A queenly barbecue: Jean Stafford, centre, and friends, from left, Peggy Gilchrist, Dan Murphy, Wendy Wood and Shaza Leigh brought country music back to Tamworth at ANZAC Park on Sunday. Photo: Barry Smith 030213BSB02
YOU could have been forgiven for thinking the country music festival had just kept on going if you wandered into Anzac Park yesterday morning.
Three-time Golden Guitar winner Jean Stafford invited a few talented friends along for a musical jam and sausage sizzle to thank her fans and raise some money for a good cause.
Wielding a set of barbecue tongs, Jean buttered bread and flipped sausages in her trademark white Stetson before taking to the stage to sing Beyond the Great Divide for the crowd of appreciative fans.
The event was due to be held last Sunday but had to be rescheduled after heavy rain, with Jean saying she had stayed in Tamworth an extra week to see the event go ahead.
“I wasn’t leaving town until I did it,” the blonde songstress said.
“I’d really like to make it a yearly event.”
Joined by musicians Dan Murphy, Rob Brown and Bruce McCumstie, just to name a few, Tamworth muso Steve Charles performed with a bright red lipstick imprint from Wanita the Honkytonk Queen on his cheek.
“She kissed me on the cheek, I’m leaving it there all day,” Steve joked.
The crowd brought deckchairs, ate hot dogs and tapped thong-shod feet along to Johnny Cash classics and original numbers until after midday.
All donations are going to the diabetic unit at Tamworth
hospital.
