The Tussock Country Music Festival starts next Friday.
Its boost in ticket sales has reflected the rapid rise of the music genre in popular culture internationally.
In its 50th year, Gore country competition the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards received a record number of 829 entries last month — 100 more than 12 months previously.
Now, just a week out from the 11-day extravaganza, several of its events have sold out or are near to selling out in anticipation of the festival.
Music teacher Peter Cairns said tickets to his yodelling workshop had sold out for the first time since starting four years ago.
The increase was due to the overall success of the festival as well as a tour group coming through this year.
He learned to yodel in his 20s while hanging out with one of New Zealand’s "top yodelers", Southlander Max McCauley.
His workshops had not created any "yodelling monsters" yet, but he was coaching a few budding singers who were entering the Gold Guitars this year.
His student Briar Sharp will be returning in the intermediate section of the competition, having won the junior category overall last time, Mr Cairns said.
"I’ve taught something like 13 or 14 overall Gold Guitar winners."
He taught punters the basics of "breaking" — finding the break in a voice where it can flip between the higher and lower register that yodelling is known for.
In another expression of the genre, Diane Perkins will be teaching two line dance classes at the festival.
The country-flavoured steps were having a comeback with a younger audience.
Once given a "bad rap" and thought to be old-fashioned, line dancing was having a resurgence because it was being applied to all kinds of popular music, not just country, she said.
Her students now moved to the music of fast-paced and contemporary hits from the likes of Ed Sheeran and successful new country singer Luke Combs.
She also took her lessons to rest-homes in Gore.
The dance style had been medically proven to reduce the risk of memory loss and dementia, she said.
"It’s a great way of exercising.
"Because the music’s fantastic and you have to remember the steps, it’s very, very good for your mind."
Another good thing about line dancing was you did not need a partner, which was good for people who were on their own but loved to dance, she said.
Line dancing was also a great social activity, which she had come to expect from Gore, she said.
"It’s a fantastic community to live in.
"It’s just one way that we can give a little bit back to the community."
