23 February 2024 - 0 Comments

Bayleys Tussock Country – New Zealand’s Country Music Festival has recently announced an extended lineup of competitions and workshops at this year's music festival to foster and support artists’ abilities.

Musicians from all genres and skill levels are invited to showcase their talents in the highly anticipated festival competitions.

Solo artists, duos or groups can enter the MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards, one of Aotearoa’s most prestigious country music events. Over 800 contestants from around the world flock to Gore annually to celebrate country music and compete for the coveted gold guitar. Prizes include cash, single and video clip production and a trip to perform at Tamworth Country Music Festival in Australia, an invaluable opportunity for exposure and networking in the music industry.

If street performance is preferred, musicians can take part in literally the country’s coolest busking competition. Freeze Ya Bits Off Busking auditions are held on the streets of Gore every Kings Birthday weekend, then the finalists go head-to-head for major cash prizes.

Songwriting stars will descend the red carpet at Gore's St James Theatre this winter, hoping to claim two of the music industry's most coveted crowns. MLT Songwriting Awards entries are now open and writers who submit their previously unreleased tracks will be vying for the title and the $2,500 cash prize presented during the Country Music Honours gala evening to be held on May 24th.

The other esteemed award presented during the evening is the APRA Best NZ Country Music Song Award, awarded by APRA AMCOS. The APRA Best Country Music Song Award celebrates the best in country music from around Aotearoa. Previous winners include Jenny Mitchell, Tami Neilson, Holly Arrowsmith and Reb Fountain.

In addition to the competitions, Bayleys Tussock Country offers a series of enriching workshops led by seasoned professionals. From mastering voices or instruments to songwriting and navigating the music business, the workshops cover a diverse range of topics to assist artistic careers.

“Our festival simply wouldn’t happen without the people who make the music, so empowering artists through skills workshops and providing performance opportunities for all ages isn’t just about creating music; it's about nurturing growth, future proofing the industry and allowing dreams to find their stage in a supportive environment” says festival chairman Jeff Rea. 

With over fifty other events spanning the ten days, including a number of paid performance opportunities for musicians, Bayleys Tussock Country – New Zealand’s Country Music Festival is fast becoming a must-do destination on Aotearoa’s creative calendar. Full competition, workshop and event information can be found at www.tussockcountry.nz.

Photo: Delaney Davidson takes the stage during the Country Music Honours.

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