Concert draws bigger crowd than Highlanders

Organisers of the Gibbston Valley Winery Concert at the weekend are already planning another for next year after a successful day on Saturday, which brought an estimated 14,000 people through the gates.

Queenstowners were spoiled for choice on Saturday with two of the region's bigger events to choose from, as the Little River Band and Doobie Brothers played at the Gibbston winery and the Highlanders clashed with the Chiefs in Queenstown.

Gibbston Valley Winery chief executive Greg Hunt said the concert seemed to have grabbed the attention of as many as last year's Creedence Clearwater Revisited and Dr Hook concert and was pleased with the overall atmosphere.

"It was good cruisy music and I've just about lost my voice," he said.

Mr Hunt would not be the only one with a sore throat after thousands of fans gathered in front of the stage belting out Little River Band hits Reminiscing, Happy Anniversary and Cool Change, while later the Doobie Brothers' 1970s favourite Listen to the Music brought the fans to their feet.

"I think the bands enjoyed it, too. Talking to them afterwards, they were into it."

Mr Hunt said without any official count he could only go by ground covered and compare it with last year, but said crowd numbers would have neared 14,000.

The winery, along with Alpine Entertainment, would begin organising next year's concert and start compiling a list of possible acts.

"We will start planning this week. It's great to have this one out of the way, but these things take a lot of planning," Mr Hunt said.

Meanwhile, up to 4000 people opted for the free entertainment of the rugby at the Queenstown Recreation Ground for what was a narrow 38-36 loss for the Highlanders.

Organisers were forced to let people in free as the rugby clashed with the concert and the public attended in numbers in perfect February conditions.

The home side started off rusty but managed an impressive comeback when stalwarts Jamie Mackintosh, Jason Rutledge and Josh Bekhuis were put on the field in the second half.

A crowd hoping for a Sonny Bill Williams appearance would have been let down as the game was not televised and the All Black star was still recovering from his midweek boxing match.

However, rugby fans were treated to a reasonable All Black show with stars Adam Thomson and Richard Kahui playing a near full 80 minutes, and a glimpse of an injured Colin Slade on the sideline.

Police were happy with crowd behaviour at both events with just six people who were breath-tested being over the legal limit, and no related arrests at the weekend.