Tamworth Regional Council entertainment venues manager Peter Ross said there were still some great seats available at all ticketed events.

“Ticket sales are pretty comparable to last year,” he said.

Mr Ross said he believed it was going to be quieter than last year, due to the significance of last year’s 40th anniversary festival and the attention it garnered. He said he thought the current climate and bushfire threat was another reason things were a little slower this year, as people wondered whether they should stay home or come to Tamworth.

“I think a lot of people are very worried, especially in Victoria, about leaving their houses and not being there if something happens, or not being able to get back if they need to,” he said.

“People may be leaving it to the last minute to come up.”

Mr Ross said there wasn’t a significant difference between this year and last, but it was a “little bit down”.

He said they were still selling tickets well each day, but sales were slower for new events because it took time to build them up.

“With Craig Campbell on the first Saturday, it’s great to have an international artist on that first weekend and it’s doing pretty well, but a little behind some of the others,” Mr Ross said.

“I think people are not used to that (a major concert on the first weekend), but it’s a great line-up with three Aussies – 

Jasmine Rae and McAlister Kemp.”

Mr Ross said internet sales were ahead of box office and phone sales, but the latter were growing as people arrived in Tamworth.

“We could have a big surge this week, with more people arriving in town,” he said.