Campervans will line up at Wingatui racecourse this weekend for three days of country music.
The Silverpeaks Country Music Festival runs from Friday to Sunday, March 20-22, bringing guest artists and open-mic style sessions to the Mosgiel venue.
When is the silverpeaks country music festival at wingatui?
The festival starts on Friday night at 7pm with a guest artists concert featuring Yvonne Munro, Craig Adams, Valley Bluegrass, and emerging young performer Caitlin Henderson.
Daytime programming follows on Saturday and Sunday with “walk-ups” and showcase sessions, alongside lunchtime songwriters’ sessions where musicians can perform their own compositions.
Festival publicist Frances Partridge said the event had built a loyal following because it was unique in the region.
“We have been running the festival for a few years now, and it is the only festival of its type in the area, so people really enjoy coming along,” Partridge said.
Partridge said the crowd travelled for it, with visitors crossing the Tasman as well as coming from around New Zealand.
“Country music fans were coming from all over the country and across from Australia for the popular event,” she said.
Who is performing and what happens each day?
Organisers have set the weekend up to balance headline sets with chances for local and visiting musicians to get on stage without a long lead-in.
The walk-up and showcase format means bands, young singers, and Silverpeaks Country Music Club members can perform during the day, with the lunchtime songwriters’ sessions dedicated to original material.
“We get a broad range of performers stepping up for the showcase events, including bands, young singers, and Silverpeaks Country Music Club members,” Partridge said.
Saturday night shifts the focus to dancing. From 7.30pm, the Silverpeaks Country Music Festival Dance features award-winning country artist Melissa Partridge and the Connor Family bands from Nelson.
Melissa Partridge is also a NZ Gold Guitar winner and Tui Award winner, and will perform in her own right as well as being part of the backing band across the weekend.
How the silverpeaks show band supports performers
Solo singers and visiting acts will be backed throughout the weekend by the Silverpeaks show band, a core part of the festival’s format.
The band line-up is Phil Doublet on lead guitar, Reid Hudson on steel guitar, Melissa Partridge on guitar, James Davy on bass and Bevan Gardiner on drums.
Partridge said the show band underpinned the walk-up and showcase sessions because performers could step in knowing they would have experienced players behind them.
“They are a fantastic band, and give all our performers great support,” she said.
The backing-band approach is a familiar feature of country music gatherings, where informal sessions depend on musicians who can follow arrangements quickly and keep a set moving.
For Wingatui, it also means organisers can keep the weekend’s schedule flexible, adding new voices into daytime slots without rebuilding the entire run sheet.
Why wingatui racecourse works for a music weekend
Wingatui racecourse is better known for racing, but organisers say its layout suits multi-day events that rely on vehicle access and space for temporary accommodation.
Partridge said parking capacity was a drawcard, especially for attendees who travel with caravans and campervans.
“Wingatui racecourse was the ideal place to hold the festival, as it had plenty of parking for campervans,” she said.
“We usually have quite a lineup of campervans parked up for the festival, it’s great to see,” Partridge said.
We have been running the festival for a few years now, and it is the only festival of its type in the area, so people really enjoy coming along.
For visitors, the campervan set-up turns the racecourse into a temporary village. It also helps explain why the festival draws from outside Otago, with travellers able to stay on-site rather than book a city hotel.
Events that combine performance with low-fuss accommodation have become a steady part of Dunedin’s festival calendar, from outdoor programmes to arts runs across multiple venues.
Country music sits alongside those wider offerings, with Dunedin also hosting events such as the Dunedin Fringe Festival programme and the nature-focused Wild Dunedin festival later in the season.
How to get tickets, and what to plan for
Organisers are selling tickets directly, with door sales also available for those who decide late or who travel in without locking in plans.
For information and tickets, people can email FrancesPartridge@xtra.co.nz or phone 021 107-6996.
Attendees planning to camp should prepare for variable autumn conditions at Wingatui. MetService advises visitors to keep an eye on local forecasts and warnings before travelling, especially if driving long distances with a trailer or caravan.
MetService’s weather warnings and watches page is updated as conditions change.
The first music begins with the guest artists concert at 7pm on Friday, March 20, at Wingatui racecourse.
