Marton Country Music Festival celebrates 21st event

The Marton Country Music Festival gets underway on Friday and is back for its 21st year.

Rangitīkei is saddling up for three days of country music, busking and festivities at the annual Marton Country Music Festival.

The event will fill Marton’s Sir James Wilson Memorial Park with music from Friday, January 16, to Sunday, January 18.

Returning for its 21st year, it will feature a selection of New Zealand and overseas country music acts.

“Just the fact that this is its 21st year says something in itself,” event organiser Ashley Tipping said.

“That we’re able to have it for another year is really, really cool.”

This year’s festival will feature Australian country artist Amber Joy Poulton as the main headliner. She is joined by New Zealand legend Brendan Dugan and other Kiwi favourites, including Cooper’s Run, Kylie Austin, Bevan Gardiner and James Davy, Sharon Russell, Echo and Harmony, and Whanganui’s Sophie Toyne.

“Keeping our line-up of artists and our musicians to the highest standard that we can is the biggest importance for us,” Tipping said.

About 2000 visitors are expected to attend the festival this weekend.

Between 500 and 600 motorhomes are expected to arrive in Marton and stay over the three days of the festival.

Rangitīkei Mayor Andy Watson said the festival provided a massive economic benefit for the town.

“When you get 600 motorhomes and people wanting to refuel and spend the time at the park, it’s awesome,” he said.

From conversations with attendees at past festivals, Watson said many spent large amounts of money in Marton between attending the festival and enjoying what the town had to offer.

One couple he spoke with spent several hundred thousand dollars in Marton, choosing to buy a home, he said.

“They said, we love Marton and we’ve decided to have a home base, and we’ve bought a house.”

Many people attended the festival every year, Watson said.

“We welcome them like friends. It’s wonderful.”

A live busking competition will accompany the main festival on Saturday in Marton’s town centre.

The 2026 Marton Country Music Fest Busking Competition is on from 9am to 10.30am on Main St. It will have a $200 cash prize for the winner and the opportunity to appear on the Saturday night showcase.

Food trucks and vendors will be available throughout the festival, featuring food, beverages, and artist and festival merchandise.

The event is family-friendly and children are welcome.

“I think, in general, country music tends to bring people together,” Tipping said.

“I think because the genre itself is so relatable ... it creates a little community. Whether that’s people who have been coming for 21 years – because we do have some that have come every single year – or it’s the locals who haven’t been before.”

Tickets are available online and there will be gate sales.

Erin Smith is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.