THEY may not be taking refuge under the shade of a Coolibah tree, and have since traded swags for vans, but campers have well and truly staked their claims ahead of the Country Music Festival.
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Barry K Chandler and his wife of 50 years, Lin Chandler, have trucked down from Queensland to the country music capital for 26 years.
The Proston couple – who perform a Johnny Cash tribute show across the west – have pulled their 40-year-old Bedford bus, aptly named the Rambling Homestead, in to the same Riverside camping site for the best part of two decades.
“It truly is the love of Tamworth, love of country music and the people you meet (that keeps us coming back),” Mr Chandler said.
The dynamic duo are among the 5000 people expected to pitch tents and unhitch vans at the makeshift camping ground at Riverside Oval for the 10-day festival.
The 1500-site reserve was officially opened on Thursday, but four days out from the festival, and visitors from all corners of the country are rolling in and setting up camp.
The Chandlers are revered as Riverside royalty – and it’s that sense of community that sticks with them.
“It’d be like cutting an arm off if we didn’t come to Tamworth,” Mrs Chandler said.
Across the lane, Kunnunurra’s Gary King may only be on his maiden voyage to Tamworth, but he’s already right at home, making friends with the Chandlers.
The soaring temperatures of high 30-degree days may be sending shock waves through the camping grounds as visitors grapple with the Tamworth heat, but it’s a different story for Mr King.
“I had a jumper on last night,” he laughed.
Navigating through a sea of coloured tents, battered tarps and beaten vans, Victorian couple, Margo and Mick Mills have set up camp at the other end of the temporary camping ground.
The Kilmany South locals have been visiting Tamworth Country Music Festival for 13 years.
“We usually stay in a tent, but we’ve upgraded to an 80s Explorer caravan this year,” Mrs Mills said.
“I’s green and yellow, and old, so they won’t pinch it.”
The pair keep coming back because they love the sense of community and watching up-and-coming musicians make their break.
“But we also have a soft spot for Beccy Cole,” Mr Mills said.