Tussock Country: “The Nashville of New Zealand” is growing again

Tussock Country is back in Gore this May with its biggest programme yet, stretching across 10 days and more than 80 events.

Festival promotions and event co-ordinator Annabel Roy says the festival has grown well beyond a single weekend, now spanning two weekends and running through King’s Birthday weekend.

“It’s a 10-day festival, which in itself is quite unique,” Roy said.

“It’s always the last week of May, it’s cold, so all the venues are cosy. There are fireplaces. There’s Hokonui moonshine and whisky. It’s a unique festival in that it celebrates country music and all types of Americana, folk, singer-songwriter music -really not just country.”

A festival built around the Gold Guitars

Roy says Tussock Country has grown up around Gold Guitar Awards, which remain the heartbeat of Gore’s country music reputation.

“The Gold Guitars competition is still New Zealand’s biggest talent competition with around 800 entrants every year. It’s still growing and growing, and if you win Gold Guitars, you essentially have a pathway to a career in music.”

She said five years ago a charitable trust was formed to create an umbrella festival that could support the Gold Guitar Awards and everything happening around them.

“That’s really how it’s evolved.”

From 42 events to 82

The scale has lifted sharply since year one.

“In year one we were 42 events across nine days. Now year five, we are 82 events across 10 days,” Roy said.

She said the growth has come from both the organising committee and the town leaning in - creating “micro events” that sit inside the bigger festival.

That community involvement is part of the long game, with Roy openly aspiring to build something like Australia’s Tamworth Country Music Festival.

“That’s what I aspire for it  to be.”

New events, big names, and a wider mix

The 2026 festival line-up includes new events and headline names.

Kiwi legends The Warratahs will appear as guest artists at Country Music Honours, with frontman Barry Saunders also set to play an intimate house concert.

“Barry sits in the corner with his guitar and he tells yarns, and you sit on the couch and listen. It’s an incredible night.”

Comedian Tom Sainsbury also joins the 2026 programme, alongside a growing slate of events for younger audiences - including a book reading, a songwriting workshop for teens, and a kids’ Singalongercise concert.

The festival’s “different” structure is part of the appeal, Roy said. It’s not a single gate, single ticket event. Each event is individually run.

“You choose what you want to go to and buy tickets to whatever you want, as opposed to one festival, one gate where you buy one ticket.”

Rural life, utes, trucks, and moonshine

Roy said the festival also celebrates Eastern Southland rural life, with events like the Tussock Country Ute Muster adding a local flavour.

“It celebrates the utes, the rural life… it’s a really fun Sunday afternoon.”

Long-standing favourites return too, including the Freeze Ya Bits Off Busking competition, the Gore Truck Show, and the Old Hokonui whisky and food pairing evening.

“Gore was a prohibition area for many years… so they brewed moonshine in the hills,” Roy said.

“There’s still the Hokonui Moonshine Museum, and we have a whisky and food match evening where local distilleries come along and local chefs match food with it.”

Travel, beds, and removing barriers

Accommodation has been a historic barrier for visitors, but Roy says that is changing.

“We have more beds than we even know what to do with,” she said, pointing to the festival’s private home and room rental scheme.

The festival is also working on transport solutions, including a shuttle option for people flying into nearby airports and needing a lift into Gore.

Air New Zealand backing, but sponsors still matter

A major boost for the festival is its selection as one of 19 events nationwide to receive “tailored support” from Air New Zealand for three years, including flights and marketing.

“So many people told me don’t apply because Gore doesn’t have an airport - but of course we applied anyway,” Roy said.

While the support is not cash, she said flight assistance makes a real difference for bringing artists south.

“They don’t give us any cash, but they do give us flight contra, which helps us get artists from around New Zealand to Southland.”

Roy said sponsorship is still crucial.

“We need sponsorship and funding more than ever.”

Big economic impact

Tussock Country is already delivering measurable benefits to the district. The festival estimates it injected around $2.5 million into the Eastern Southland economy in 2025, with 2026 expected to push higher again.

BOX

Tussock Country 2026

May 22 to 31, Gore More than 80 events across 10 days

Tickets via tussockcountry.nz

Full details: tussockcountry.nz