After a successful first year in Cromwell, organisers of an annual hoedown are already well on the way to organising the next one.
Event founder Ferg Mitchell reckons after staging 26 of the country music festivals, he knows how to organise a good party.
More than 80 artists with ages spanning more than six decades entertained a crowd of more than 1000 people, some from as far away as Melbourne and the Caribbean, at the event held over three days last weekend at Cromwell Racecourse.
Mr Mitchell said, though it rained on the Saturday night during the showcase event, that did not dampen anyone's spirits.
"It was a tremendous night with a tremendous line-up of artists from throughout New Zealand ... the atmosphere was electric."
Mr Mitchell said, over the past 26 years the country music festival had become so popular that it had outgrown previous event locations at Hakataramea, Otematata and Omarama.
Though there was "plenty of space" in Cromwell, he said he thought it would continue to "grow and grow".
