The success of the inaugural three-day Napier Country and Variety Music Festival means plans for 2014 are well underway, says organiser Keith Willis.
"The acts were all brilliant, some of the best in New Zealand, especially in the variety field," he said.
"The only thing was a lack of people in the audience.
"Hawke's Bay people don't support anything like this. That was the reason for the last one folding."
Mr Willis started the festival after the cessation of the Kidnappers Country Music Festival, which had run at the same time of year at the same venue - Farndon Park in Clive.
The festival started on Saturday with a "walk up" followed by an invited-artists concert from 2pm to 5pm and an evening showcase.
On Sunday there was gospel music and a country and variety show from 4.30pm.
Country music was a small part of the festival, Mr Willis said.
"Everyone thinks, 'Oh gosh country - it will probably be Jim from down the bloody Westport singing about cats and dogs and the cow jumped over the moon'."
The festival wouldn't become "too jazzified" as there was a ready market for country music and many who toured the country's festivals in campervans.
"The last weekend was Carterton, then here and next weekend is Marton. They hop in their campervans and they have the next two or three months mapped out - they love it."
Forty came to Hawke's Bay and Marton had more than 280 last year. "Many want to sing and play and if I didn't give them that opportunity they wouldn't come."