Williamson, 69, was working with five-time Golden Guitar winner of best video clip, director Duncan Toombs, at one of the most beautiful buildings in the Country Music Capital – the Tamworth Town Hall.

Williamson’s manager, David Woodward, spoke to The Leader as Williamson mouthed the words to his song Clouds Over Tamworth while sitting in front of his evocative tour backdrop and a pretend campfire burned at his feet.

It was stark, with Williamson all alone up on stage – but the backdrop and fire created a cosy feel. 

“The Tamworth Town Hall is John’s favourite venue in Australia,” Mr Woodward said.

He said Williamson not only liked the decor but the fantastic acoustics the venue provided.

While he was not playing any gigs during Toyota Hats Off to Country, Williamson was certainly bringing a beautiful bush flavour to the proceedings.

The concept for the video clip came to Mr Toombs after he was approached by Williamson’s record label, Warner Music Australia.

As Williamson played yesterday, images of country music stars taken by award-winning photographer John Elliott of Toowoomba were projected onto the ceiling.

Images were also supplied for the projection by the Tamworth Regional Film and Sound Archive, including photos of Slim Dusty, Chad Morgan and Tex Morton.

Archive deputy chair Bladen Brook said they had supplied Mr Toombs’s film company, Filmery, with quite a few images and videos but were unsure which ones Mr Toombs would use.

“It’s very pleasing to know that someone knows about it to come and use it,” Mr Brook said.

“That’s what it’s all about – there are 22,000 items in the database.”

Mr Toombs said the challenge was to make the clip “authentic” for Tamworthians.

“I really wanted to make it just not about music ... there’s a lot more to Tamworth than meets the eye,” he said.