It’s country music time!
Day 5 is going to be a busy one. Keep up with rolling updates of the latest Festival news, gig times and all the stuff you just can’t miss!
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9am: Join us from 7am tomorrow where we’ll bring you your latest news headlines and exclusive updates from #TCMF2017.
8.50pm:
Caitlin Shadbolt was the last act to take the stage with an impressive set. Concluding a great event at Toyota Park.
8.40pm: Amber Lawrence made a special guest appearance to perform alongside Kaylen’s Rain. It’s all happening here at Toyota Park! Here’s some photos from earlier.
8.30pm:
Over at the gala, Mae Valley and Lachlan Bryan are certainly impressing their guests.
8.15pm: Chelsea Basham, the next to take the stage in fine form – proving that she can be live and loud.
8pm:
Kaylee Bell – say no more! She wowed the crowd on the stage tonight.
and Over at the Tamworth Golf Club, it’s Mae Valley that have toes tapping.
7.45pm:
While Mel Dyer took the stage in the park – Kirsty Lee Akers took the stage at the Gala Dinner. Did you know she could take home a Golden Guitar on Saturday for Female Artist of the Year?!
7.30pm: Wow! Mel Dyer from Inverell just totally rocked the Toyota Park stage. Check out her performance here.
7.15pm:
There’s another big event in Tamworth tonight – it’s the Tamworth Country Music Festival Gala Dinner. Early country star Hayley Jensen hacked our facebook account and gave our audience a live look at the red carpet. Check it out below.
7pm – We’re joining you live from the Live and Loud concert at Toyota Park!
Star entertainer Jared Porter just serenaded the crowd to Walking in Memphis – he was joined by Route 33.
6.55pm: It’s just the shot in the arm the Tamworth Red Cross was after.
Historically, the Tamworth Country Music Festival has been a low-point for the blood service, with critical donations dropping by around 50 per cent.
6.40pm: And for all your red carpet action, here’s Hayley Jensen…
6.38pm: Time for a quick photo on the red carpet!
And here’s what it looks like from the other side of the camera…
6.36pm: And the red carpet at the gala dinner has begun.
And of course it wouldn’t be a Country Music Festival event without a fabulous hat!
6.30pm Behind the scenes at tonight’s gala dinner.
6.17pm: They are a dynamic country duo and at this year’s Tamworth Country Music Festival Cassi Hilbers and Liam Kennedy-Clark are celebrating the launch of their new album.
5.57pm: Welcome back to Tamworth The McClymonts!
And don’t forget about Kasey Chambers as well!
5.31pm: Troy Cassar-Daley has cut the ribbon on Tamworth’s Picasso Guitar.
Check out the special performance Troy did for the opening:
5.10pm: I spy, with my little eye… check out who’s floating around the festival! Nice hat Miguel Maestre!
4.56pm: We know what you mean Georgia Germain! What we wouldn’t give to get our hands on a Golden Guitar!
4.34pm: We’re absolutely loving seeing all of your festival photos! Don’t forget to tag your Instagram pictures with #tcmf2017 so we can share them with everyone!
4.08pm: Great to see the Queens are still having a foot-stomping-thigh-slapping-finger-pointing good time!
3.50pm: A framed Maton guitar, autographed by Travis Collins, has sold for a whopping $6000 at auction!
3.30pm: This is great to see. Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart have signed one of the Fanzone white guitars after performing on stage and meeting fans!
3.25pm: The Tamworth Country Music Festival gives performers of all ages, abilities and styles to show their stuff in front of an audience. Check out this video, posted to Instagram by @katsherrie
3.12pm: Megan Sidwell has reflected on the opportunity to play on the main stage for the Toyota Star Maker finals.
@megansidwellmusic: Had a lot of fun playing with this band on the main stage for the Toyota Star Maker finals on Sunday night. Such talented dudes and dudette. Pic by @tcmf_official #tcmf2017 #toyotastarmaker #starmaker #countryrock #countrymusic
3.00pm: The Country Music Queens entrants came up with a “Leader salute” at the Riverside camping grounds early this morning. The Northern Daily Leader is one of the major sponsors of the TCMF. Thank you!
2.47pm: Busker Elyssa Faith has received support from her little sister while performing this morning.
Well done to these future super stars, who have shown the spirit that our festival is all about.
2.34pm: Are you interested in storytelling?
Head along to the Tamworth City Library to get involved.
2.25pm: It’s a big day for Chloe Styler, who is currently launching her EP at Wests.
@chloestylermusic: Happy EP Release Day to me! I'm over the moon with how it turned out & I hope you love it as much as I do If you're in Tamworth, come along to my EP launch today at Wests from 2pm, if not, you can purchase your own copy via iTunes and have your own little listen along at home #tcmf2017 #eplaunch #debutep#hillbillyhutshowcase
2.10pm: It’s not always about the music :)
The whip cracking competition has proven a winner at this year’s festival.
1.57pm: Okay guys, we want to hear from you. Who has been your favourite of the buskers at the 2017 Tamworth Country Music Festival? Cast your vote here.
1.40pm: Are you a fan of the TV show Sunrise?
The crew will be at the Tamworth Country Music Festival tomorrow morning. Guests include The McCylmonts and 2017 Toyota Star Maker Rachael Fahim.
There will be a live cross at 5.30am and filming will conclude about 8.30am.
1.26pm: If you’re in town, make sure to go check out The Big Golden Guitar.
1.05pm: Former buskers turned pub rockers Brewn are ready to showcase their latest material this festival. Check out their music clip for the song ‘My Town’ below.
12.51pm: Check out this behind-the-scenes Instagram post from Brooke Lambert, who is sharing a house with other musicians during TCMF.
Brooke said waking up in a house full of musicians and being able to jam “fuels my soul”.
12.35pm: Have you had your photo taken with the BIG Tamworth sign in Toyota Park yet? Make sure you do! And share it with us by using #TCMF2017 on social media.
@emmakatefrench: Obligatory tourist shot #tcmf2017
12.20pm: The ongoing sister city agreement between Tamworth and Gore in New Zealand has been celebrated at this year’s festival. Today, the relationship was extended until 2021.
Mayor of Gore District, Tracy Hicks, said the agreement was “something special to me”.
12.02pm: Have you spotted Guy Sebastian around Tamworth? He is certainly proving popular at this year’s festival.
11.50am: It’s heating up in Tamworth, with the temperature now reaching 32 degrees. The misting station at the TCMF is proving very popular today.
11.35am: Have you seen today’s line-up for Fanzone Day 5? Go check it out :)
11.20am: Check out the crowd for The Hillbilly Goats’ show this morning at Shoppingworld!
@hillbillygoats: Kicking off our two show day now at Shoppingworld Tamworth. If you can't make it here we'll catch you this afternoon for a 3 hour show at The Pub #tcmf2017 #hillbillygoats
11.08am: I think it’s pretty fair to say our journos were excited to meet Kevin Bennett & The Flood, and Felicity Urquhart this morning.
11.00am: You could argue that it’s been 20 years in the making, but Matt Henry will finally release his debut album tomorrow at the Tamworth Services Club. Nice work Matt!
10.40am: We think Ruby Gilbert might be pretty excited to be in town, she just shared this post on Instagram:
@rubygilbertmusic: Super excited for two reasons:
1. Frozen Pepsi is a thing that exists.
2. I'm playing at the Post Office Hotel from 1:20 today.
Come hang out :)
10.25am: With the temperature already nudging 30 in Tamworth, don’t forget to take care in the sun today.
These kids chose to take on the mist sprays at the festival this morning.
@mumma4kidlets: Soaking up the mist sprays at the #tcmf2017
10.10am: Good morning everyone, Josh here taking over from Simon as we continue our coverage from the 2017 Tamworth Country Music Festival.
How are you enjoying the festival so far? What has been your highlight? Use #TCMF2017 on Twitter or Instagram and show us how much fun you are having!
9.51am: As if the excitement wasn’t high enough to see Libby in concert, we snuck onto the set of Beccy Cole and Adam Harvey’s new film clip!
9.39am: So pumped to see these guys tonight at Live Loud and Free. It’s going to be an awesome night at Bicentennial Park!
9.15am: Need a break from Festival mode? This morning’s lead story looks at our newly appointed state Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, who says she’s looking out for the bush. But will she be given get the fair go she deserves? Our journo on the beat is Jacob McArthur:
9.05am: Loving this tune from Ryan Daykin! The perfect steady jam to roll on Tuesday.
9.00am: Thanks to our local police for keeping us safe this Festival. There’s plenty of time to see everything folks. No need to rush
8.30pm: Please help! Tag @thendl on Instagram, or @the_NDL on twitter!
8.18am: Woo! Our favourite cowgirls are in Tamworth! Catch them at the Longyard tomorrow and Thursday! Check your guide for details.
8.07am: But guys! How good was Americana in the Park!
7.27am: I though that was the unmistakable smell of rain this morning. Campers, it could be a good idea to batten down before heading out today.
7am: Good morning country music fans! The Festival is flying by! We’re at the halfway point now and here’s the things you just can’t miss:
What’s making headlines
Auriel is fondly remembered
When the Sydney Opera House opened in 1973, among the performers at the opening was Auriel Andrew.
It was a career highlight for the Aboriginal singer who was remembered at a funeral service this week, conducted by former radio presenter and Country Music Awards of Australia judge Geoff Gregory. Read Auriel’s story.
The three things you need to see today:
Weather report
Did you know: In the past 25 years, today has proven to be one of the wetter days of the Country Music Festival.
What to expect today
On this day in country music …
1950: Born on this day in Bartlesville, Oklahoma was Becky Hobbs country music singer, songwriter and pianist who has charted multiple singles on the Country charts, including the #10 hit "Let's Get Over Them Together", a duet with Moe Bandy.
2008: Charlie Daniels who is known for his #1 country hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.