It’s two weeks until the 2019 Toyota Country Music and the drive to find the best spot has kicked up a gear.

Careful not to set up completely, veteran nomads know all too well the grey area in parking by the river.

Queenslanders Tom and Laureen Thiedeke are hard to miss.

Mr Thiedeke dresses almost exclusively in loud Hawaiian shirts, and reckons he’s been recognised all across Australia.

On his 70th birthday, a bunch of artists tramped down to the river to celebrate and play a few songs, he said.

“We like the bush balladeers, just about all of them I like, really – I don’t have a problem with anyone who’s got more talent than me,” he laughs.

“My mum, when she was alive, used to be able to play by ear. I’ve got a 12-year-old nephew who can’t read a word of music and yet he’s a beautiful piano player.”

Mrs Thiedeke comes for the atmosphere; she loves the main street.

“It’s just the whole town – we like Tamworth,” she said.

“I used to work up at the hospital in Dalby in Qld. Us girls saved up for 12 months and came down to camp in tent city behind one of the clubs.

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“Us girls had a great time.”

Around the bend are Mark Eggins, Wayne Leary and Malcolm Leo. They’ve been coming to the Toyota Country Music Festival for years and, eventually, a friendship blossomed.

Mr Leo and his wife won’t miss Beccy Cole’s and Adam Harvey’s shows, and are looking forward to the rush of action on the streets.

“Beccy Cole always does a great show. We just love coming to Tamworth and the friendships you make,” he said.

The festival kicks off on January 18.

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