Eddie Low headlines Waitara festival
It will be the second country music festival in Taranaki in as many months, but there are enough fans to go around, organisers say.
The Taranaki Country Music Festival takes place in Waitara in February, hot on the heels of the Egmont Country Music Festival, which was held at the New Plymouth Raceway last weekend.
The Waitara event, organised by locals George and Jocelyn Tuahine and their team of 10, is heading into its fourth year, but closed borders mean they will be without the international artists they had previously lined up.
Jocelyn is a yodeller, and the pair run the Riverside Country Music Group every Monday in Waitara.
‘‘I’ve been brought up with country music. Mum and Dad bought me a guitar when I was 16 and I went from there.
‘‘I just love the story behind the lyrics. It’s just easy listening.’’
George Tuahine is an entertainer and plays a range of styles.
‘‘I play all types of music but country music is something I just love playing.
‘‘I’ve backed most of the top New Zealand artists as regards country music.’’
The popularity of country music in New Zealand has not slowed down, he said, and there are numerous festivals all around the country.
‘‘There’s a festival just about in every town really, held at different times of the year.’’
In 2018, the festival won the award for events and attractions excellence at the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards.
Held at the Waitara War
Memorial Hall, the three-day festival, starting February 19, is headlined by Eddie Low, who has been called the ‘‘voice in a million’’ and has performed all over the world.
A partially sighted multiinstrumentalist and acclaimed songwriter, Low’s music career began in the early 1960s. He came to country music mid-career and went on to perform and tour with
the best, including Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers.
Dennis August, Ivan Broughton and En-Tranzit are also performing at the event, and there will be open-mike sessions.