Carnival, crowds and Kaylee: Hometown sensation plays at Caroline Bay
Friday, 5 January 2024
When Stan Walker played to a massive crowd at the Caroline Bay Soundshell in 2015, Kaylee Bell took to social media to share her dream of one day being in the same spot playing to even a 10th of the audience he had attracted.
The Waimate-born country music star did all this and more on Thursday evening, when the hometown hero took to the Soundshell stage for a free Caroline Bay Carnival concert that drew a massive crowd, possibly even outdoing the number Walker attracted almost a decade ago.
And her popularity was proven even an hour before the gig, when most of the Soundshell bleachers were full of fans waiting eagerly for Bell to take the stage at 7pm. With half-an-hour to go, the grassed area in front of the stage was packed, and concert-goers were directed to areas outside the main complex.
On the Bay Hill above there was a line of people, three to four deep, stretching from the bleachers to the Piazza, about 80 metres away.
It was a sensational turnout for Bell who, as a young musician, took part in the carnival’s annual talent quest singing on the same stage.
And she was quick to acknowledge this, as she appeared on the stage to rapturous applause.
“This must be all the town, right?’’ she said.
Playing a mix of originals and covers, Bell had the crowd enthralled for more than 60 minutes, with many dancing and clapping along to the music.
She dedicated her version of Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill to “my girls here today’’, and shared fond memories of growing up in Waimate, and going to school in Timaru.
Bell spent time with family in Waimate over Christmas, heading south to perform on the main stage at Rhythm and Alps, in the Cardrona Valley, before her final gig of the summer in Timaru.
It was her first band show in Timaru, and was her last ahead of her nationwide tour in March.
In 2023, she toured with Ed Sheeran, and won a CMA Award in Nashville.
Caroline Bay Association secretary/treasurer Kevin Fahey said a big crowd had been anticipated for the event, and it was a great way to end his 26-year tenure with the association.
It was difficult to say exactly how many people had attended the concert as no official record was taken, but it had been a massive crowd that started arriving early, and many people had to watch from many vantage points around the Bay, he said.
He said Bell and her band were very appreciative after the show, saying it had been great to play to such a large crowd.
It was also nice to see families bringing picnics to enjoy before the concert, something the association encouraged with all of its concerts.
The carnival’s annual talent contest, which began on Friday, had also attracted good numbers, which was fitting because Bell was a past contestant, he said.
Bell’s concert was supported through the Timaru District Council’s Major Events Support Fund, which is administered by Venture Timaru.
Venture Timaru worked with the Caroline Bay Association to bring Bell to town, and the organisation’s operations and destination manager Di Hay said it was “absolutely delighted’’ with the huge crowd.
“This was totally the year to get her at the carnival riding on the wave of her international and national success,’’ Hay said.
“It was a treat to see such a wide range of ages there and especially the young kids who are looking up to Kaylee as a wonderful hometown girl role model, as she’s living proof that dreams can come true.’’
Hay described Bell’s show as amazing, with everyone “totally engaged’’.
The Caroline Bay Carnival finishes on Sunday.
Were you there? What was your favourite song? What were the highlights? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.