Country up against pop
A Timaru-based country music competition has pop singer Ed Sheeran’s Dunedin concert to compete with this Easter weekend.
‘‘A lot of previous entrants are going there,’’ Southern Alps Country Music Awards convenor Andrew Nelson said.
‘‘There’s always something on during Easter but this is out of our league to compete against.’’
Just 58 singers and musicians will battle it out at the Caroline Bay Hall this year, while last year 79 competitors took to the stage.
‘‘The numbers are down on last year but they’re still good,’’ Nelson said.
He said competitors came from all over the South Island, some coming from as far north as Murchison and Nelson.
‘‘We have had North Islanders previously but not this year,’’ he said.
This is the 30th year for the awards, though Nelson said due to finances nothing special had been planned.
Nelson said the awards encompassed many different styles including traditional, rock, gospel and yodelling.
The awards welcomed competitors from a wide range of ages, the youngest this year being five and the eldest 84, he said.
Nelson knew of three families that were bringing children with parents or grandparents that had entered in previous years.
‘‘It’s great that they want to bring them back to experience it,’’ he said.
‘‘One of the families has about four boys entered. The mother competed and so did the grandmother.’’
About $5000 will be split between the winners of the 24 competition categories, the best prizes being $1000 for the over 18 winner and a guitar for the winner of each age group.
Auditions are from 8am to 4pm on Saturday and from 8am to 3pm on Sunday.
The final - starting at 6pm on Sunday - costs $5 for children, $15 for adults, and $12 seniors.