"The Chaslands Highway Bluegrass Festival, held last weekend at the recently opened, Whistling Frog Cafe and Bar in the Catlins, hosted a large number of holiday makers at the first annual gathering of Bluegrass enthusiasts.

Twenty talented bluegrass artists including a local  'red hot' bluegrass bagpiper,  jammed all weekend, wowing the international and local audience under picture perfect blue skies in the Catlins, on Saturday and Sunday, 5 & 6 January.

Steve Hayes, who organized the event with his long time pal, and fellow musician Alton McDonald from Auckland, thrilled the large holiday crowd with their stunning fiddle and mandolin renditions of all their favourite bluegrass numbers. 

The Hayes family contingent showed a massive amount of musical talent from members both young and not so young.   Nick Bourke, the renowned guitarist and performer with the great voice, managed to make it on Sunday and performed some foot stomping classical folk numbers.

Marty Aston of Invercargill even gave us a hint of his tremendous Blues repertoire on Saturday to a rapt audience.

Steve and Marilyn Hayes were so pleased by the reception of the Whistling Frog patrons that they have asked Paul Bridson, the owner, if he would be interested in hosting more events of this nature and he replied:  "Hell yes, the more the better...The first weekend in January, and let's do some dates in between..?"  Steve said:  "I just love to play my music ..,"

So the Catlins is in store for some fabulous weekends in the future, we'll keep you posted."