It was disappointing but it was also the first time the "cancelled" signs had gone up in 17 years of concerts - and from 2010 onwards they again resumed without fail.
The only other no-show glitch emerged in 2015 when despite the committed and tireless efforts of Sport and Entertainment Ltd an artist who would do the well-established Mission Concert story justice just could not be signed.
But today, it is all go again with the Dixie Chicks set to take the big stage around 7.45pm.
While the midweek downpours had been unsettling and soaking one thing had been in the concert's favour as they fell.
"Timing," was how Mr Holley put it.
"Get it out of the way and let the drying begin".
Had the rains of Tuesday and Wednesday fallen yesterday and today it is almost certain the "cancelled" signs would have gone up.
But as SEL's Mission Estate Winery Concert event director Garry Craft said a week ago, modest rain would not upset the show applecart.
"If it rains the show will go on."
It would only have been abandoned if conditions were deemed dangerous.
But the brighter skies over the past 48 hours have ensured the "cancelled" signs have stayed tucked away, although as Mr Holley said concert-goers need to be prepared for a damper than usual ground and need to take something waterproof to spread across it.
And warm clothes, because for the first time the concert is being staged well into autumn and with daylight saving done and dusted, and cooler nights ensuing, there is likely to be dew in the air.
Warm clothes and good shoes...not high heels or anything that won't hold the ground well.
Back in October when the Dixie Chicks were announced to head the concert, and when the date of it was also announced, there were whispers about the timing - of the often autumnal rains - but it was a chance the organisers had to take as the date was effectively set by the group's schedule and tour of Australia.
It is their first visit to New Zealand and when they were announced the initial surge for tickets was up there with the likes of Rod Stewart and Sting.
"Close to capacity" was how the crowd numbers were described 10 days ago, and it is highly likely it will effectively be sold out.
And a large slice of that big crowd will have travelled some distances to get to the concert.
Mission Estate ran a poll on its Facebook page and the results showed a large number were heading this way from as far afield as Gore, Invercargill, Dunedin and Westport.
The South Island has long had a reputation of embracing country music and the sales figures very firmly reflect that.
The Dixie Chicks continue a long Mission tradition of making that event the one-stop show in New Zealand.
Like other major artists they arrive with an impressive CV.
Thirteen Grammy awards, six Billboard Music awards, four American Music awards and a string of Country Music Association awards and accolades since they first tuned up and stepped on stage back in 1990.
And well over 30 million record sales, with two of their albums, Wide Open Spaces and Fly achieving "diamond" status by virtue of making 10 million sales each.
They have played with some other top guns too - making appearances alongside the Eagles, Neil Young, James Taylor and Stevie Nicks.
Before announcing the event headliners last October Mr Craft was confident they had got it right.
"We are very pleased - this act is going to be great."
He said he had been chasing the group for about 18 months and it had been an on-again, off-again, on-again journey.
"It has been a lot of work and pretty tough but we have now got it up and running."
SEL chairman James Erskine said he was equally excited the deal had been done, to get the annual Mission Concert back on track and with an act he said would create "one very special day" at the open air arena.
Going by ticket sales and reviews of the Dixie Chicks Australian appearances they were spot on.
TIMETABLE
1pm Gates Open
1.30pm Badger
2.45pm Kaylee Bell
4.15pm Morgan Evans
6pm Avalanche City
7.45pm Dixie Chicks
9.30pm Approximate Finish Time
(Note: All times subject to change)
FOOD AND DRINK
● Mission Estate sales sites will be offering seven varieties of bottled wine and three beers (including a light beer). All sales are strictly governed by the Liquor Licensing Authority.
● The Northern and Southern Food Courts will feature stalls selling pizzas, Japanese dishes, burgers, BBQ food, nachos, hot dogs, chips, racks of ribs, steak sandwiches, water, coffee, tea, orange juice and confectionery.
● While there are food and drink sites concertgoers can take a picnic hamper and un-opened bottles of non-alcoholic beverages - concert management reserve the right to inspect bins, bags and baskets - and if a prohibited item is uncovered then entry is denied.
RULES AND REGS
● Low deckchairs are recommended. High deckchairs at the back of the venue so sightlines of others are not impeded.
● Umbrellas are permitted but may not be put up when the artists are performing - again so as not to impede sightlines.
● No alcohol can be taken in.
● No animals, except guide dogs, allowed.
● Eftpos and credit card facilities will be available at the Mission Winery sales outlets - but most food outlets will NOT have those payment facilities therefore cash will need to be taken.
For a full list of concert site rules check out the Mission Concert website.
THE MISSION CONCERT LIST
1993: Kiri Te Kanawa
1994: Ray Charles
1995: Dionne Warwick
1996: Shirley Bassey
1997: Kenny Rogers
1998: Julio Iglesias
1999: Beach Boys
2000: Boney M
2001: Lulu/Hollies
2002: Engelbert Humperdinck
2003: Cliff Richard
2004: John Farnham/B52s/Belinda Carlisle
2005: Rod Stewart
2006: Chris De Burgh and Olivia Newton-John
2007: Eric Clapton
2008: Tom Jones
2009: Lionel Ritchie concert cancelled due to heavy rain
2010: Motown Celebration
2011: Sting
2012: Rod Stewart
2013: Barry Gibb and Carole King
2014: British and Irish Invasion
2015: No artist available
(2016 saw Simply Red play at the Mission but it was part of a Summer Concert series and was one of five New Zealand gigs)
