STORYTIME STAR: Adam Harvey got the kids up and dancing at Tamworth Library during storytime last year. Photo: Barry Smith 230112BSD02
MUSIC is not the only entertainment to soak up during the festival in Tamworth.
Younger Tamworthians and visitors have their own chance to get up close and personal with the stars at Country Music Storytimes @ Tamworth Library.
This year the featured artists are Luke O'Shea, Adam Harvey and Jay Collie.
Tamworth Library regional youth and branch services librarian Narelle Lightfoot said those who attended the storytimes were a mix of locals and visitors, young and more mature country fans.
"A lot of the locals come along, as well as the visitors who have small children, and a lot of fans come along who don't have kids, too," she said.
"I think it's more up close and personal when they're in the library, because the artists tend to stay back longer and talk with the children and the more mature fans can stay around and get photos with them.
"The artists are very generous and very keen to have a younger audience involved in country music in a family-friendly environment."
Mrs Lightfoot said this was one event where the children were the VIPs for the day, and they got to sit right up the front, and the artists loved it, too.
"The young children get to come up and have a pick on the guitar and help out with songs as well," she said.
"They get involved in the musical side of things, too."
Luke and Adam enjoyed it so much last year, their first storytimes, they're keen to do it again. Jay has been reading to the children for years and is a firm favourite at the library.
"Because Luke and Adam enjoyed it so much last year, they were keen to come back this year," she said.
"Jay is just part of the family now."
Adam said he was a bit worried about how it would go last year, but he loved it.
"I really enjoyed it," he said.
"Lucky for me, I know all my Wiggles songs."
Adam said he used to read his children Dr Seuss and books like I Love You, Stinky Face.
"Kids love something that's a bit light and funny. Last year I set up the guitar, too, and got them all up to do the Hokey Pokey," he said.
Adam said children were often the hardest critics and pulled him up when he got the words mixed up to Hot Potato and Big Red Car.
"Sometimes you get caught up in Tamworth in meetings and launches and can lose part of what Tamworth is all about," he said.
"I did some busking for Ronald McDonald House last year and I thought, 'This is what the festival is all about, down here in the main street'."
Adam will also be singing at a couple of nursing homes, for children with disabilities and at the hospital.
Luke said he also loved it last year and looked forward to returning.
"Last year went well, except for getting my leg gnawed off by an infant who decided to chew on my knee," he said.
"I've been a school teacher for 20 years and taught kindergarten to Year 12, and the little ones freak me out more than the bigger ones.
"It's a different kind of performing."
Luke said it took him back to when he read to his own girls.
"The kids are fantastic and The Grumpy Bear was a classic," he said.
"The books are fun things you can really get into. Instead of entertaining a room full of drinking, mature people, you've got a room full of kids who don't need alcohol, because they're already going off."
Luke said he had three daughters who enjoyed books about princesses such as Cinderella and Snow White.