Those enduring country music themes of heartache, devotion, betrayal and hope will set toes a-tapping at Marchwood Park this weekend, as part of Motueka’s 14th annual Country Music Festival.
The event will host three guest artists, performing at 6pm on Saturday evening.
They are Southland’s Nick Bourke, Dunedin’s Mellissa Partridge, and Motueka’s very own Monty Gibbins, who is a life member of the Motueka Country Music Club.
Walk-up performers are welcome from 10am-12pm and 1pm-4pm on Saturday, as well as 10am-12pm and 1pm-2.30pm on Sunday.
They will be supported by a showcase band.
Organiser Di Fairhall said the open-air event was free to enter and attend, with a hat passed around to help cover costs.
Food, coffee and raffle tickets would all be available for purchase.
Unpowered campervan parking was available for booking via the Marchwood Park office.
She advised people to bring their own chair or rug to pop on the ground under the shade of the park’s trees.
Di, together with her late husband John, established the festival, eager to give back to the community that had supported country music for many years. It was important to the couple that the event remained free to attend.
Although it started small, Di says that it now has up to 500 attendees, who gather from across the country.
