This year's Bayleys Tussock Country - New Zealand Country music festival attracted 10,322 participants, from throughout New Zealand and Australia, and pumped an estimated $2.1 million into the local economy according to organisers.

Average stays in Gore also increased from 3.6 nights in 2023 to 4.3 nights this year.

The 10-day country music festival is held annually, around Kings Birthday (late May to early June), in Gore and this year featured 72 events.

These included concerts and shows, workshops and master classes, and competitions including the showcase MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards.

Line dancing, truck shows, cheese roll making and even Mai Mai tours have now been included as part of a southern touch to the festivities.

Trust chair, Jeff Rea said they acknowledged 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 shared a vision of developing the relatively new festival concept into one of New Zealand’s biggest and most successful annual music events.

Zac Griffith, Arun O'Connor and Keily Smith work on 'The Only Way', a song the co-wrote during the Apra Amcos 321 Session at this year's festival. Photo: Supplied

“Witnessing the festival’s growth and the benefits it’s bringing to our community is a welcome reward for the efforts of many, and we look forward to delivering a significantly bigger festival in 2025 as we join the MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards in their 50th year celebrations,” she said.

Rea said he looked forward to another action-packed festival of events, musicians and audiences from throughout New Zealand in 2025 and beyond. 

Next year's event will be held in Gore from May 23rd until June 1st 2025.

For performers and competitors, event registrations open in September and ticket sales to attend events open in February 2025.