A no-show by a headline act from Texas, The Gloria River Band, turned out to be a boon for fans of Kiwi country veteran Brendan Dugan when he stepped in to fill the breach. Mr Dugan was at the festival as a tour guide for Waikato country music fans but had not been expected to play.
"He's a legend. A lot of people still love him," Mrs May said.
Mrs May said she was grateful to the Bay's accommodation providers, who put up the performers without charge, to the six venues, and to Fullers for providing free ferry transport for the musicians.
With the festival struggling in recent years with rising costs and falling turnout, country music fans had been warned to "use it or lose it".
With about 1800 tickets sold, 200 up on last year, the event's survival is now more secure.
From August 10-12 Mrs May will organise her 20th Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival, which is facing the same challenges.
"As long as the festivals are supported, and as long as I'm still standing, I'll keep going."
An economic development report for the Far North District Council in 2010 said the Country Rock and Jazz and Blues festivals pumped $1 million a year into the Bay of Islands economy.
