The compliments were flowing as smoothly as the music at the 27th country hoedown, staged at Cromwell over the weekend.
More than 1000 people converged on the Cromwell Racecourse for the three-day Gold*n*Notes hoedown, and the event continues to grow in popularity every year.
It was founded by country music stalwart Ferg Mitchell, of Cromwell, and began in the Waitaki Valley, before moving to Otematata and then to Omarama.
The need for more accommodation prompted a shift to the Cromwell Racecourse last year and it will remain at that location as the venue provided ample room for motorhomes, Mr Mitchell said. Many in the crowd opted to stay on site.
''It's all been fantastic - the weather's been great, the entertainers are fantastic and everyone's loving it.
''People have come to the hoedown from all over New Zealand, and some from overseas, and they're all telling me this is a better festival than any others they've seen run, even in Australia,'' he said. A massive marquee - 60m by 30m- which took three days to put up, provided shade and shelter for the crowd.
''We had rain last year, but there were no worries about the weather this time,'' Mr Mitchell said.
More than 80 artists entertained the crowd throughout the weekend and the event would continue to expand, he said.
''Word-of-mouth means that it's still growing and the crowd includes people who have planned for months to come here, as well as those who were driving past the racecourse and popped in for a look at the hoedown, and stayed on.''
The event was organised by a group of six people.
The hoedown began with busking in the Cromwell Mall on Friday and continued with a country jam session that night in the marquee, more entertainment throughout Saturday in the marquee, a showcase that evening and it concluded with a country hoedown and another jam session yesterday.
