Country Music Festival Kicks Off This Weekend In Gore

Tuesday, 20 May 2025, 6:51 pm
Press Release: Tussock Country Music Festival

Gore is tuning up for a high-energy, star-studded
celebration as Bayleys Tussock Country – New Zealand’s
Country Music Festival opens for the fourth year this
weekend. With a packed programme of 72 events over 10 days,
near sold-out shows, and visitors arriving in droves, the
Southland town is primed to host one of the nation’s most
exciting emerging events.

The festival launches with
the Country Music Honours, a glittering opening night
showcasing national songwriters and headliners Tami Neilson,
Mel Parsons, and Barry Saunders. The evening will also
welcome key representatives from across the New Zealand
music industry, including NZ On Air, Recorded Music NZ, APRA
AMCOS, and the New Zealand Music Commission — making it
one of the most significant nights on the kiwi country music
calendar. The event is all but sold out, with just a handful
of tickets remaining.

By Saturday, the
town will be alive with music, workshops and community
activity. The daytime schedule offers a range of health,
songwriting and industry information workshops tailored for
musicians looking to grow their craft and careers, alongside
line dancing and the community welcoming event Saturday
Saloon Social.

And when the sun goes
down, Gore will light up with a triple-header Saturday night
that showcases the festival’s diversity and
depth.

MITCHELL at the St James Theatre is a one-time,
full band concert featuring a Gore musical family, the
Mitchells. Led by Ron Mitchell—a farmer, Tui nominee and
three-time MLT NZ Songwriting Award finalist—joined by
daughters Jenny, Maegan and Nicola Mitchell. Jenny, who
first caught national attention at age 14 on NZ’s Got
Talent, has gone on to win an Aotearoa Music Award for Best
Country Artist and earn two Australian Golden Guitar
nominations. She returns home from a 30-date tour with
Australian country music icon Kasey Chambers to perform in
this heartfelt family show. The Mitchell Twins, an
award-winning duo known for their tight harmonies and
connection to te ao Māori, round out the lineup. This
multi-generational showcase of story and song promises to be
one of the standout events of the 2025
festival.

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Hailing from the foothills of North
Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Sassafras is bringing
their infectious blend of traditional bluegrass and
progressive Newgrass to Gore’s Little Theatre. With deep
roots in the Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs tradition
and a love for pushing boundaries, Sassafras infuses their
set with country, folk, western swing, and fresh originals.
Their soulful musicianship and Southern charm make them a
must-see act for bluegrass lovers and curious newcomers
alike.

Rounding out the night’s entertainment,
Tussock Country Late Night at the Croydon Lodge is the party
event of the weekend, serving up a powerhouse lineup of
southern talent with Brad Staley, Jaydin Shingleton, and The
Dollys.

Patrons can expect a rollicking night of
foot-stomping originals and all the classic and
chart-topping covers they know and love. With the amps
turned up and the energy sky-high, this is the ultimate
chance to dance, sing, and celebrate everything that makes
Tussock Country unforgettable. Seated and early bird tickets
have sold out, but general admission passes are still
available online.

With no vacancy signs up across the
region, selected local cafés and eateries extending their
hours, and Gore’s streets humming with anticipation, the
town is ready to welcome thousands of visitors from around
the country – culminating in the MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards
50th anniversary celebrations, set to round out the festival
over Kings Birthday Weekend.

“We’re witnessing
this festival evolve from a local celebration to a national
destination,” said Jeff Rea, Chairperson of Bayleys
Tussock Country. “This first weekend really captures what
the festival is about—extraordinary talent, grassroots
pride, and a whole lot of fun. Gore is ready to
shine.”

Bayleys Tussock Country runs from 23 May to
1 June 2025. For full programme details and ticket info,
visit
www.tussockcountry.nz.

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