IN-YOUR-FACE FUN: Toyota Star Maker Bob Corbett entertains the crowd at the Capitol Theatre. Photo: Geoff O’Neill 130912GOA05
IT MIGHT only be September but for those in the country music industry, it’s time to start thinking about January and what the Tamworth Country Music Festival will bring.
Rural Press Events (RPE) has launched one of the cornerstones of any fan and artist’s festival, The Official Festival Guide, which will be on the streets in December.
Reigning Toyota Star Maker Bob Corbett entertained more than 40 supporters of the guide who attended yesterday’s launch in the Capitol Theatre foyer.
Rural Press Events general manager Barry Harley recognised the partnerships the organisation had with stakeholders, including Tamworth Regional Council.
Mr Harley stressed the importance of venues and artists updating their information online in the guide, as it was the definitive publication passed on to others.
“If the wrong information is in the guide, it will be duplicated, unless you update it,” he said.
RPE’s Kate Nugent said the launch demonstrated how the Official Festival Guide was the market leader, as it encompassed all the festival offered.
“The Official Guide paved the way for other publications,” she said.
What began as a listing of 11 events in Country Music Capital News in 1975 has grown to a 258-page, glossy magazine listing more than 2500 concerts, shows and events including the sought-after artist by artist alphabetical listing.
“This is the first time The Official Guide has been launched,” Ms Nugent said.
“It was so nice to have this gathering with locals and it was about recognising the importance of the guide and show people how we put it together.
“We want to work with the venues and make it easier for people to update events.”
For the 2013 festival, The Official Festival Guide will feature event listings, historical facts and inside stories about the foundation events including the CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, Official Opening Concert, Toyota Star Maker, Hands of Fame, Roll of Renown, Capital Country Music Association National Talent Quest and Jamboree, the Cavalcade plus new music releases.
The daily program will also include events and activities in the Festival Countdown period, which starts seven days before the main event.
Last year for the first time, The Official Guide went online with an app, allowing visitors to access all the information they needed on their smartphones.
The response was excellent and the app will again be available for portable viewing of events and artist information.
The app will be released closer to the festival.
