Elvis Costello and band will serenade up to 15,000 revellers as the sun sets, the playing schedule for the debut Queenstown Blues and Roots Festival says.
As the weeks count down to the open air concert at the Queenstown Events Centre on April 26, organisers announced the gates will open at 10.30am.
The line-up of acts begins when the winners of the festival busking competition take to the stage at 11am before handing over to the King Leo Blues Band.
The Johnnys play their versions of Johnny Cash tracks before the 15-strong Fly My Pretties entertain.
Costello and the Imposters play from his repertoire of hundreds of original songs for his South Island debut at 4.30pm. The Doobie Brothers follow at 7pm and New Zealand favourites the Black Seeds perform at 9pm.
Salmon kebabs and burgers, wood-fired pizzas, Asian fusion food, South American empanadas, wraps from Pita Pit, gourmet burgers, oyster, sushi and ice cream, plus wines and beers, will be for sale on site.
• Connectabus will offer a discounted rate of $5 from anywhere on the Queenstown transport system to the event, while NZSki Express Transport will offer $10 return fares with pick up points from the Pig and Whistle pub in central Queenstown, Ramshaw Lane in Arrowtown, Peninsula Rd in Kelvin Heights and Nerin Square in Lake Hayes Estate.
