Hats on, guitars out as country rock fest returns to Bay of Islands

Reporter·Northern Advocate·

15 May, 2023 05:00 PM2 mins to read

Ken Strong, Whangārei’s Christie Lethbridge and Karen Davy perform for the public in Paihia on Saturday. Photo / Peter de Graaf

An invasion of cowboy hats, tassels and guitars plus footpaths clogged with line dancers can mean only one thing — the annual Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival is back.

The event, which ran from Friday to Sunday in Paihia, Russell and Haruru, was the 33rd organised by the legendary Shirley May, with both the festival and many of the performers notable for their longevity.

Eddie Low, a festival regular known as “the Voice in a Million” or “the Māori Roy Orbison”, celebrated his 80th birthday on Sunday while May turned 72 on Saturday.

This year’s festival was just the second since borders reopened and international performers returned.

Six of the 47 bands taking part travelled from Australia, including the headline act and nine-times Golden-Guitar-winning Adam Harvey.

This year May was assisted by Michael and Ashley Tipping of country band Cooper’s Run, who might take over the festival reins in future.

“I can’t keep doing it for another 33 years,” May said.

At least 1200 tickets were sold for this year’s festival.

While the crowd seemed thinner than last year, part of that was down to an increase in the number of venues, causing festival-goers to spread out more.