Here’s where you’ll find the nitty gritty on the festival structure, fees and application process.

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Firstly, a bit about Tussock Country…

 

The festival encompasses events managed by the New Zealand Country Music Festival Trust, the Gore Country Music Club, the NZ Songwriters Trust, the NZ Gold Guitar committee, the Gore District Council and many other independent artists and community organisations.

 

While country music is the cornerstone of the festival, all creative, musical, community and rural-centric events are welcomed and celebrated. 

 

The inaugural festival in 2021 encompassed 42 events over 9 days, and 2025 hosted 70+ events over 10 days – the growth is exhilarating and exciting!

 

Tussock Country acts as an umbrella brand encompassing and promoting the overall festival, and while there are a handful of paid performance slots most events are required to be self-managed and self-funded.

 

There is no fee to list your festival event. The festival provides marketing support - free listings plus options to advertise in the festival booklet and via Tussock Country’s social media platforms. The festival and its wide array of events are promoted throughout both NZ and Australia, attracting 10,000+ patrons to Eastern Southland annually.

 

In addition, the NZ Country Music Festival Trust can assist with online ticketing support, suitable venue and supplier recommendations plus all the local knowledge needed to put on a great show.

 

Think you’ve got an act, event or community activity that would tickle the fancy of Tussock Country patrons? Submit your idea including brief description, venue, date and ticket pricing info via email today!
 

If a self-funded event is a stretch too far just now, we strongly encourage you to explore other festival opportunities. If you’re a songwriter with unreleased songs, make sure you enter MLT Songwriting Awards for your chance to be one of the top 10 finalists performing at the festival’s gala evening. Perhaps it’s your year to enter the prestigious MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards or, if you’re keen to brave the cold, 2026 could be the year you enter the Freeze Ya Bits Off Busking Competition.

 

Regardless of your involvement, we’d love you to stay connected to us via our digital channels and hope that you’ll submit your expression of interest 

 

LIST A SELF-MANAGED FESTIVAL EVENT HERE 

ARTIST APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED. ARTIST APPLICATIONS FOR 2026 WILL OPEN IN JULY 2026.

 

Timeline for Tussock Country 2026

• October 2025: Event calendar finalised

• November 2025: Individual event information, imagery and ticketing finalised

• December 2025: Event calendar and ticket sales launched

• May 22nd - May 31st 2026: Tussock Country – New Zealand’s Country Music Festival​