The name John Williamson is synonymous with Australia.
The veteran country music icon, lives and breathes Australian culture – so it was a happy coincidence that his annual Friday festival show fell on Australia Day.
Since his last festival show, Williamson has traveled the nation, written and recorded new music and won the hearts of more fans on the road with his great showmanship. He’ll take to the stage of the Tamworth War Memorial Town Hall at 8pm.
He’ll be joined by well-known musicians Matt Fell, Jeff McCormack and Clare O’Meara in a spectacular festival showcase of all his greatest hits and some new ones too.
“It’s one of my favourite events,” Williamson said. “If It wasn’t for the festival I’d still do it, It’s my Tamworth gig and it’s as much for the town as anything else. This year I’m going to have three musos with me, I normally have two – but I thought we’d go the whole hog this year.”
Fans can expect some variety from Williamson over two hours.
”It’s a two hour show, I’ll do a few new songs, I’ll revive some old ones and ones I’d forgotten about,” he said. “I always come back with a different show, I like to keep it fresh and different to the last.”
Williamson described this year’s concert as a journey through Australia with plenty of stories to tell about life on the road and the country landscape.
“I recently went up to Darwin with Meg (his wife) on the variety bash, as we do,” he said.
“I realised all the way up there, we were going to places I’d written about. So now I start at Darwin in the show and come all the way down – it gives me another story line. I try to keep my show together as a musical journey and a real journey geographically.”
In true Australia Day spirit, Williamson said he’ll be sneaking in the bush anthem, Waltzing Matilda somewhere - something he hoped would never lose its place in Aussie culture. He’s also just written a song, Buddy and Slim, a nod to Buddy Williams and Slim Dusty - the brothers of the bush and their legacy.
“It’s the town hall show, I love catching up with good friends,” he said. “My show really celebrates Australia, and who we are.”
