Blues best under a blue sky (+ video)

Hundreds turned out at Eat Streat to listen to platinum award-winning artist Hollie Smith on Saturday. Photo / Stephen Parker

Locals and visitors alike were singing the blues with hundreds attending the Rotorua Blues Festival.

The six-day festival featured multi-award winning platinum-selling artist Hollie Smith, Australian musicians Andy Phillips and Isaiah Brunt, as well as seasoned national and local bands.

Bay of Plenty Blues Club president Shay Dender said the feedback he's received has been positive.

"It's been lovely, everyone has had such a good time," he said.

"We've had a lot of visitors coming here and making a weekend of it. People who go to music festivals are always keen to come to Rotorua, this festival is certainly on the map for them."

One of the crowd highlights was Hollie Smith, who performed on Eat Streat on Saturday.

"It was a huge crowd, the weather was great and just looking at peoples faces, they were all enjoying it."

The event, which is in its ninth year, also featured the Blues Cruise, which gives people an opportunity to sail on the Lakeland Queen while listening to performers.

The festival had a strong focus on youth with Brunt and Phillips also holding youth workshops.

Blues musicians played at the Thursday Night Market and have been performing along Eat Streat each evening.

"It's been fantastic, the [bar and restaurant] owners have been very supportive and there's been a really nice atmosphere. Kris [Beehre] the owner of Ambrosia reported for them it was better then New Year's Eve," Mr Dender said.

"There was certainly far more people than previous years and I just think it was the good weather and the variety of entertainment available."

-See tomorrow's Rotorua Daily Post for more photos of the festival.