May is NZ Music month and homegrown talent is being celebrated across the country, including a small Central country town which is hosting a country gig with some big names on the bill.

Next Saturday (May 20) folk, blues and country fans can hear kiwi musicians Kerryn Fields (Te Kuiti) and Matt Joe Gow (Dunedin) play at Ophir Peace Memorial Hall.

The pair are on the ‘Your Heart of Gold Tour’, it’s also the title of a single on their forthcoming joint album and debut release in conjunction with NZ Music month.

Dunedin country music singer Melissa Partridge (2021 NZ Gold Guitar award winner) is supporting the pair. 

The tour takes in 19 venues across New Zealand, and heads to Oamaru, Invercargill and Gore next. 

Kerryn and Matt

Matt and Kerryn are both well known in Australia, winning awards for their respective solo records at the Music Victoria Awards, touring extensively and playing at country festivals. 

Matt’s album ‘Break Rattle & Roll’ was Americana/Country record of the year in 2019 and Kerryn’s second album ‘Water’ (2021) won Folk Work of the Year in 2022.

Tickets ($25) can be bought at the Ophir Post office, online or at the door. Doors open at 6.30pm. 

Learn more about the award winning duo on their websites: Kerryn Fields and Matt Joe Gow. Kerryn was also interviewed by RNZ’s Kim Hill recently, listen to the audio here.

NZ Music Month launched in 1997 as New Zealand Music Week, in 2001 it moved to a month-long format. Visit the NZ Music Month website for more information.