While in Tamworth for the festival, where she was a finalist in New Talent and Alt Country Album of the year categories, Kristy experienced a career highlight as a featured performer on the awards concert.

Not only did she get the opportunity to walk the red carpet in her finery, she also performed her charting hit and her brilliant new album’s title track, Miles & Timezones on the Golden Guitars stage in what many people have said was the best event in years.

Kristy has just started crowd-funding through Indiegogo for her next exciting venture – her first trip to Europe in May, where she’s been selected to perform with her band at the 2013 European World of Bluegrass Festival in the Netherlands.

It’s a great honour for the young artist as only a handful of bands are chosen from throughout the world to showcase at the festival.

“I’m so excited to be taking my music to a whole new audience, but as there will be four of us travelling there, the expenses are enormous,” Kristy said.

“The total cost of the trip is about $15,000, so we’ve done what a lot of artists are doing these days and turned to crowd-funding through Indiegogo.

“We are asking for financial support with packages starting at $12 and going up to $2500. Every dollar counts.

“For your financial support there are all sorts of rewards and incentives – CDs, T-shirts, special requests and unreleased recordings and house concerts are just some of them.”

Kristy has set an Indiegogo goal of $10,000 to help get them there and is also working on securing dates in and around Amsterdam before and after the event for the band.

If you would like to help Kristy take her Aussie version of bluegrass to Europe, visit www.indie gogo.com and type in Kristy Cox European Tour in the site search panel.

She would be very grateful for any financial assistance Country Music Notes readers can give, regardless of the amount.

WITH a sensational band and a whole heap of fun, reflection and nostalgia, Graeme Connors presented his North To Now concert at the Tamworth Town Hall on the final Friday of the festival.

It’s always a highlight for Graeme, to kick off the year on that historic stage.

Graeme always surrounds himself with superb players and they don’t come much better than Rex Goh, Tim Wedde, Chris Haigh, Scott Hills and Gary Carruthers.

The song list on the concert reflected the images and stories that have flowed through Graeme’s career since the massive success of North. 

Who could believe that was 25 years ago?

Based in Mackay, he’s one of Australia’s most treasured songwriters. 

TONIGHT in Tamworth the place to be is The Family Hotel if you’re an aspiring musician, or you simply want to support the local Capital Country Music Association.

It’s time for the monthly CCMA jam and workshop and it all happens at 7pm in Doms Room at The Family.

IF YOU are a grey nomad and are looking for some fun on the Easter weekend, there’s a new event near Wagga Wagga that could be right up your alley.

The Stone the Crows Festival is designed to recognise the talents of Australia’s mature citizens and will be held at Camp Kurrajong, just outside of Wagga. 

Organisers promise a host of concerts, workshops, fun events, competitions and camaraderie. 

The festival will also feature awards to recognise the talents of over-50s – and you don’t even have to own a caravan or motorhome to enter.

Events range from talent quests and verse recital to disc bowls, ladder golf and “stoning the crows”. 

These awards are called the gReyVees and will be presented annually each Easter at Wagga Wagga.

There are three external categories anyone over 50 can enter – photography, verse writing and embroidery.

Each year will have a different theme – and this year’s is “birds”.

Unlike many grey nomad events, this one is not vehicle-specific.

“We don’t care how you get around Australia,” organiser Chrissy Eustace said.

“Just come and camp and have some fun.”

The Saturday night concert features 2013 Country Music Roll of Renown recipient Wayne Horsburgh, Australia All Over regular Grant Luhrs and bush-poet lorikeet Jim Haynes.

“Our retirees and over-50s are an essential part of our community who have been taken for granted for too long,” Jim Haynes said.

“It’s time we recognised they are more than unpaid babysitters. The Stone the Crows Festival is designed for them and the gReyVees are about celebrating and recognising their talents.

“We are calling all grey nomads and over-50s to be part of the first Stone the Crows Festival this Easter. It’s going to be a hoot.”

If you’d like to know more, visit the website www.stonethecrows.  com.au or phone 0408 729 580.