Multiple-Golden Guitar winner Adam Brand will present his only show of the festival as the headline performance at the Official Opening Concert on Friday, 17 January 2019.

Brand has had a stellar career that’s included multiple ARIA nominations, 12 Golden Guitars, half a million CD and DVD sales, 3 x platinum, and 5 x gold albums.

He’s now released Speed Of Life, the second single from his upcoming album of the same name. The album is due for release in March 2020.

The Opening Concert officially kicks off the Toyota Park program, where for ten adrenaline-charged days, visitors and locals alike get the opportunity to see some of the nation’s biggest country music stars performing live absolutely-free.  With cutting edge audio and visual production and featuring the popular Coca-Cola VIP Zone, it’s where festival fans will get to experience some of the biggest live shows on offer throughout the festival.   

Hosted by Pete Denahy and featuring Golden Guitar winners Ashleigh Dallas, Lyn Bowtell, and Andrew Swift, 2019 Toyota Star Maker Blake O’Connor, Buddy Knox Blues Band, Brewn, The Long and Short Of It, 2019 Toyota Busking Champion Rhys Crimmin, Zac & George and students and teachers from the CMAA Academy of Country Music the opening concert will provide Festival goers a snapshot of the diversity they will experience across the Festival’s ten big days in January.   

“Attending the free concerts in Toyota Park is a great opportunity for musical discovery, meeting new people, and appreciating the talent we have here in Australia,” said Cheryl Brown, Tamworth Country Music Coordinator. 

This festival, fans will also be encouraged to take part in the first-ever Tamworth ‘Git Up’ Challenge - a viral hit of a joyful dance that has taken the world by storm, claiming the top spot in charts across the globe and spawning nearly three billion views across social platforms.

Recorded by US-based artist Blanco Brown, with a sound that he calls “TrailerTrap,” blurring the lines between country and hip-hop music, Brown was delighted to hear the Tamworth Festival was jumping on his bandwagon with the challenge. 

Ms. Brown said she hoped both fans and Tamworth locals would get involved in The Git Up Challenge planned for the Opening Concert.

“Community events are a great deal of fun, and after watching many of the challenges that are happening all around the world on YouTube, I’m hopeful that we will have the biggest Git Up Challenge Australia has seen,” Cheryl said.

“We hope that individuals and groups of all kinds, sport, dance, servicemen, and women, health workers, workmates, and school friends, start learning the dance steps and join us at the Opening Concert. You don’t have to be great, join in.”

To top off the night, an amazing firework display will light up the sky. 

For further information about the Toyota Country Music Festival Tamworth visit www.tcmf.com.au