This year's New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards in Gore on May 25-31 could be the biggest yet, the organisers say.
An extra venue has had to be found at the last minute after organisers received a deluge of entries.
A total of 560 people will audition, perform and take to the stage during the last week of May.
The highest number of entries in a decade means organisers were last week scrambling to find another performance venue.
Organisers were unsure why this year had proved more popular than recent Gold Guitars, particularly with the economic recession predicted to keep many performers away from Gore.
But the event's standing and the lure of the biggest prize for a country music competition in New Zealand meant people were still keen to come south and try their luck.
Highlights of the week will include the induction of entertainer Ray Columbus into the Hands of Fame and the senior finals on the last night.
The awards, which have run for the past 36 years, start on May 25 and officially finish with the senior grand final on Sunday, May 31.
Gold Guitars programme
The 2009 programme is. -
• Monday, May 25: Walk-up concert, Longford Function Centre, 8pm.
• Tuesday, May 26: Acoustic walk-up concert, Longford Function Centre, 7.30pm.
• Wednesday, May 27: Hands of Fame induction show, Longford Function Centre, 8pm.
• Thursday, May 28: Busking competition, main Gore shopping area, noon to 2pm.
MLT Songwriting seminar, Longford Function Centre, 10am to 3pm.
MLT songwriting awards, Longford Function Centre, 8pm.
• Friday, May 29: Busking competition, main Gore shopping area, noon to 2pm.
Auditions (all sections), Gore Town and Country Club Stadium and Calvin Community Church.
New Zealand Country Music Award, SBS St James Theatre, 8pm.
• Saturday, May 30: Truck Show, 8am start before parade at 2.30pm and prizegiving at 4.30pm.
Busking competition finals, main Gore shopping area, noon to 2pm.
Dusk busk-off finals, Longford Function Centre, 4.30pm, followed by buskers' bash.
NZ Gold Guitar intermediate and junior finals, Gore Town and Country Club Stadium, 7.45pm.
• Sunday, May 31: Auditions (all sections), Gore Town and Country Club Stadium and Calvin Community Church.
Auditions (senior sections only), same venue as above.
NZ Gold Guitar 40-plus finals, Gore Town and Country Club Stadium, following the final auditions. Showcase, Gore Town and Country Club Stadium, to follow the 40-plus finals.
Senior finals, Gore Town and Country Club Stadium, 7.45pm
