Mr and Mrs Prato left Geelong in 2007, put all their belongings in storage, sold their townhouse and set off for three years around Australia.

After spending Christmas 2007 in Sawtell, now their hometown, they decided they were too close to Tamworth to miss the festival again, so enjoyed their first visit in 2008 before setting off for North Queensland.

They travelled for three years and settled in Sawtell, returning to the festival last year and are back this year, with Mr Prato’s trusty highlighter in tow and their festival planned out, with selected shows highlighted in the Official Guide.

“The first year we went to every show and did everything we could,” Mr Prato said.

“I’d come every year if I could.” 

Mrs Prato said they arrived on December 31 so they could book a good spot at Paradise Caravan Park.

Because they’ve arrived early, it’s given her husband extra time to plan out their 10 days of country music fun.

Mr Prato has even rated some of the acts with four crosses –  meaning excellent – and their appeal reducing with the number of crosses he assigns to each show.

He said they planned to see Doug Bruce, Hillbilly Goats – they discovered them last year while on the way to one of their planned gigs – Brothers3, Those Gals, The Long Lunch and Dozzi.

“We love this park, we love Peel St and the buskers,” Mrs Prato said.

“The buskers are just fabulous because you can see something new every day. There is a great shopping centre and we love the music, of course. It’s friendly, clean and no violence.” 

The couple said they also loved Tamworth for the riverside walk, which they did each morning.