Latest news with #GoreCountryMusicClub
Scoop
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- 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
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- 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.
Otago Daily Times
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Organisers pull out stops for record numbers
Ngarangi Sadlier, of Lower Hutt, auditions for the Singer/Songwriter category of the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards in Gore on Friday. She eventually won the Gospel category. PHOTO: ELLA SCOTT-FLEMING As record number of contestants converged on Gore for the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards, organisers put systems in place to handle the churn of more than 800 musical entries. The auditioning process for the awards began across five venues on Friday and convener Philip Geary said their systems for handling this year's 829 entries were reasonably good, but could be better. Given the growth of the awards, Mr Geary said the awards committee was engaging a software writer to create a new program to help organise the contestants, judges' scores and the winners in each of the 31 categories. "[Something] that should just spit everything out, and all we need to do is look at it and confirm it, and that's it," he said. Having worked the awards for 30 years, this was not Mr Geary's first rodeo and he and the other organisers made sure the stage and setup were the same across the auditioning spaces to keep the competition regulated. Gore Country Music Club music committee convener Laurel Turnbull said due to the record number of entries they had engaged all four venues for the auditions as well as added an extra van to act as a courtesy coach between venues. The 12 judges were distributed between the Gore RSA, Gore Town & Country Club, Gore Baptist Church and Calvin Community Church for auditions, but came together at the club for the finals on Saturday and Sunday nights.
Otago Daily Times
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Rapid rise to top for Gold Guitar winner
New Zealand country music has a new star — with an English accent, an assertive performance style, and whose smoky and evocative tone fills a stadium with ease. Gore Town & Country Club was packed to the rafters on Sunday night as 1100 people watched the best country musicians from near and far competing at the MLT Gold Guitar Awards senior finals. The judges had their work cut out for them, as the high-quality entrants brought their A-game to the show. The hour was late, but the audience sat in anticipation as the big moment arrived — the crowning of country music royalty. Lawrence musician Keily Smith, after resounding performances in the country rock and New Zealand song sections, won the Gold Guitar for her song in the new country category. Following her big win, Mrs Smith said she felt a mix of joy and exhaustion after such a big night with a late finish. 'I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. There was such a plethora of talent here this evening, it was anyone's game. "I'm just so thrilled to have shared the experience with the other artists, and I'm ready for a nap," she said, laughing. County Durham in England, where Mrs Smith is from originally, is not known for its country music, but the musician grew up listening to the greats her mum would play for her. Listening to Mrs Smith, you would assume she was a seasoned veteran of the art, but she began her music journey only three years ago. Her smokey and powerful voice, alongside her energetic stage presence, made her a standout among standouts. Mrs Smith said it was only the start. "I'm going to use the resources, going to make sure I'm a good advocate for country music and other musicians, and Gore Country Music Club. "It's really going to get me going with releasing a single at the end of the year, hopefully with the songs I've been writing," she said. Runner-up Simon Thompson, of Invercargill, was overcome with emotion as he accepted several awards for his performances. He also won the male vocal solo award. Mr Thompson said the wins showed his hard work had been paying off. "I was just stunned. Even now I'm completely speechless. "Everyone in this room is a winner and to be called up, to be given that, it feels like I do belong and I am good enough," he said. MLT Gold Guitar Awards convener Phillip Geary said the night was one to be remembered, and the winner was a fantastic ambassador for the awards, and country music. "It's just another great milestone; it's a continuation of the jouney. The quality is as high as it's ever been, "[Keily Smith] represents very well, she's a very worthy winner. If she goes on from here, takes advantage of the prize package, we'll be really proud of her," he said.
Otago Daily Times
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Awards organisers pull out stops for record numbers
As a record number of contestants swarm Gore for the Gold Guitar Awards, organisers say they have systems, and added venues and vehicles, in place to handle the churn of more than 800 musical entries this year. The auditioning process for the Gold Guitars began across five venues yesterday and convener Philip Geary said their systems for handling this year's 829 entries were reasonably good, but could be better. Given the growth of the awards, Mr Geary said the awards committee was engaging a software writer to create a new program to help organise the contestants, judges' scores and the winners in each of the 31 categories. "[Something] that should just spit everything out, and all we need to do is look at it and confirm it, and that's it," he said. Having worked the awards for 30 years, this was not Mr Geary's first rodeo and he and the other organisers made sure the stage and setup were the same across the auditioning spaces to keep the competition regulated. "We're just trying to create the same environment of what they would do at the finals anyway, so that everybody's on the same level playing field," he said. Gore Country Music Club music committee convener Laurel Turnbull said due to the record number of entries they had engaged all four venues for the auditions as well as added an extra van to act as a courtesy coach between venues. The 12 judges were distributed between the Gore RSA, Gore Town & Country Club, Gore Baptist Church and Calvin Community Church for auditions, but would come together at the club for the finals on Saturday and Sunday nights. Invercargill-raised and Dunedin-based musician Holly Muirhead, 21, who said she had first entered the contest when she was 13, said the competition was massive this year. "When I was back in [the] intermediate [section] there were a lot less contestants and now it's like every class is 50 people," she said. "I don't know how the judges do it." She said the competition had been growing gradually every year and it was nice to see so many new faces in the songwriter and senior (or classic) sections. Mr Geary said the competition's growth, particularly in the younger, intermediate section, happened about 10 to 15 years ago with the rise in popularity of country rock, such as Taylor Swift. "I think it was three years ago [the intermediate section] increased by 30%, which is great, which is big," he said. Ms Muirhead said she agreed with the Taylor Swift effect and said it was the American star's crossover between country and pop which attracted new audiences. She said another of her favourites, five-time Grammy Award nominee Kelsea Ballerini, succeeded in that crossover space. The Dunedin singer/songwriter auditioned with her original song 60 Years about her grandparents' anniversary.
