Hook up your vans, pull on your boots and get ready to scoot into Tamworth’s biggest event, The Tamworth Country Music Festival. Alana Lowes has brought together the ultimate music-drenched guide so all you need to do is sit back and enjoy some good ole country atmosphere.
In the words of Troy Cassa-Daley, “if you love country music, you just can’t miss Tamworth in January.”
From first timers to well oiled festival goers, from toddlers to the grey nomads, Tamworth Country Music Festival has something for everyone. Troy will be joining other amazing artists such as John Williamson, Lee Kernaghan, Carter & Carter, Aleyce Simmonds, Felicity Urquhart, The Bushwackers, Tom Maxwell and the darlings of the country music scene, The McClymonts. It’s a 10-day party celebrating all things country mixed with a little rock, roots blues and honky tonk.
There is plenty of free entertainment on offer across the 10 days as well seeing your favourite Golden Guitar stars at the many paid for concerts. Here at The Retiree we have compiled some very handy tips for getting the most out of your Tamworth Country Music Festival experience and as any veteran festival goer would know, all roads lead to Peel Street, and this is where you should begin.
Peel Street
During the festival, the streets are shut off and it’s time to stroll. There’s no cars allowed in Peel Street and the bitumen is flooded with toe tapping people and twanging buskers. In an age of tap and go credit cards, make sure you keep some spare change in your pockets to toss into the busker’s hats during your visit.
Stay up-to-date
Buy the Northern Daily Leader for all the up-to-date coverage of the festival. Keep an eye out for your pictures as they print all the photos from the day before and provide the daily programme. Keep an eye out for any hot tips which will always be in the paper.
Buy
Music and lots of it! CD’s and DVD’s will be available for sale. If you fall in love with an artist playing, buy their CD on the spot and they will most likely sign it for you as well. Check out the Golden Guitar gift shop, you might just stumbled across rare albums to complete you collection.
Stay
During the festival Tamworth swells to double its size and so too does the demand for accommodation. Get in early and pick what you want to tuck your boots under – hotel, motel, airbnb, camping or caravan park. Stake your claim on a little piece of the Peel River bank and settle in for a couple of weeks. There are plenty of spaces allocated for camping during the festival. Popular camping option, Mooggee will return to the music festival for the second time in 2017. Book early to avoid disappointment. They offer unique, pre-pitched camping facilities that offer a “Wake up and Walk” campsite experience for festival goers. Get cosy with your friends by booking a six man tent.
Concert tickets
Try and buy your tickets online at home before getting to the festival, most people do this and concerts sell out quickly. If you don’t get a chance to pre-purchase, there is a helpful ticket office in the main street, and another at the Tourist Bureau at the Golden Guitar. There is also plenty of free tickets and those only available at the door. Longyard Hotel is a hub for events during the festival and you can buy tickets at the bottleshop next to the pub.
The Fanzone
Experience 100% absolutely FREE events at The Fanzone. It’s jam packed full of seriously good talent every single day of the festival. From 10am the Fanzone is in full swing bringing country music to the heart of Tamworth and offering visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal with their favourite country music artist. While in the Fanzone, fans can enjoy live interviews, artist signings, the opportunity to purchase the latest country music CDs and merchandise and so much more! It’s the perfect place for musical discovery because it’s where you’ll find some of the biggest names in country music playing alongside some of the finest emerging talent.
For more information, head to the Tamworth Country Music Festival website.
The Retiree has some concert ticket giveaways, click here to enter.
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