The Maniototo's annual salute to bush poetry and rural balladeers being staged this weekend will be ''everywhere, man'', in the words of guest artist John Grenell.
Grenell and Naseby bush poet Ross McMillan are among more than 30 performers in the Bards, Ballads and Bulldust Festival being staged at seven venues around the Maniototo. Usually held in Naseby at Easter, the event was ''spreading out'' into the wider Maniototo, one of the organisers, Project Maniototo co-ordinator Amie Pont, said.
''At Easter, everyone's very busy with other things and we're confident the change in date will attract a bigger audience, at what is traditionally a quiet time for the Maniototo.''
''We've had inquiries about the event from people all over the country and from Australia, so it's shaping up to be a great weekend.''
Country singer and songwriter Grenell (68), who originally sang as John Hore, attended school in Kyeburn, and had a big hit with the New Zealand version of I've Been Everywhere in 1966. Poems by McMillan (84), who writes under the name Blue Jeans, would be put to music by some of the artists, Mrs Pont said.
This is the eighth year of the festival and performances will be held at the Ranfurly Hotel, the Royal Hotel and Ancient Briton in Naseby, Oturehua Railway Hotel, Waipiata Country Hotel, Danseys Pass Hotel and at the Chalet Rest Home in Ranfurly. Performances will be held throughout today and tomorrow and a ''Back in the Day'' concert and ball will be staged in the Maniototo Stadium tonight, from 7pm to 11pm.
