Thursday, May 16, 2013

COUNTRY MUSIC DOWNUNDER

Kiwi entertainers at 
Bay of Islands festival


The scene at Paihia on opening day of the Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival

Last week we traveled north to New Zealand’s beautiful and historic Bay of Islands for the 24th annual BOI Country Rock Festival – a truly wonderful event from Friday to Sunday with more than fifty local and overseas entertainers.

This 12 year-old unofficial artist was later invited to sing with several  draw-card performers 
Friday started with free street performances from most entertainers, line dancers and one or two unofficial acts on the street and in car parks. Passing showers on Friday and Saturday afternoons did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the artists and the thousands who came to hear them.

The Kerikeri River, Bay of Islands, New Zealand
The main program was spread over seven indoor venues in the townships of Paihia, Russell and Kawakawa. Shuttle buses and ferries transported people between venues, but some venues fell short on space for the audience and their suitability for stage performances.

Seventeen year-old Abby singing at historic Russell
The Bay of Islands event has long been New Zealand’s premier country music festival but attendance in recent years has fallen due to hard times and the loss of some key venues due to circumstances beyond the control of long-time dedicated organizer Shirley May.

Crowd pleaser Dennis Marsh
Perhaps the time has come to re-locate the festival to Rotorua or Queenstown, also tourist towns, but with an abundance of excellent facilities at that time of the year. The Rotorua District Council and the Rotorua business community would leap at the opportunity to fill beds, shops and conference facilities.

Roger Tibbs, 'The Golden Voice'
The Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival could retain its good name while spreading the event over more than one locality and weekend. The absence of organized tour groups at the festival was noticeable and Rotorua and Queenstown could add thousands more visitors from overseas.
Win Blakeborough and festival organizer Shirley May
Graeme McCardle, a regular attraction at the festival
Meanwhile, the Bay of Islands, although historic and scenically attractive, only attracts about 5% of New Zealand’s overseas visitors. Even the best brands need re-inventing from time to time and re-invention requires looking right outside the square.
Top performer Marian Burns 



Enjoying the fun of the festival, Margaret and Geoff Arthur
We traveled and camped at nearby Haruru Falls with fellow motor-homers Bob and Judy from Thames, Lloyd and Joan from Taupo, and Graeme and Fay from Napier.

When it was all over we took the scenic route back home. Not recommended for large vehicles
or rentals. The state highways are much better.

No comments:

Post a Comment

BEYOND THE SEAS

This is my latest historical novel  Beyond the Seas When twelve-year-old orphan Nathaniel Asker is shipped from the back alleys of London to...