Music lovers in the Maniototo would’ve been disappointed after the cancellation of the Taiari Wai River festival in Patearoa at the weekend.

Organisers made the difficult decision to pull the pin on Thursday when the rain showed no sign of abating.

The third annual festival was originally set down for January 10 but had to be postponed because of the weather, and after a slightly changed line up of entertainers, organisers were hoping to make January 24 work.

“Unfortunately Lachie Hayes and band couldn't reschedule but we're pencilling them in for next year.”

More than just a music festival, the Taiari Wai River Festival has a meaningful purpose — bringing the Otago community together to learn about, celebrate, and protect the Taiari River and its unique freshwater ecosystems.

The long-term vision is to connect communities from Dunedin to Alexandra and beyond, growing into a boutique festival that draws music lovers from near and far.

Meanwhile, over in the Gibbston valley, thousands of music lovers enjoyed what was possibly the only dry place in Central Otago/Queenstown Lakes at the weekend, for the Valley festival on the grounds of the Church Cellar Door and Cafe.

Hollie Smith, Reb Fountain, The Black Seeds and Kora entertained the crowd into the early evening, with literally only about seven minutes of rain the entire day.

And many of those attending the Ed Sheeran concert in Christchurch were reportedly soaked to the bone after it poured with rain the entire night. But the show still went on.

The former Gibbston Valley concert held by Greenstone Entertainment, concludes the summer line up with its annual festival moved to Three Parks in Wānaka this year.

The line up for this coming weekend (January 31) includes Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Zed and Hoodoo Gurus, and the forecast is for sunshine and 21degC.

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