The 50th anniversary of the Toyota Country Music Festival, Tamworth is shaping up to be the most memorable one yet, with more big names set to roll into Australia’s country music capital to celebrate the huge milestone.

Among the names added to the 2022 line-up is ARIA Hall of Fame and Roll of Renown Inductee John Williamson, who’ll celebrate 52 years at the Tamworth Town Hall on January 21. As well as ARIA nominated and APRA Award winner Busby Marou, who have teamed up with 4 x Golden Guitar 
nominee Brad Cox for a double header at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre (TRECC) on January 19.

ARIA nominee and Golden Guitar winner Adam Harvey will perform at Blazes Show Room, as well as Tex Dubbo, Casey Barnes, Amber Lawrence, Kirsty Lee Akers, Tania Kernaghan, Gina Jeffreys and the 2019 Golden Guitar Female Artist of the Year, Beccy Cole.

Other artists included in the Wests Entertainment Group line-up include Hurricane Fall, Hayley Jensen & Christie Lamb, Australian songwriter Michael Waugh, who will be joined by Camille Trail, as well as Festival funny men Kevin Bloody Wilson and Darren Carr.

Andrew Swift will join the slew of fantastic artists already announced for Tamworth’s own Honky Tonk venue, Moonshiners, Aleyce Simmonds will perform at the Tamworth Hotel on January 16, while festival fans can catch Brad Butcher and the Weeping Willows for an intimate performance at Tamworth Town Hall on January 19.

They’ll all join ARIA Hall of Fame and Roll of Renown inductee, Kasey Chambers and country music luminaries Troy Cassar-Daley, Adam Brand, Travis Collins, Fanny Lumsden, Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham (The Waifs) who’ve already been announced for the 50th anniversary festival.

Toyota Country Music Festival Manager, Barry Harley says it’s exciting and fitting that these accomplished artists are coming back to Tamworth in 2022.
“For many of these artists Tamworth is where it all began.

“Whether it was busking on Peel Street or performing as part of the festival early in their career, thereis a huge connection between country musicians and Tamworth.

“And it is only fitting that they are here in the city for the 50th anniversary.”

Many of these artists will also be taking part in the special 50th anniversary concert to be held at the TRECC on Wednesday, 19 January 2022.

Mr Harley says, “the 50th Anniversary Concert will be a musical journey documenting the past halfcentury of country music in Australia and includes some of the country’s most revered artists like John Williamson, Graeme Connors, Sara Storer, Adam Harvey, Felicity Urquhart, James Blundell, and Gina 
Jeffreys.”

Ticketed shows and the Toyota 50th Golden Guitar Awards are now on sale, and Festival Manager Barry Harley, says planning for the 50th anniversary event will continue despite the current COVID-19 restrictions.

“Fans can rest assured that country music will still be found in Tamworth next January, as this city is and always will be the capital of country music in Australia.” Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres said the 50th anniversary edition of Tamworth Country Music Festival was shaping up to be a blockbuster event.

“It’s fantastic to see so many iconic Australian artists on the line-up, from John Williamson and Beccy Cole to Kasey Chambers and Troy Cassar-Daley, making this an unmissable event for January 2022.

“With NSW residents responding so positively to the call to get vaccinated, we can optimistically look forward to coming together for major events and welcoming visitors into our communities to the benefit of the local visitor economy,” Mr Ayres said.

Toyota Australia Chief Marketing Officer, John Pappas says Toyota is proud of its long-standing support for the Toyota Country Music Festival and the artists on the bill for 2022 will give music fans something to truly look forward to.

“It’s been a tough couple of years for people across Australia so we’re extremely pleased to be able to support such a strong line-up of country music stars and help celebrate the community spirit that has been at the heart of the festival for 50 years.” To purchase tickets, head to the Festival website www.tcmf.com.au and stay up to date on the official Toyota Country Music Festival Tamworth via TCMF Facebook and TCMF Instagram.