For Robbie Stevens, the best part about the Whare Flat Folk Festival is that he can play his banjo from dawn til dusk - except maybe when he is in the shower.
The Dunedin bluegrass musician has been playing banjo since 1969, when he heard the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band perform in Alexandra.
''Two days later, I bought my first banjo. It was a piece of crap, but it was enough to get me started.
''It's only in the last five years that I've learnt enough to play it well and enjoy it.''
He is a member of the Valley Bluegrass Band, believed to be the southernmost bluegrass band in the world.
The plucking of his banjo has been heard among the strains of harmonica, piano accordion, fiddle, mandolin and guitar playing around Waiora Scout Camp over the past few days.
This year is the 39th Whare Flat Folk Festival. It began on Tuesday and ends today, and has had an eclectic range of guest artists, including Vellamo (Finland), No Bones About it (United States), John Egenes (Dunedin), Helen Dorothy (Wellington) and television presenter/musician Cameron Bennett.
As well as performances, there have been singing, dancing and story-telling masterclasses and workshops, and a children's programme.
Mr Egenes, who played the guitar and other musical instruments at the festival on Thursday and yesterday, said the weather had been generally fine, the venue packed and ''it was really successful - a really good time''.
New Edinburgh Folk Club president Mike Moroney said about 200 people had pre-registered to attend.
''We can never predict it because it's so dependent on people's perception of what the weather is going to do.
''People come back year after year and form their own villages. There might be some bluegrass players in one area and celtic in another.''
