Guyra priest Father Anthony Koppman, of Holysmoke Fireworks, is planning a pyrotechnic spectacular to conclude the Opening Concert of festival, with fireworks on No. 1 Oval.

“It’s going to be huge,” Father Koppman said. “I’ve been looking forward to doing this since I had the phone call from council a few months ago. I’ve been working on some unique products.”

The pyrotechnic priest said fireworks were a hobby that had really taken off.

The opening display will feature festival colours including reds, oranges and gold.

“We’re creating an effect that will let everyone in Tamworth know the country music festival has started,” he said. “It will be better than Daft Punk and a spectacular show with a display for young and old.”

Tamworth Regional Council business events manager Gavin Flanagan said this would be the first time in memory that we would have fireworks at the Opening Concert.

“We will always have the Australia Day fireworks, but what better way to start the festival?” he said

“As soon as Troy Cassar-Daley and Adam Harvey play their last note, the fireworks will begin.”

Mr Flanagan said this had not come about as a result of some discontent about no fireworks on New Year’s Eve in Tamworth, and had been in the planning for several months.

“It’s about introducing something a little bit different,” he said. “We’ll have big stars, big fireworks and we’ve reduced the number of artists on stage, so there will be more of a flow.”

Mr Flanagan said it was not costing any extra for the second lot of fireworks.

“The festival has a particular budget every year, the budget doesn’t change, what we spend on the fireworks, we have saved in other areas,” he said.

Holysmoke, run by pyrotechnic priest Father Anthony Koppman from Guyra, will be running the fireworks for the Opening Concert on January 17 and Queensland-based Chris Corbee of Spectrum Fireworks will create the Australia Day display.

Both are expected to begin at 10pm and residents are urged to lock up their pets before the displays.