The 2020 MLT New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards will be held from Friday 29 May – Sunday 31 May 2020 following a week of country music celebrations, including the NZ Country Music Awards, MLT Songwriting Awards, various concerts & busking competitions, all of which are now under the umbrella of Tussock Country-New Zealand’s Country Music Festival
Every year for the last 46 years Gore has hosted the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards. This event attracts artists from around the world and continues to grow in stature and popularity.
Audience levels reach over 5,000 and the entries in all sections and events total 700 competitors. Visitors to Gore leave with fond memories of the ‘Southern Hospitality’ and along with the locals, just soak up the Country Music atmosphere.
The festival begins with a walk up concert at the Gore Country Music Club Rooms Longford Function Center then continues with the Songwriting and the NZ Country Music Awards for the RIANZ Best Country Album and APRA Best Country Song finals.
The MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards are held annually on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Queen’s Birthday Weekend. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday auditions are held in three venues starting at approximately 8.15am. At the auditions judges choose finalists in the various sections. The Junior and Intermediate finals are held on Saturday night and the senior final night is Sunday night. The 40 Plus and 60 Plus finals are held in the stadium on Sunday with the Professional Artists Showcase concert on mid Sunday afternoon. Contestants may enter as an individual, in a duet and/or as part of a group.
Contestants compete in either the junior, intermediate, senior or 40 Plus and 60 Plus sections, depending on their age. There are a variety of sections, including male and female solo, gospel, traditional, new country, country rock, duet, vocal group, NZ Song and instrumental. High quality bands provide backing for contestants.
An event guide for the whole festival will be released here in early Feb 2020.
Below is an outline of the MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards Events
Please go to the below link for an online guide of all events for the Tussock Country Music Festival.
Programme
Gore Country Music Queen Gala Crowning
Where: Jessie’s Room, Gore Country Music Club Rooms
When: Sunday 24 May, 7.30pm
Cost: $20pp
Tickets on sale: 3 February 2020 from www.iticket.co.nz
Entries open: 22 January 2020
Entries close: 3 April 2020, 5.00pm
More information: www.facebook.com/gorecountrymusicqueen/
The crowning of a Gore country music queen is an enduring tradition that stretches back 40 years.
That makes 2020’s event an extra special celebration.
This will be a fabulous night of celebration. As well as the festivities that go with crowning a new country music queen winner and runner-up, there’s fantastic country music to be enjoyed and a guest speaker.
Tamworth’s country music queen is a special guest at the event. Together with Gore’s newly crowned country music queen she judges the Freeze Ya Bits off Busking event and the pair attend many NZ Country Music Festival events.
The Gore country music queen in turn attends Tamworth’s Country Music Festival.
Come and join us for a night of fun and celebration.
Old Dotta’s
Where: Jessie’s Room – Longford Function Centre, East Gore
When: Monday 25 May 2020, 1.30pm
Cost: Gold Coin Entry – Door sales only
This is a wonderful concert of local artists. Every year it’s packed out by our seniors community. Come early to get a seat and look forward to a nice afternoon tea after the concert. Take part in a raffle or two. This relaxing, homely concert is great entertainment.
Open Mic Afternoon
Where: Jessie’s Room – Longford Function Centre, East Gore
When: Tuesday 26 May 2020, 1.30pm
Cost: Gold Coin Entry – Door sales only
Want to warm up your vocal chords? Join in our Open Mic session. It’s simple – put your name on our black board and perform. The Open Mic session is a great afternoon of talent to enjoy. So, come along and strut your stuff. A cash bar is available, and you can dabble in a raffle or two. In true Southland style, everyone is welcome.
Walk-Up Concert
Where: Jessie’s Room, Longford Function Centre, East Gore
When: Tuesday 26 May 2020, 7pm
Cost:
Members $5
Non-members $10
Children free – 17 years and under
Door sales only. Includes supper
Join in the fun! Put your name on the blackboard and wait your turn to perform your favourite song or instrument, or come along for a listen. It’s as simple as that at this informal walk-up concert. A full band is available, ready to back anyone who wants to take part in this lively, engaging evening. Please bring 4 copies of chord charts if you are performing with the band.
This event includes a tree-planting ceremony acknowledging Gore’s sister city relations with Tamworth in Australia.
Young ‘uns Walk-up Concert
Where: Jessie’s Room, Longford Function Centre, East Gore
When: Thursday 28 May 2020, 7pm
Cost: Gore Country Music Club Members – Free
Non-members – $5
Door sales only.It’s the opportunity for our young country music talent to shine. This is a walk-up concert, so come along, put your name on the blackboard and perform. Bring your five chord charts if you intend to use the band. Refreshments served at half time. Locals and country music visitors all welcome. To qualify as a young’un to perform, you either need to be a junior which is up to age 12 or an intermediate – age 13 to 17.
MLT NZ Gold Guitar Award Auditions
Where: Gore Town & Country Club, RSA, Gore Baptist Church
When: Friday 29 May 2020 – 8am – 5pm
Door Sales :
• Auditions, Friday 29 May 2020, Adults $12 and Senior $8
• Three Day Audition Pass $42 Adults and $30 Seniors
Children under the age of 17 are free for auditions.
Tickets on sale: 3 February 2020 from www.iticket.co.nz
Come along to one of our three venues and watch many of our audtions. Whether you are supporting family, friends or just wanting to be entertained, there is certainly something for everyone. See if you can pick the finalists like our judges do. So much talent on show.
MLT Music Round-Up
Where: Heartland Hotel Croydon, Traffers Bar, Longford Tavern
When: Friday 29 May 2020-7pm onwards
Cost: Free entry
Mataura Licensing Trust bars and restaurants open their doors to lovers of country music on Friday 29 May 2020. Pick your favourite band or venue and settle in for the night. Or venue hop and catch them all.
You choose! There is no cover charge for these events.
Kylie Harris
Heartland Hotel Croydon, Gore
Time: 6pm – 8pm
Kylie lives in Nashville these days however she is a very proud Kiwi country music artist. An accomplished singer, writer and instrumentalist she started playing the guitar at the age of 13 and at 17 become the youngest-ever winner of the senior overall MLT NZ Gold Guitar Award. She has opened for Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs, the Irish Rovers and Charlie Pride. In 2004 and 2005, Kylie once again took top honours here in New Zealand for Country Album of the Year and Song of the Year.
Jaydin Shingleton
Taffers Bar
Time: 8pm – 11pm
One of New Zealand’s fastest rising stars of the country music scene, Jaydin Shingleton was the MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards senior overall winner in 2019. Last year he also won the Trans-Tasman Entertainer of the Year award in Norfolk Island and NZCMA Entertainer of the Year. He is performing at Tamworth Country Music Festival events in January 2020.
The Southern Hayride
Jessies Function Room – Longford Tavern, East Gore
Time: 7.30 pm
If you like traditional country music this a show not to be missed. Reg McTaggart is a true country music performer with many years of experience and recording to his name. Reg will be preforming with friends including legend Max McCauley. Max’s contribution to country music is outstanding with awards for yodelling, contribution to country music, and the Gold Disc Award for exceeding 50,000 copies sold of his album 20 Golden Yodels in 1994. This show is sure to be a real crowd pleaser. Let us entertain you from 7.30 pm until late.
TBC- There are further events on around the town, these will be confirmed soon
MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards Auditions
Where: Gore Town & Country Club, RSA, Gore Baptist Church
When: Saturday 30 May 2020 – 8am –
Door Sales :
• Auditions, Saturday 30 May 2020, Adults $12 and Senior $8
• Three Day Audition Pass $42 Adults and $30 Seniors
Children under the age of 17 are free for auditions.
Tickets on sale: 3 February 2020 from www.iticket.co.nz
Come along to one of our three venues and watch many of our audtions. Whether you are supporting family, friends or just wanting to be entertained, there is certainly something for everyone. See if you can pick the finalists like our judges do. So much talent on show.
MLT NZ Gold Guitar Junior Finals
Where: Gore Town & Country Club,
When: Saturday 31 May 2020 – 6.30pm
iTICKET Events:
• MLT NZ Gold Guitar Junior/Intermediate Finals, Saturday 30 May 2020, $38
Tickets on sale: 3 February 2020 from www.iticket.co.nz
Come and watch the budding talent of NZ country music on display. This is their time to shine in the Grand Junior and Intermediate finals. The ability and skill of these young participants will blow you away.
MLT Showcase & Hands of Fame
Where: Gore Town & Country Stadium, Bury Street, Gore
When: Sunday 31 May 2020, 3pm- 5pm
Cost: DOOR SALES- Adults $18, Seniors $14, U17 free
- 40+ and 60+ finals
- MLT Showcase
- Hands of Fame.
MLT ROUND UP
This event is a variety concert featuring a range of artists that have traveled to Gore to participate in the festival.
The MLT NZ Gold Guitar Award senior sections auditions ticket covers entry to this event. During the event Kylie Harris will be inducted into the Hands of Fame.
HANDS OF FAME
As a tribute to honour people who’ve made a significant contribution to New Zealand country music, a Hands of Fame was established by the Gore Country Music Club in 1992.
Over the years wonderful artists have been honoured with a handprint cast in concrete at the Hands of Fame including Kenny Rogers, Slim Dusty, Patsy Rigger, Garner Wayne, Suzanne Prentice, Ricky Skaggs and Jade Hurley.
At the Tussock Country Music Festival in 2020, Kylie Harris will be inducted into the Hands of Fame. Kylie won the 1990 Junior Intermediate Gold Guitar 30 years ago. Two years later she won the 1992 Senior Gold Guitar. At 18, she was the youngest ever winner of the overall Senior Gold Guitar Award.
Kylie is an accomplished singer, writer and instrumentalist with an honest and soulful sound. She’s lived in Nashville for many years where she performs as a proud Kiwi and hosts her own daily country music TV show `The Edge of Country.’
MLT Gold Guitars Awards FINALS
Where: Gore Town & Country Stadium, Bury Street, Gore
When: Sunday 31 May 2020, 7pm
iTICKET Events
• MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards Finals, Sunday 31 May 2020, $45
Tickets on sale: 3 February 2020 from www.iticket.co.nz
The culmination of our weekend. The senior finals, this is where we get to see the biggest and brightest New Zealand has to offer, strut their stuff. An incredible show piece full of country talent.