Stars keep 'em dancing

PERFORMING: Melissa Etheridge entertains the crowd. PICTURE/SUPPLIED

The annual Taupo Summer Concert saw 15,000 concert-goers dance away to international rock legends on Saturday.

The fifth annual concert took place at the Taupo Amphitheatre and was kicked off by local artist Aly Cook in the late morning.

At 1pm Melissa Etheridge performed, playing her hit songs such as Similar Features, Bring Me Some Water and Like The Way I Do. Her act included a loop pedal, which she called a little "magic".

REO Speedwagon took to the stage next with favourites including Can't Fight This Feeling, Keep On Loving You and Take It On The Run.

Lead vocalist Kevin Cronin received rapturous applause after coming out for the encore dressed in an All Blacks jersey.

Huey Lewis and The News rounded up the concert and performed some of their Grammy Award-winning hits including If This Is It, Heart and Soul and Power of Love.

Greenstone Entertainment chief executive Amanda Calvert said they couldn't thank the fans enough for coming along to support the fantastic artists who made the long journey to New Zealand to share their talent.

The Taupo Summer Concert was the second in a three-concert tour.

The Gibbston Valley Winery concert took place the weekend before and the Whitianga concert followed Taupo's event yesterday.