This year the Country Rock Festival in Paihia celebrates 25 years of bringing
music to the Bay.
The first festival was held in 1990 at the former Tourist Hotel Corporation (now
the Copthorne Hotel) with fifteen groups and individual musicians on the card. In
the years since, the Country Rock Festival is known for not just promoting local
musicians but for the high caliber of performers from around the world, particularly
USA and Australia.
Organiser, Shirley May from Hupara says in all the years she's been running the
show the performer she remembers most was from America. It was 1995.
"It was the first year we had an overseas act and Thom Bresh wore red socks
because it was America's Cup weekend. He didn't want a ribbing from the kiwis."
This year's festival is on 9, 10, 11 May. For tickets go to www.country-rock.co.nz
