The Doobie Brothers and Elvis Costello to star in new Queenstown Blues & Roots Festival

A new music festival in Queenstown is set to be a standout event on the South Island entertainment calendar.

The first Queenstown Blues & Roots Festival - a one-day outdoor event to be held at the Queenstown Events Centre on Saturday 26th April 2014 with The Remarkables mountain range forming a lofty backdrop - features a stunning line-up of acclaimed national and international acts.

Headlining the day will be legendary California rock band The Doobie Brothers, along with acclaimed singer-songwriter Elvis Costello and The Imposters, New Zealand's favourite live collaborative group Fly My Pretties, dub, funk, afrobeat and soul masters The Black Seeds, veteran blues musician King Leo and all-girl group The Johnnys.

The new festival also plans to hold a busking competition in Queenstown over Easter weekend (18th to 20th April), the winner of which will receive a coveted spot on the main stage for the Blues & Roots Festival.

The non-stop, full production music festival scheduled to kick off from 11am with the first act on stage from 12 noon will see up to 15,000 people enjoying the very best in blues, soul and rock and roll accompanied by an exciting array of local food, beer, wine and market stalls.

The Queenstown Blues & Roots Festival director is Grant Hilton, who has 30 years' experience in the music and hospitality industries and extensive tour management and merchandising experience.

For ten years he held a range of management roles with the internationally-renowned Byron Bay Bluesfest, a five-day annual event that attracts over 100,000 attendees and presents more than 100 acts and is now in its 25th year.

Queenstown hospitality professional Barry Ellis managing director of the Ellis Hospitality Group which owns and operates the resort town's Pig & Whistle pub and Monty's bar, along with three more restaurants and bars in Dunedin, is also a director of the event.

Ellis explains "we've been planning this event for a number of months now and can't wait to bring acts of this calibre to the Queenstown Events Centre, which with its main oval creating many vantage points is a superb venue for the festival.

"With this line-up there really is something for everyone, a great fun day out not only for Queenstown locals and visitors, but for music-lovers from all around the South Island and further afield.

"It's a massive boost to tourism at a quieter time of year so we'd really encourage everyone to get in quick for their tickets and book themselves a good 'mini-break' in our beautiful four-season resort to coincide with ANZAC Day weekend.

"And what better way to enjoy the day than with some great food and local wine to go with your music?"

For more information go to www.queenstownbluesrootsfestival.co.nz

Doobie Brothers image courtesy of Dwight McCann/Chumash Casino Resort/www.DwightMcCann.com