Festival FM kicks off today at 6am, so if you want to know where to go to the next gig, tune in to 106.1FM and if you hear your favourite artist being interviewed, you can catch them on the corner of Peel and Fitzroy streets in Tamworth's CBD.

The only place to be at 8am to begin your festival experience is the Bluegrass Breakfast with Pete Denahy at Wests this is a great way to start each morning, and you never know who's gonna jump on stage. I write it every year, and I'll write it again you have to get your Toyota hat early. Go do it today at 10am or noon at Fanzone.

There aren't many bands that have had as tragic a year as Good Corn Liquor, losing their frontman Stu in a car accident, but they're back at their favourite festival and their residency at the Albert Hotel from 12.30pm with special guests each day.

At 3.30pm, Rod Dowsett and The Cold Hard Truth play the lounge at Tamworth Services Club, then at 4pm, head down to the Post Office Hotel (not the place you send letters from) for The Horse You Rode In On I just love the name. Get back over to Wests if you want to catch Travis List from 5pm, or head to the Longyard Hotel for Victoria Avenue on the deck.

For those who want to get out of town, the Peel Inn has Hank Elwood at 6pm in Nundle I love that village or, at 7pm, there is the opening concert, featuring John Williamson, Felicity Urquhart, CMAA Academy of Country Music students, Roo Arcus, Kirsty Lee Akers, Luke O'Shea and Amber Lawrence, Brothers3, Mickey Pye and Simply Bushed in Toyota Park. That's where I'll be.

If you're here to be discovered as the next best thing, the Manilla District Country Music Association Talent Quest heats begin at Manilla RSL Club at 7.30pm.

Let's wrap it up for the first day, because it's only going to get hotter, in more ways than one.