MOST graduations involve a cap and gown, tonight's will involve plenty of country music and 29 up-and-coming artists taking the stage.
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The CMAA Academy of Country Music students will graduate tonight with a concert at Wests from 8pm.
Student Kiara Taylor said she couldn't wait to spend the night on stage with everyone she had "formed such a good bond with" during her time at academy.
"A highlight will also be singing my first original song that I wrote with Aleyce Simmonds," she said.
"What I'm taking away from academy is the lesson of knowing who you are as an artist and being true to yourself."
Josie Laver who did her first public performance only last Friday said she was looking forward to the graduation performance for the buzz it gave her being on stage.
"I loved my first live performance (at The Pub) with a lot of good vibes and very talented bunch of people," she said.
"I've enjoyed the amount of learning I've done. I'm a lot more confident in performing and taking the next step and the best thing about academy are the mentors and friends and connections I've made."
She said she would be in Tamworth for the start of the festival, but then had to return home to work on her family's sheep and cattle property in South West NSW.
"I'd love to come back next year and perform," Laver said.
Fellow student Andrew Thomson said he enjoyed the atmosphere of performing.
"I'm looking forward to doing the finished product (graduation concert) with all the friends I've made at the CMAA Academy of Country Music," he said.
"I'm also looking forward to hearing some of the harmonies come out of it. The biggest thing I am taking from the academy are the friendships I got here. A lot of it is about the networking side of it. It's giving you the chance to continue on doing that from the people you meet here."
During festival, Thomson said he looked forward to listening to a lot of music as well as playing gigs and working for Vox Amps at the Coca-Cola Stage.
As well as the students, the tutors and mentors will perform at tonight's concert including Roger Corbett, Lyn Bowtell, Kevin Bennett, Karl Broadie and Simon Johnson.
Olivia’s in pursuit of a music career
QUEENSLAND’S Olivia Nolan has had some of the best weeks of her life at the CMAA Academy of Country Music.
The country music artist, who plays guitar and harmonica, said a few highlights had been writing with Drew McAlister and jamming with Kasey Chambers.
“I’m in Catherine’s group, which was everything I wanted,” she said.
“I want to be a musician full-time, so this is the first stepping stone. It’s something that all people who want to get into the industry should do.”
Nolan said she wanted to make an album this year, so the contacts and networks she made here were vital. When she’s not making music, she is taking orders at a coffee shop in Brisbane.
“I moved to Brisbane to pursue music, so I want to get more confident to approach venues and market myself,” she said.
All 29 students graduate tonight at Wests, with tickets still on sale.
