Country music resurges as Gold Guitars strikes golden milestone
Many of the past winners of the highly-acclaimed competition returned to Gore's golden stage in Southland to celebrate 50 years.
The three-day event is part of 10-day Tussock Country Festival in the south that brings country lovers from New Zealand and the world.
On Thursday night, the Gold Guitars held a special gala for more than 20 returning winners to perform — many for the first time in years.
Peter Cairns took the coveted prize in 1984.
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"This is, literally, the best of the best [in New Zealand country music.]," he told 1News.
Around 600 people packed Gore's Town & Country Club venue for the four-hour show this week.
"There's been a lot of similar awards that haven't lasted the distance and it's really the tenacity and the hard work of all those involved in putting it together that's led to its success," said Cairns.
But it was not just about classic country music.
The event organisers have witnessed a resurgence of genre with a record number of entrants this year — 829 in total. That compared to just 38 in the first event back in 1974.
Gold Guitar Award convener Phillip Geary has been involved with the competition for 30 years.
"Country music is definitely becoming more popular," he said.
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Geary added, "we've noticed that over the last, probably five years a big, big increase... in the intermediates [level] which is your teenagers."
"With the likes of Taylor Swift and some of the upbeat-type country music artists, [teenagers] are recognising that and enjoying it and I think that's helping," he said.
Kylie Price claimed Gold Guitar champion in 2012 and jetted in from the United Kingdom for the show.
She told 1News, interest from the younger generation has been felt across the world.
"It's like a big family which, I think, is a massive thing when you're trying to bring the future generation in," she said.
"We want to be as welcoming as possible."
Price said the likes of New Zealander Kaylee Bell's success and others have also helped.
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"And you get the overseas artists like Chris Stapleton and Luke Combs and that sort of thing," added Price.
She said the resurgence has allowed the genre to evolve.
"For a long time, I remember when I was singing and it wasn't deemed as the cool genre to sing... and I think people are starting to realise that country isn't just this one specific sound that they might have always thought country was."
With the awards stronger than ever — the next Gold Guitar star would be revealed on Sunday night.
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