There have been 829 entries for the Gold Guitar Awards this year, the highest number since its humble beginnings in 1974.
Awards panel convener Phillip Geary said even in the last year, the competition has had a significant boom, with 100 more singers trying their luck this year compared to 12 months ago.
Mr Geary said in typical fashion, most of the entrants put their applications in at the very last minute.
"This happens to us every year. Last year we got 300 in the final week," he said.
As Mr Geary had predicted, the teenage "intermediate" section has had a big increase in entries, compared to previous years when teens tended to drift away from their music as they got older, he said.
"They're the future of our country music in New Zealand so it's good to see their numbers are keeping up," he said.
Three previous Gold Guitar winners have also re-entered the ring, Mr Geary said, including Kylie Austin from Hamilton and Kayla Mahon from Riversdale.
Gore Country Music Club president Julie Mitchell said the record number of applicants was exciting and she put that down to the hard work of the organisers.
"I couldn’t be more proud of the work that the Gold Guitar committee has done in getting these entries," she said.
She said awards celebrations would begin with a "humdinger" of a 50th anniversary show, starring returning Gold Guitars alumni.
Mrs Mitchell said she was also looking forward to the gold-themed window displays local businesses created every year in celebration of the country music festival.
"They’ll say the streets of Gore are lined with gold once again," she said.
The encompassing festival, including the Gold Guitars as well as events including the Gore Country Music Queen Gala, the Freeze Your Bits Off busking competition, yodelling and ukulele workshops, line dancing and other performances, begins May 23.
