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The Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival or The Bay of Islands Country Music Festival offers great music amid the striking setting of the Bay of Islands, one of the popular tourist destinations in the country of New Zealand. Every year this event features over sixty acts from New Zealand, Nashville and Australia that are performed at nine venues. Street music and line dancing is also a part of this elating festival and the weekend gets intoxicating with live music. Mike Nettmann, the pianist who resided at the T.H.C. Waitangi initiated this music festival with the support of local country fans and great music performers like Shirley May and Lois Pratt.
The first Bay of Islands Country Music Festival was held on 7th, 8th & 9th May 1990 at Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands, Waitangi which was formerly known as Tourist Hotel Corporation Hotel. At that time there was individual and fifteen groups of musicians for the first show. The lively audiences enjoyed the performance of these musicians in the two rooms at the hotel. This inaugural performance of the Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival was much acclaimed by the Fullers boat cruises. In the 1992 Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival, the third event, Brian Ringrose, Barry Croft and Kitten were among the renowned performers among other ninety performers.
Entry to venues was formerly free, but costs were mounting and a $20 fee for a three-day pass was introduced to cover them. The 2006 Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival was proud to have overseas artists like Stephen Pride and Charley Pride. The Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival of 2007 is scheduled to be held on the 11th, 12th and 13th May. This festival will be celebrating its 18th year with national and international performers ready to enthrall the spectators with their gifted talent of music. The famous musicians who are scheduled to play in the 18th annual 2007 Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival are -
- Billy Bridge
- Rebecca Lee Nye
- Bidge
- Owen Blundell
- Grae Addison
- Steven Anthony
- Duke Wilde A free shuttle service is available over the weekend within the nine venues. You can purchase Badges from the official website of the Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival. The badge will provide you with complete access to all the nine venues of the festival.
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