIED At the time, awards panel convener Phillip Geary said the contest had 832 entries, which was about 100 more than the year before. Mr Geary noted the teenage intermediate section had recorded a big increase. The awards also had their 50-year celebration concert this year, bringing back past winners and nominees for a star-studded event. The anniversary show, Mr Rea said, without a doubt contributed to the rise in numbers. "There's no doubt this year's lift can in part be attributed to the 50th celebrations of the MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards." He also acknowledged the "tireless work" of volunteers. "[The organisations and volunteers] all share our vision of developing this relatively new festival concept into one of New Zealand's biggest and most successful annual music events," he said. "Witnessing the festival's growth and the benefits it's bringing to our community is a welcome reward for the efforts of many." — APL
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Festival Tops $2.5M For Gore In Fourth Festival Year
The figures are in for this year's Bayleys Tussock Country – New Zealand's Country Music Festival, held in Gore from May 23rd to June 1st. With 72 events packed into ten days, the fourth annual festival attracted a 26% increase in attendances and an 18% rise in unique visitor numbers from across New Zealand and Australia. That surge in interest translated into an impressive $2.52 million injection into the Eastern Southland economy, according to post-festival economic data. Festival goers also stayed longer and did more while they were here. The average stay in Gore increased a further 7% from last year, and the number of events attended per person grew by 10%, highlighting the festival's broadening appeal. Additionally, average spend per visitor rose by 6%, reflecting stronger engagement with local businesses and hospitality. 'This was our fourth festival and it felt like there was a notable lift in patron numbers, and new faces from all around New Zealand,' says Trust Chair Jeff Rea. 'We're ecstatic to see that reflected in the data also, and the trajectory of growth is nothing but exciting for the region of Eastern Southland.' Festival organisers attribute the ongoing growth to an ever-expanding programme of events that appeals to a wide range of audiences. A prrivate home and room rental scheme supported by the community has also made it easier for visitors to stay longer in town. 'There's no doubt this year's lift can in part be attributed to the 50th celebrations of the MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards,' says Rea. 'We acknowledge the tireless work of volunteers and key event organisations — the Gore Country Music Club, the NZ Songwriters Trust, the MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards committee and the Gore District Council — who all share our vision of developing this relatively new festival concept into one of New Zealand's biggest and most successful annual music the festival's growth and the benefits it's bringing to our community is a welcome reward for the efforts of many.' Bayleys Tussock Country – New Zealand's Country Music Festival will return to Gore from May 22nd to May 31st 2026. Artist registrations open in September, with tickets on sale from November of this year.
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Golden Guitar glory for rising star
New Zealand's next country music sensation may have been unearthed in Christchurch. St Mark's School year 7 pupil Cleo Fitzgerald, 11, recently took to the stage in Gore for the annual Golden Guitar Awards, where she won the junior vocal solo and junior gospel categories and was crowned the overall junior gold guitar winner. 'It didn't feel real, did it?' her mum, Ella Fitzgerald, asked her daughter. 'It didn't, no,' Cleo said. 'There's all that adrenaline and wondering 'am I going to win? Am I going to lose?' When you finally get called up it's like, wow.' Adding to the occasion, this year marked the 50th anniversary of New Zealand's biggest country music festival. The awards were Cleo's first major singing competition. Encouraged by vocal coach Arlie McCormick, she decided to audition, and the family headed to Gore with no expectations. Cleo, who lives in Lyttelton, auditioned with about 20 others in the country rock, gospel and vocal solo categories and advanced to the finals in all three. 'Even that in itself, we were pretty amazed by. We were jumping up and down,' Ella said. The next day, Cleo performed in front of more than 500 people – her largest ever audience. 'It was pretty terrifying for her, but also so much fun. She's born to be on stage,' Ella said. Cleo sang My Jesus by Anne Wilson in the gospel category and Miley Cyrus' The Climb for her vocal solo – the performance that won her the overall junior title. She was also second in the country rock category for her rendition of Hold My Horses by Madeline Edwards. Her overall win also earned Cleo an invitation to perform and compete at the Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia's country music capital, in January. The city's annual country music festival attracts more than 40,000 people. The trip will cost about $3500, and Cleo and her family are now fundraising to get her there. 'If we raise enough money, I'm going to be so excited,' Cleo said. Along with her title, Cleo also received a Martin guitar, a microphone from Strawberry Sound, $500, a year's honorary membership at the Gore Country Music Club, and $100 for each category she won. Cleo has been singing since she could talk and has not stopped. Whether she is walking around the house, in the kitchen or doing homework, the music follows her. 'We often say our house is like a musical,' Ella said. When she was five, Cleo sang A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman in front of a crowd. That is when Ella knew she had something special. Today, Cleo listens to everything from country and jazz to pop and musical theatre. Her favourite artist is Sabrina Carpenter. She is also keeping busy off the competition stage. Cleo will be playing Marty the Zebra in her school's production of Madagascar , and will be performing her own show, and taking part in Shay Horay's Palava at the Lyttelton Arts Festival. 'The main thing is keeping it fun for her. We're just concentrating on that and if she gets too tired we can pull back,' Ella said. Cleo has to serve a stand down period from competing in the Golden Guitar Awards until she turns 13 and is eligible for the intermediate section. In the meantime, she will return next year to perform and present trophies to the new winners.
