Despite the unfolding Covid-19 situation and continued uncertainty in the world right now, Tamworth Country Music Festival organisers remain positive and continue to plan celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January 2022.  

Some of the biggest names in the industry will head to Australia's country music capital next January for the 50th anniversary of the Tamworth Country Music Festival. The first line-up of artists announced for the 10-day event features ARIA Hall of Fame inductee, Kasey Chambers, country music luminary Troy Cassar-Daley, esteemed songwriter Graeme Connors, the blossoming duo of Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham (The Waifs) and admired performer Fanny Lumsden.  

Multi-award-winning artists Adam Brand and Travis Collins will headline a string of free concerts in Toyota Park, the biggest venue in the city, and 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).

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.  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.  

Joining the ticketed shows is Ashleigh Dallas and Sara Storer & James Blundell and two of country music favourite acts, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley who will be coming together with Adam Eckersley Band for one massive afternoon of entertainment. You will hear all your favourite songs as well as new music from these award-winning acts.  This is the only chance to see and hear Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley and Adam Eckersley Band at Tamworth 2022.

Over at the Capitol Theatre Melinda Schneider and O’Shea are performing and you will find Amber Lawrence, Kirsty Lee Akers, and Australia’s fastest rising country star Casey Barnes will be at West Tamworth League Club.

"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 Longyard Hotel’s famous ‘back room’ will feature The Bushwackers, The Viper Creek Band, The Pigs, The Hillbilly Goats, and The Wolfe Brothers. At The Pub, Festivalgoers can catch Shane Nicholson & The General Waste, Catherine Britt, and Pete Denahy & The Travelling Country Band.
 
At Tamworth’s own Honky Tonk venue, Moonshiners, Festivalgoers can see the likes of Lyn Bowtell, Jayne Denham, Melody Moko & Darlinghurst, The Buckleys and many more.  

"The 50th Festival will celebrate the past, present, and future and honour Tamworth, where it all began for country musicians and fans back in 1973"," said Mr. Harley.

In a nod to five decades of the Festival, the 50th anniversary will be celebrated in spectacular style with a concert featuring an all-star line-up held at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Conference Centre (TRECC) on Wednesday, 19 January 2022.

The 50th Anniversary Concert will be a musical journey documenting the past half-century 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.  Together with Australian country music fan favourites, Travis Collins, Fanny Lumsden, Shane Nicholson, and Amber Lawrence.
 
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.