Country music is still alive and well in Gore, despite the cancellation of the 2022 Tussock Country Music Festival, with a string of live events set to be held over the next week. 

Live and Local, a series of events organised with local Gore businesses, artists, and the community, aims to keep the festive spirit alive on a smaller scale.

The series includes 10 straight days of events, which started on Saturday. 

Tussock Country Promotions Manager Annabel Roy says the larger festival was postponed until 2023, given uncertainty about the impacts of Covid-19. 

“We couldn’t hold the big events at the time, we didn’t know if we would have the volunteers, if we would have the musicians and the sound guys. We also didn’t want to be bringing thousands of people to Gore.” 

However, with the larger festival cancelled, the opportunity was there for community events to be supported, says Roy. 

“We said to the community that if they wanted to hold their own events, the support would be there.”

“We thought we might get around 12 events put forward, and we ended up with 25. It’s been great to see.” 

Golden Guitar-winning country music star Jenny Mitchell and Mike Hood are performing two sold-out shows. Photo: Supplied.

So far the events have been well attended, she says. 

“I imagine there isn’t quite the festival feel in town that we have had, but people are still coming along.”

“For the most part, if people are well and aren’t isolating, it’s still something to go out and do.” 

Along with a line-up of country music performers, the Live and Local series also includes the annual MLT Music Night, Gore Truck Show and Hokonui Ute Muster. 

The town has also played host to visiting national music acts including New Zealand Video Music Award-winning Albi & The Wolves, Adam Hattaway & Tess Liautaud.

Live music events still to come include two sold out shows of country and folk performers Jenny Mitchell and Mike Hood, and the Hokonui Line Dance Social.

For more information and a line-up of events still to come, visit https://www.tussockcountry.nz/