About 800 people have entered the 43rd annual Gold Guitar Awards, which will run until Sunday.
Gold Guitar Awards media liaison Shona Hewlett said it was one of New Zealand's most prestigious music awards.
She was looking forward to the excitement which built up in the town for the event. Everybody was talking about it.
"Year after year after year, it's great just meeting up with people whom you haven't seen for the past year.''
She said Gore had become nationally recognised as the "capital of country music''.
People entered in the country music event from all over New Zeaalnd.
Ms Hewlett said there were even a couple of entrants from Australia.
One of New Zealand's biggest country-rock bands, the Waratahs, would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame at the awards.
Ms Hewlett said they had been a successful band for about 30 years.
They would also perform tonight.
The awards were a good platform to get young artists started, she said.
"It has launched people's recording careers and their singing careers.''
Radio DJ Mike Puru, who will judge some of the categories, started his own career thanks to the Golden Guitars.
Ms Hewlett was happy with a "walk-up concert'' held on Wednesday night, at which people were able to simply come in and perform.
The first of the official Gold Guitar Award events begin today.
Artists are encouraged to "freeze their bits off busking'' on the cold streets of Gore.
The finals for the various age groups will be held tomorrow and Sunday at the Town and Country Club in Gore.
