One of the major attractions of the Toyota Country Music Festival, Tamworth, is the high-quality music that is readily available at no cost to festival-goers and 2020 will be no exception with Festival hotspots, Toyota Fanzone and Toyota Park primed for the 2020 event with stellar line-ups today announced.
Kicking off on Friday 17 January with the sashing of the 2020 Queen of Country Music, FanZone will once again be a thriving hub of activity across the ten days of festival, featuring performances from an array of artists, including 2019 Role of Renown inductee James Blundell, Adam Eckersley Band, Amber Lawrence, Andrew Swift, Felicity Urquhart, Andrew Farriss, Brad Cox, Fanny Lumsden, 2019 Toyota Star Maker Blake O’Connor and many more.
As Country Music Festival Manager, Barry Harley explains, FanZone is more than a space for fans to gather to see their favourite artists up close and personal, it’s an opportunity for them to engage with emerging talents as well.
“Tamworth hosts a festival of opportunity and experiences for both the guests that visit our city and every single artist that performs on our stages. A true TCMF experience is as much about discovering new artists and music as it is about seeing the biggest names in the game, and that’s why FanZone is such a popular destination each year.”
Over the ten days of the festival, Toyota FanZone will again be a shaded haven, located in the centre of Tamworth’s bustling CBD. Outside of the performer's line-up, FanZone will host a mid-morning ABC broadcast, Tamworth Songwriters and Cultural Showcases, the annual Galaxy of Stars, and more!
And the activity doesn’t stop once the sun begins to set. “Patrons can continue to enjoy outstanding live and free music well into the evening on the biggest stage at the festival, Toyota Park,” added Barry.
With a different theme each night, there’s always something new happening at Toyota Park, making it the evening destination of choice.
The Toyota Park 2020 will feature the following line up of free performances during TCMF 2020:
- Friday 17 January: Opening Concert
Kicking off with Tamworth’s very own “Git Up Challenge,” the Opening Concert will be a snapshot of the diversity of the music to be seen in Tamworth. Hosted by Pete Denahy, the show will feature performances from the CMAA Academy of Country Music, Buddy Knox Blues Band, Brewn, Zac & George, the 2019 Toyota Busking Champion Rhys Crimmin, popular duo The Long & Short Of It, 2019 Toyota Star Maker Blake O’Connor, and Golden Guitar winners Ashleigh Dallas, Lyn Bowtell, Andrew Swift and Adam Brand who will top off the night with his only Tamworth appearance. The night will also feature a spectacular firework display at 9:30 pm to kick-start the festival.
- Saturday 18 January: “Best” Night Out
Another stellar line-up in Toyota Park brought to you by Best Employment; The Best Night Out will feature Golden Guitar winners Amber Lawrence, Brad Butcher, Lyn Bowtell, Andrew Swift, Aleyce Simmonds, Montgomery Church and 2014 Toyota Star Maker Jared Porter.
- Sunday 19 January: Toyota Star Maker 2020 Grand Final
Following in the footsteps of Keith Urban, Lee Kernaghan, Beccy Cole, James Blundell, and many others, this concert will mark the 41st staging of the Toyota Star Maker Grand Final, which will launch the best from the Top 10 finalists into the spotlight. The evening features a performance by 2019 Toyota Star Maker Blake O’Connor and of course, the announcement of who will be the 41st Toyota Star Maker.
- Monday 20 January: Americana In The Park
Witness this fastest-growing sub-genre of country music featuring established, award-winning artists and the brightest stars on the horizon - Dana Hassall, Gareth Leach, Michael Waugh, Ben Mastwyk, Emily Barker, Rose Zita Falko, and Pete Cullen & The Hurt.
- Tuesday 21 January: International Showcase
A strong line up of our neighbours from across the ditch, including Brendan Dugan, Jodi Vaughan, Aly Cook, Jenny Mitchell, Ron Mitchell, The Mitchell Twins, Ainslie Allen, and featuring winners of the NZ Gold Guitars Jayden Shingleton and Ocean Waitokia. Joining the Kiwis will be the new sensation from Samoa, Mr Cowboy 62, and a special group of award-winning songwriters and performers from Nashville, USA, including Jerry Salley, ex-pat Phil Barton, Jason Duke and introducing Canadian rising star Danielle Todd
- Wednesday 22 January: Back To The Bush Spectacular
This show will feature more than 40 Bush Balladeers, including Jeff Brown, Graham Rodger, Ted Egan AO, Dianne Lindsay, Tom Maxwell, Ernie Constance, The Young Balladeers, Ashley Cook, Dean Perrett, Peter Coad, The Coad Sisters, Lindsay Butler, Anne Kirkpatrick, David Kirkpatrick, Trevor Tolton, Tom Kennedy, Keith Jamieson and many more.
- Thursday 23 January: Live And Loud
If you like it LIVE and you like it LOUD, this is a night in Toyota Park not to be missed. Featuring some of the best, emerging, and established modern country artists including Melanie Dyer, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Kaylens Rain, Darlinghurst, The Buckleys, Glen Harrison, Leigha Moore, Juliet Oliver, Sophia Chesworth and Jessica Emily Odgers.
- Friday 24 January: Toyota Stars Under The Stars
This annual event features INXS co-founder Andrew Farriss, Casey Barnes, Jetty Road, Keith Urban’s original band members SaltbushSix, as well as former Toyota Star Maker winners Luke Dickens (2011) and Karin Page (2016), and the 2020 Toyota Star Maker winner and more. The night will be hosted by Toyota ambassadors Sam and Mollie McClymont.
- Saturday 25 January: Tamworth Proud Concert
A showcase of just a few who proudly call Tamworth home, the Tamworth Proud Concert will feature The Redneck Gentleman, Allison Forbes, John Krsulja, Brett Clarke, Sally-Anne Whitten, Freddie Bailey-Cook, The Crosby Sisters, Brent Larkham, Ron Buckpitt with MD Alwyn Aurich and his All-Star Band.
- Sunday 26 January: 2020 Toyota Best Of The Buskers
The final event for Toyota Park is where the TOP TEN buskers selected by the judges through the ten days of the festival battle it out to be crowned 2020 Toyota’s Best of the Buskers, and in celebration of Australia Day there will also be a spectacular display of Australia Day Fireworks at 9:30 pm.
“Tamworth is one of the only non-gated music festivals on the Australian calendar, and we are so proud to be able to continue to host exceptional and affordable entertainment each year. We encourage everyone to make the most of the atmosphere at the shows on offer at Toyota FanZone and Toyota Park during the 2020 Festival”, concludes Barry Harley.
For further information head to www.tcmf.com.au
For Toyota FanZone line up head to www.tcmf.com.au/fanzone-line-up
For Toyota Park line up head to https://tcmf.com.au/toyota-park
