Regardless of the current unpredictable COVID-19 situation, Tamworth Country Music Festival organisers are charging full speed ahead with plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the event.
The first line up of artists were announced today for the 10-day event, featuring ARIA Hall of Fame inductee and Australian country music icon Kasey Chambers as well as country music master Troy Cassar-Daley.
Toyota Country Music Festival Manager Barry Harley says the 50th-anniversary Festival will be like no other.
“The total Tamworth experience will see Toyota FanZone pumping in the CBD, hundreds of buskers, and the famous Toyota Park shows that will include all the favourites across ten days”, said Mr Harley.
Multi-award-winning artists Adam Brand and Travis Collins will headline a string of free concerts in Toyota Park, Tamworth’s largest venue.
“The Opening Concert, Toyota Star Maker, Back to the Bush, and two massive shows headlined by Adam Brand and another by Travis Collins, there’s a lot to celebrate next year,” said Mr Harley.
The prestigious Toyota 50th Golden Guitar Awards will be a feature event of the festival, with the theme ‘Then. Now. Forever. Australian Country’ held on the final Saturday, 22 January at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Conference Centre (TRECC).
As well as Chambers and Cassar-Daley, the first line up boats esteemed song writer Graeme Connors, the newly founded duo of Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham of The Waifs and admired performer Fanny Lumsden.
Although, in recent weeks NSW has seen an outbreak of the Coronavirus, forcing Greater Sydney into a snap 2-week lockdown and implementing mandatory restrictions in regional NSW, the Tamworth Country Music Festival organisers hold high hopes for next years event.
"COVID-19 has had a major impact on artists, musicians, and their crew, with many experiencing more than 12 months without work. They are the lifeblood of this Festival, and we are looking forward to seeing and supporting them in Tamworth in January," said Mr. Harley.
The event will showcase the festivals evolution from its modest beginnings in 1973 into the biggest Festival in Australia today with rare video footage of the pioneers of Australian country music and respected performers Chad Morgan, The Bushwackers, Anne Kirkpatrick, David Kirkpatrick, O’Shea, Allan Caswell, Josh Cunningham, Dianne Lindsay, Peter Simpson, Jeff Brown and Reg Poole also featured.
Ticketed shows and the Toyota 50th Golden Guitar Awards will go on sale on 1 July 2021. Head to the Festival website www.tcmf.com.au for more information.
Stay up to date on the official Toyota Country Music Festival Tamworth at www.tcmf.com.au TCMF Facebook and TCMF Instagram.