I don’t agree with Lawrie’s opinion about not needing the overseas artists to come to our country music festival. I have seen Garry Allen, Jo Dee Messina, Terri Clark, and recently, Dwight Yoakam, all at Tamworth. I can’t afford to go overseas to see these artists, as I’m sure other people can’t. I don’t have the money to go to the Hunter when they have the artists there, so I would like to see more country music artists from America come to Tamworth, as I’m sure a lot of other people would.

People come to Tamworth to see local artists, (when they are employed at the festival) and also it is a bonus if they know that big name artists are coming from America. They can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. 

As far as Anna’s story went, I agree with a lot of what she had to say, but the main point I tried to get across in last week’s letter was, “if it wasn’t broken, all those years ago, why try fixing it?” 

The country music festival is nothing like it was 20 years ago, as far as the busking and the artists in the pubs and clubs are concerned.

Once upon a time we could go into any venue, or walk down the street and see “country” acts performing. Now it’s “spot the country act”.

I went to see Roo Arcus, one of our very talented Australian country artists and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have been watching him on The Range on channel 11 on Saturday mornings and I think he is one of the best male artists we have in Australia. 

The best female artist in Australia is Jodie Crosby and she lives here in Tamworth, but doesn’t get the recognition she deserves.

To all those people who love the festival the way it used to be, then please back up these letters and get the message through to the organisers.

Yours in “Country”.

KERRY BLINMAN

MANILLA