SET in the heart of the boulevard of dreams is FanZone.
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And fan-zone it is. The main stage in the centre of town will showcase up to 200 artists over the 10-day Tamworth Country Music Festival, and it can pull a crowd.
Take Thursday for instance. Country music icons Lee Kernaghan and Adam Brand, homegrown sweetheart, Aleyce Simmonds, and singing sensation, Amber Lawrence. The McClymonts will headline Friday, and the list goes on.
Thousands of fans find a spot under the tent or spill out onto the street to catch a glimpse of the big names as well as the up-and-comers who have their 20-minute chance to shine.
The set list is locked down in the months to come, some are invited to play, and scouts look through the names and the music to finalise the line-up.
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Festival manager Barry Harley says the attraction is much more than just the microphone.
“It allows the artists to ply their trade, we just create and provide the infrastructure for them to do that and now in fact we have a waiting list for it,” he said.
“It’s very popular for artists and the visitors because of that pop up or cameo performances, it’s really a stage for boasting rights.
“It gives them an opportunity to promote their paid show or give fans a taste of what they can expect or to even get their name out there.
“It’s open but has that sense of intimacy so the fans love it, and so too the artists.”
And the chance to have a bit of fun and get up close and personal is real, like Thursday afternoon when Adam Brand announced he was set to become a father.
We say congratulations, and bring on the music.