By the end of this week, country music fans from across the nation and even overseas, will converge on our city to be entertained by some of the best in the business.

On the weekend the main stage in Bicentennial Park was established.

This area will be a hub for a number of free concerts, which have proved to be the heart and soul of the festival in years gone by.

A place where families can come and enjoy themselves, and simply take in the atmosphere.

We know how much the festival is worth to Tamworth – for many businesses it’s a lifeline that will see them through the rest of the year.

The lead up to this festival has been shrouded in controversy for some though, with talk of a levy on businesses that benefit from major events, like the festival, coming out of council.

Whatever way that goes council needs to get the balance right.

Whether it’s fair to bang on about a levy when many businesses are simply struggling to survive, is yet to be determined. 

How do you decide who benefits and ultimately who pays?

Either way we’re off and running for 2018.

The camping grounds are open – early as usual – and already the visitors are starting to arrive.

Over the next few days our city will be transformed into festival central.

The revamped Fitzroy Street will play a big role in how the festival is evolving this year – so let’s hope the thousands of visitors (and locals too of course) make the most of this fresh new space.

Yes there will be some road closures to make way for the festival influx, but if we look beyond the inconvenience to what our town reaps in return – it’s worth it.

The festival itself is evolving too, with organisers working hard to bring in a younger audience.

The die hard country fans will be here as usual, but you’d have to think they are not the future for this event.

Whatever the 2018 Festival has planned for our town, there’s change in the wind.

All we have to do now is sit back, relax and take it all in – for the good of our town of course.

It’s a tough gig – but someone has to do it.