Country music teen to take Wairarapa

COUNTRY PRINCESS: Abby Christodoulou is one of the youngest performers at the Clareville Country Music Festival.

While her mates load up their iPods with One Direction, Paramore and Rihanna, Abby Christodoulou is sticking with the good old Nashville vibe - preferring divas such as Dolly Parton to Miley Cyrus.

The New Plymouth-based country singer-songwriter travels to Wairarapa this weekend to perform at the Clareville Country Music Festival, hitting the stage alongside heavyweights Brendan Dugan and Cruize Karaitiana.

At 17, Christodoulou is one of the youngest artists in the line-up but, despite her tender years, she lists some of her biggest influences as Parton, Kenny Rogers and Johnny Cash - mostly staples of generations past.

She admits she gets a few strange looks from her peers when her favourite song choices are mentioned, but her close friends are supportive.

"I have a few friends who do love my country side," said Christodoulou, a Year 13 student at Spotswood College.

"They don't particularly like the style of music I sing but they're friends about it. They're proud of me."

Christodoulou, who has a voice not dissimilar to pop country princess Taylor Swift, has been active on New Zealand's country music circuit for the past five years.

She has played live gigs all over the country and has recorded three albums, featuring covers and original material.

The teen first fell in love with country at 2, when her grandparents took her to their local country music club in New Plymouth.

"They always went to festivals and clubs when I was growing up," said Christodoulou, who plays guitar, piano and the drums.

"They encouraged me to come along. They were like, 'you sing, Abby, so why not try singing country?' And I kept going back after that.

"I find country so nice to perform. I love how diverse it can be.

"You've got country pop, country rock, country folk - you put any genre with it. I love it all."

Christodoulou, with support from her "fantastic" grandfather and manager, Colin Lennox, has since performed at festivals all over the North Island - including the Bay of Islands, Cape Kidnappers and Marton country festivals.

She has more than 60 cover songs in her repertoire, ranging from old favourites by Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, to more modern anthems by Lady Antebellum, The Dixie Chicks, Mumford and Sons and, of course, Swift.

"I love Taylor - I think she's really talented, and a great role model."

Christodoulou has twice won the 2ZH Country Music Club Entertainer of the Year, has been given the New Plymouth Young Achievers Award, and performed in front of 15,000 people at the city's Christmas at the Bowl celebration.

One of her proudest moments was opening for the Topp Twins when they played in New Plymouth.

"My granddad met them at the Hawera A&P Show, and they said, 'yeah, we'd love to have her along' ... It was quite a privilege. They're Kiwi icons."

She also hosts a country-themed show on Access Radio Taranaki where she hopes to share country music with other young people.

"We're starting to hear more country music on mainstream radio," she said. "I think it will become more and more popular."

The Clareville Country Music Festival begins at Clareville Showgrounds on Friday, January 10, and runs until Sunday, January 12.