The first salute was to Slim Dusty, the second to the pioneers and thirdly the Year of the Outback was recognised. In 2003 the CMAA celebrates the women of country.

Country Music Association of Australia president John Williamson said women had always played a major role in the Australian bush. In country music they have recognised and commemorated the bush in songs and music, he said.

"The ranks of our own major country music singers and songwriters also contain many members who just happen to be female and at this year's major CountryLink Hats Off To Country concert, the CMAA is giving you the chance to see and hear some of them including Golden Guitar winners and up and coming stars," he said.

"We know everyone will be impressed not only with the major concert but with the many other concerts and events planned for the festival.

"The Country Music Association of Australia would like to express a special thanks to the festival sponsor CountryLink that has given the association and industry such great support over the past couple of years.

"We would like to also thank the many other individuals and companies in Tamworth and elsewhere, that have thrown their weight behind this Festival. The on-going support and generosity is greatly appreciated.

"Enjoy the music and we'll see you all at the festival."

The CMAA confirmed that 80 individual artists will feature in 80 separate events and activities during the 2003 CountryLink Hats Off To Country Festival.

"That equates to more than 120 hours of country music through the Queen's Birthday long weekend," CMAA general manager Kate Nugent said.

Tickets were on sale at the West Tamworth League Club, the host venue for the major Hats Off To Country events.

CountryLink Hats Off To The Women Of Country will be the main event on Saturday night, with no less than five female vocalist of the year Golden Guitar winners, including: Melinda Schneider, Anne Kirkpatrick, Deniese Morrison, Norma O'Hara Murphy and Evelyn Bury.

Rising stars Lyn Bowtell and Tamara Stewart will also feature, together with the Travelling Country Band.

Program

THURSDAY, JUNE 5

*7.30pmRob Breese and Doug Rowe – Longyard Hotel

*7.30pmSouth Bowlo Country Jam – South Tamworth Bowling Club with Christina George

*8.00pmThe Baileys – The Pub

*8.30pmStrewth – Central Hotel

*9.00pmThe Fuelers – Good Companions Hotel

*11.00pmSouthbound – The Pub

FRIDAY, JUNE 6

*7.00amNTC Breakfast – Services Club

*5.00pmStrewth – Central Hotel

6.45pmSpirit of the Anzacs Concert – Tamworth Services Club

*7.30pmRob Breese & Doug Rowe – South Tamworth Bowling Club

7.30pmSommers Family – Wests' Diggers Lounge

7.30pmCCMA presents Hats Off To The Young Guns – Wests' Diggers Auditorium

8.00pmCMAA College Graduates Reunion Concert – The Pub

*8.00pmThe Borderers – Legends, Wests

*8.00pmKim's Karaoke – Tamworth Services Club

*8.00pmHandpicked – Longyard Hotel

*8.00pmKaren Lynne & Acoustic Shock – SouthGate Inn

*9.30pmJohnny Green's Blues Cowboys – City Tavern

*10.00pmCol Finley – Central Hotel

*10.00pmSouthbound – The Pub

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

*7.00amNTC Breakfast – Legends, Wests

11.00amOld Mill presents Aussie Country Dyna Ray, Tommy Raeburn and a host of other country artists from bush ballads to country rock – Joe Maguire's Pub

*11.30amBobby Cash – Legends, Wests

*noonKaren Lynn & Acoustic Shock – The Pub

*noonNorm Price "The Willy Nelson Show" – Central Hotel

*1.00pmRitchie Gudgeon & Friends – The Vault

*2.00pmGordon Parsons' Bronze Bust unveiling – Bicentennial Park

*2.00pmSweeney–Killeen – Legends, Wests

*2.30pm Lipstick Promises & Passionate Kisses (Crosby Hammond Crosby) – Tamworth Services Club

3.00pmLBS Album Launch – Lindsay Butler, Shaza Leigh and Dean Perret – SouthGate Inn

*4.00pmRex Dallas with Brett Dallas & the Dirtwater Band – The Pub

*5.00pmSommers Family – Legends, Wests

*5.00pmBrenda Lee Heathcote – The Vault

*5.00pmStrewth – Central Hotel

*6.00pmRob Breese and Doug Rowe – Album Launch – Longyard Hotel

*7.30pmHowdy's Hoedown – South Tamworth Bowling Club

*7.30pmHandpicked – Wests' Diggers Lounge

*7.30pmHowdy's Heritage Concert – South Tamworth Bowling Club

8.00pmCountryLink presents Hats Off To The Women of Country with Melinda Schneider, Norma O'Hara Murphy, Anne Kirkpatrick, Deniese Morrison, Jean Stafford, Tamara Stewart, Lyn Bowtell and the Travelling Country Band – Blazes, Wests

*8.00pmAaron Bolton, Aleyce Simmonds & The Baileys – The Pub

*8.00pmThe Borderers – Legends, Wests

8.00pmCol Elliott – SouthGate Inn

*8.00pmTexas Rose – Longyard Hotel

*8.30pmDave Craz – Tamworth Services Club

*9.00pmJohnny Green's Blues Cowboys – Good Companions Hotel

*9.30pmThe Re–mains – City Tavern

*10.00pmDan Mureau – Central Hotel

*11.00pmSouthbound – The Pub

SUNDAY, JUNE 8

10.00amParry Shire Council presents Best Of the Bush ... Sleepers & Rails with Ted Egan, Jim Haynes, Kedron Taylor, Elissa Renton, Grant Luhrs, Alli Ryan, Russell Dick – Blazes, Wests

*11.00amNorm Price "The Willy Nelson Show" – Central Hotel

*11.30amSweeney–Killeen – Legends, Wests

*noonRob Breese and Doug Rowe – Longyard Hotel

*noonKaren Lynne & Acoustic Shock – The Pub

*1.00pmHandpicked – The Vault

*1.00pmJeff (Gibbo) Gibson and Tracey Vaughan with Crave – City Tavern

2.00pmAustralian Bush Balladeers Concert – Wests' Diggers

*2.00pmBobby Cash – Legends, Wests

*3.30pmStrewth – Central Hotel

*4.00pmThe Baileys and Guests – The Pub

*4.00pmRoger Corbett, Dobe Newton and Friends – Longyard Hotel

*4.00pm Off The Wagon plus Trevor Reeves – Joe Maguire's Pub

*5.00pmSommers Family – Legends, Wests

*6.00pmBobby Cash documentary debut "Indian Cowboy – One In A Billion" – SouthGate Inn

*6.00pmJohnny Green's Blues Cowboys – Good Companions Hotel

7.00pmCMAA Country Roundup with Johnny Chester, Carter & Carter, Roger Corbett, Dobe Newton, Michael King, Sweeney–Killeen, Peter Pratt, Gemma Doyle – Blazes, Wests

*7.00pmAnne Kirkpatrick & The Travelling Country Band – The Pub

*7.30pmHandpicked – Wests' Diggers

*8.00pmThe Borderers – Legends, Wests

*8.00pmCol Finley – Central Hotel

*8.15pmStrum – Joe Maguire's Pub

*11.00pmSouthbound – SouthGate Inn

MONDAY, JUNE 9

*9.00amCountry Music Channel on the big screen – Central Hotel

*noonBrenda Lee Heathcote – The Vault

* Denotes free show