Clapton on a Mission

Guitar hero Eric Clapton is sure to fire up the big crowd at next year's annual Mission Estate Winery concert.

Regarded as one of rock's most influential guitarists, he plays the January 27 showt at the Hawkes Bay vineyard as part of his world tour.

It will be his only New Zealand concert.

This year's Mission event, featuring Olivia Newton-John and headliner Chris De Burgh, had mixed reviews with the latter's mellow serenades failing to rark up the crowd like rockin' Rod Stewart did in 2005.

Since the annual concerts started in 1993 with a performance by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, other guests have included Cliff Richard (2003), Engelbert Humperdinck and the Seekers (2002), Shirley Bassey (1996) and the late Ray Charles (1994).

But Clapton is arguably the Mission's biggest drawcard considering he's not only had a successful solo career - including 90s career revival with his hit Unplugged album - but was a member of 60s British blues-rock acts the Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith, and Derek and the Dominos.

Tickets went on sale on Tuesday and sold out within hours.