The duo, consisting of Trent McArdle and Jock Barnes, will make their first trip to the Tamworth Country Music Festival and are looking forward to performing to the city’s crowds.

Their debut EP, The Switch will be released on February 17, after festival goers will get a taste of their country style.

McArdle told The Leader he and Barnes were looking forward to finding out what the festival was all about.

“We’re excited, there’s a bit of intrigue for Jock and I, this is our first time in Tamworth.

“We have been to Gympie plenty of times, and this is a fairly similar festiva.

“It’s our first time doing it as an artist, so it’s pretty cool to get a chance to be on the Live and Loud Stage, it’ll be a good experience.”

McArdle said the duo fell into the country pop/rock category and believed they would fit in well to the Festival with many diverse genres.

“It’s a new age kind of sound,” he said.

“We’ve heard Tamworth is a buzz around the street for the week, someone likened it to us at the Bluesfest in Byron where for a week 50,000 people are buzzing to different types of music, from 18-year-old women to 75-year-old men - they’re all coming together for a big party.

“I can’t wait to see a lot of other acts and will be penciling that in to the agenda too.”

Route 33’s shows include at the Pig and Tinder Box on Sunday, January 22 at 7pm, the Peel St Stage on Monday, January 23 at 10am and Toyota Live and Loud at Toyota Park on Tuesday, January 24.