Wairarapa Country Music Festival | 29 – 31
January 2021
Feat. Jodi Vaughan, Marian Burns, Katie Thompson, Ainslie Allen, Ally Cook, Eddie Low and Wayne R. Heath
The Wairarapa Country Music Festival at Tauherenikau is a weekend full of fun and entertainment for the whole family. This year will be one of the biggest yet with an epic lineup of Kiwi talent that will have everyone kicking up their heels. Held at the iconic Tauherenikau racecourse, the Wairarapa Racing Club once again looks forward to welcoming visitors from all over the country to their picturesque grounds at the base of the Tararua ranges.
Tickets & pricing
Get your tickets here!
*Please note, with the exception of the Family Pass all prices listed are for one adult unless otherwise stated.
Three Day Pass | $50 |
Single Day Passes | |
Friday | $20 |
Saturday | $40 |
Saturday – Premium Grandstand Seats (Limited to 500 tickets) | $60 |
Sunday | $20 |
One Day Family Pass – Saturday | $90 |
(Two adults and two children 15 and under. Each additional child over 16 $10) | |
One Day Family Pass – Friday or Sunday | $50 |
(Two adults and two children 15 and under. Each additional child over 16 $10) |
*Tickets will be available to purchase at the gate across the festival weekend.
Onsite Accommodation Packages
Motorhome and Caravan Packages
Weekend Package for Two | $130 |
(Three-day pass per adult, with parking per motorhome for three nights) | |
Premium Weekend Package for Two | $170 |
(Three-day pass per adult with allocated grandstand seating on Saturday, and parking per motorhome for three nights) |
|
Premium Weekend Package for One | $80 (Premium $120) |
(Three-day pass per adult, with parking per Motorhome for three nights) | |
Tent Sites | $15 |
(Price per tent – admission additional) |
BOOK NOW: For more information and to book any one of these accommodation packages contact Matt at wairarapa.racing@xtra.co.nz
*NEW* Pacific Horizon Motorhome Packages
Want to stay onsite but haven’t got a motorhome? Not a problem. We’re teaming up with Pacific Horizon in Wellington to bring you a brand new Country Music Festival and accommodation package! Choose from either a 3 or 5-day experience and get:
- A festival pass for two people for the Country Music Festival
- A pass out so you can come and go from the festival as you please to see the rest of the glorious Wairarapa region
Motorhome pick up and drop off is in Wellington. Range of motorhomes available to view here.
Additional adults can be added for $50 each
3 day Package | from $1,000 |
5 day Package | from $1,500 |
BOOK NOW: For more information and to book any one of these accommodation packages contact Matt at wairarapa.racing@xtra.co.nz
Tell me more about the festival…
Legendary NZ songstress Jodi Vaughan will be headlining the 2021 festival, an icon of the Kiwi country music scene she will also be debuting a new project at the festival so make sure you’re there to witness some history in the making. The fantastic fiddler Marian Burns is a crowd favourite and will once again have the crowd up on their feet enjoying her high energy and fun-packed set. Returning after a great reception in 2020, Ainslie Allen will be performing tracks from her newly released album as well as crowd favourites that saw her take home Country Entertainer of the Year in 2018.
Aly Cook, famous across Australasia for her dedication to the arts will be joining our lineup performing from her hit-making records including ‘Caught in the Middle’ that includes a co-write with renowned Golden guitar winner Allan Caswell. The 2021 festival will also see us welcome Eddie Low. Winner of the Country Music Legend award in 2009, Eddie is renowned for his effortless vocals, beautiful ballads and talent as a multi-instrumentalist.
Last but definitely not least, Grandaddy of Country, Wayne R. Heath will be playing his Nashville to New Zealand show that celebrates his, more than, 50 years in show business.
The 2021 festival will run over the final weekend of January which also happens to be Auckland Anniversary weekend, the perfect opportunity to plan a mini-break in the Wairarapa.
Festival Programme
FRIDAY 29 JANUARY
2pm | Official opening |
2.10pm – 4pm | Wairarapa Country Music Club walk up |
4pm – 5.30pm | Happy hour (background music) |
5.30pm – 6pm | Wayne R. Heath |
6pm – 6.30pm | Aly Cook |
6.30pm – 7pm | Katie Thompson |
7pm – 7.45pm | Marian Burns |
7.45pm – 8.30pm | Ainslie Allen |
8.30pm – 9.15pm | Jodi Vaughan |
9.15pm – 10pm | Eddie Low |
SATURDAY 30 JANUARY
10am – 12pm | Wairarapa Country Music Club walk up |
12pm – 12.30pm | Club Steppers Combo Learn to Line Dance / Wayne R. Heath |
12.30pm – 1.30pm | Lunch break and back ground music |
Cruise Martinborough arrive | |
1.30pm – 2.30pm | Wayne R. Heath |
2.30pm – 3.15pm | Katie Thompson |
3.15pm – 4pm | Club Steppers Combo Learn to Line Dance / Wayne R. Heath |
4pm – 5pm | Happy hour and tea break |
SATURDAY NIGHT SPECTACULAR
5.30pm – 6.15pm | Aly Cook |
6.15pm – 7pm | Marian Burns |
7pm – 7.45pm | Eddie Low |
7.45pm – 8.30pm | Ainslie Allen |
8.30pm – 9.15pm | Jodi Vaughan |
9.15pm – 10pm | Sisters in Country (Jodi Vaughan, Ainslie Allen, Aly Cook) |
SUNDAY 31 JANUARY
10am – 11am | Wairarapa Country Music Club walk up |
11am – 11.30am | Club Steppers Combo Line Dancing final |
11.30am – 12.15pm | Jordan Thurston |
12.15pm – 1.30pm | Wayne R. Heath |
1.30pm | Farewell Finale |

Check out the lineup…
From classic country to original music and alternative tunes, the stars of our 2021 festival all bring a unique sound to the stage. Check them out in more detail below…

Jodi Vaughan

Eddie Low

Ainslie Allen

Aly Cook

Marian Burns

Katie Thompson

Wayne R. Heath
Cruise Martinborough…
Follow them on Facebook or visit their website for more information.


Galleries
View images from all of the previous festivals right back to 2016!