From top New Zealand singer-songwriters and a stage version of the original Kiwi cooking show to a raunchy New York diva and an uplifting UK play about depression - this year's Upsurge Festival has arguably the most intriguing, and broadest, range of acts to date.
Formerly the Bay of Islands Arts Festival, the biennial event was rebranded and contracted out to an external director after the 2012 festival was canned because of a lack of funding. It returned in 2015 under Nelson-based Sophie Kelly, who is about to launch her second Upsurge Festival on April 5-9.
This year's venues are as varied as the acts, ranging from the Turner Centre in Kerikeri to the carved meeting house at the Treaty Grounds and the rustic, century-old showgrounds hall at Waimate North.
Mrs Kelly, who directed the Nelson Arts Festival for 10 years, knew little about the Bay of Islands at first and discovered that pulling together a festival from a distance had challenges.
This time, however, she had a better feel for the Bay and a stronger team on the ground so it was easier.