Taupo is set to foot it with the big cities to attract international performers.
Work is due to start next month on creating a natural amphitheatre in Taupo's new Riverside Park - the land which was formerly the camp ground.
Once the amphitheatre is finished, Taupo will be able
to work at attracting international concerts.
The amphitheatre will be larger than New Plymouth's Bowl of Brooklands, which regularly hosts international acts.
Destination Lake Taupo events organiser Warwick Hall said the amphitheatre would be huge for the town and he was confident some good artists would decide to perform there.
"It's not a case of sitting back and waiting for the promoters to come to us. We will go out and get them."
Mr Hall said he knew there would be doubters but there had been people who doubted Taupo could run an Ironman too.
"I'd say to the doubters; watch this space."
Work on the amphitheatre will include earthworks to contour the land and form a natural barrier along State Highway 1, as well as creating sound pits and installing electrical ducting for stage sound control during events.
At this stage, the amphitheatre will not have a permanent stage, so temporary staging will need to be brought in for events.
Taupo District Council community and recreation manager Jean-Paul Gaston said the amphitheatre would comfortably hold 15,000 and would be bigger than the New Plymouth venue.
Initially it would host theatre groups and the first test for the amphitheatre would be in November when it would be the venue for the prizegiving for the Great Lake Cycle Challenge, which attracts more than 20,000.
Work on the amphitheatre is expected to start next month after delays getting consent from the Historic Places Trust.
The park has been given another boost with the Rotary Club of Taupo Moana donating $40,000 towards park furniture which Mr Gaston said should be in place by spring.
