'Bit of debacle' on way to Gold Guitars

Christchurch acoustic duo  Daniel Pfeifer (right) and Nick Stone, who go by the name of SansTribe...
Christchurch acoustic duo Daniel Pfeifer (right) and Nick Stone, who go by the name of SansTribe, perform in the ''Freeze Ya Bits Off'' busking competition on the first day of the Gold Guitar Awards weekend in Gore yesterday. Photos by Stephen Jaquiery.
Louisa Kotkamp (9), of Gore.
Louisa Kotkamp (9), of Gore.
Brian Houliston, of Alexandra.
Brian Houliston, of Alexandra.
Brianna Hedley (11), of Gore.
Brianna Hedley (11), of Gore.
Ian Campbell, of  Waikanae.
Ian Campbell, of Waikanae.

It has been a long road to Gore for Nick Stone and Daniel Pfeifer.

The Christchurch duo called SansTribe will perform today in the 42nd annual New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards.

But the duo ''had a bit of a debacle'' in Dunedin this week, where they were performing, when Stone's cousin had a fall and required 15 stitches. The pair took him to hospital late at night before driving to Gore yesterday to perform.

Running on very little sleep, the men played in the duet category and the New Zealand song competition auditions and learned at the last minute that entries were still open for the Freeze Ya Bits off Busking auditions.

''We thought 'why not; let's give it a shot.'

''It went really good, eh. It was a lot of fun. Everyone in Gore just seems to be in the best spirits at the moment with the festival on.

''The sun was out - it was pretty much the ideal conditions to be busking.''

Soaking up the ideal conditions over the three-day Gold Guitar Awards competition will be about 700 competitors and a crowd of 5000 is expected to stream through the doors for the three shows over the weekend.

Gold Guitar Awards convener Philip Geary said he couldn't play a note, but was a fan of country music and wanted to solidify Gore's reputation as New Zealand's country music capital.

Kaylee Bell, overall winner in 2007, and Cameron Luxton, winner in 2014, had set the bar high, but the quality of contestants continued to improve, Mr Geary said.

And while country music might not be everybody's genre, the Gold Guitars had started to rub off on even those who weren't fans, he said.

Today, the truck show starts at 8am at the Livestock Supplies Yard and the parade is at 2pm. More Freeze Ya Bits off Busking auditions begin at noon in the main shopping area and the finals start at 4.30pm at the Heartland Hotel Croydon.

The intermediate and junior finals start at 7.30pm today at the Gore Town and Country Club Stadium.

Senior section auditions start at 8.15am tomorrow at the Gore Town and Country Club Stadium followed by the 40-plus and 60-plus finals.

The senior finals begin at 7.30pm tomorrow.

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