Band 'ecstatic' with win

WINNERS: Nelson's State Highway One won the open group section of the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards.

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Nelson country music band State Highway One picked up success at the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards in Gore on Sunday.

The band won Senior Open Group and the "Freeze Ya Bits Off Busking" section as well as coming runner-up to the big gong, NZ Gold Guitar.

The band includes Matthew McNeilly from Blenheim on bass, drummer Luke Connor and guitarist Paula Connor from Motueka, Rebecca Schofield from Nelson on banjo, and Liam Kennedy-Clarke, from Ashburton, on lead guitar.

McNeilly, who also won the Male Vocal Solo section, said it was a big surprise as the band had formed for the occasion. There were over 700 entries in the competition in its 39th year. The band won with a John Fogerty song Southern Streamline, which they put together just a few days before the event.

McNeilly came runner-up last year and said the level had gone up a couple of notches this year.

"It was all pretty last minute because we live so spread around," he said. "We didn't have much idea what we were gong to play until we got down there. We're ecstatic; very thrilled."

- © Fairfax NZ News