Tamworth's licensed venues gathered on Tuesday for their annual licencing accord annual general meeting.

Hotels association Director of Liquor and Policing, John Green, said there was one thing on their minds - slashing restrictions and getting back to work.

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The industry is already looking to re-employ some 9000 stood-down staff after a regulation roll-back announced this week, which will double their indoor capacity and permit standing drinking outside.

Mr Green said it reflects good behaviour from local punters and hard work by licensed venues.

He said hoped-for further loosening should make live music in January "more financially viable for some venues".

"Some of venues are talking about putting on music individually, and that is a distinct option that some of the venues will be considering in the coming weeks," he said.

"There's a lot of issues they have to consider, including the financial viability - will they have an audience? Because people are thinking - if the [Tamworth Country Music] event is cancelled you won't get people travelling from all over Australia to come to the event."

Longyard Licensee and chair of the local accord, Ian Dundon, said there may be a modified country music festival, primarily for locals.

"There may be a modified festival," he said.

"The Pub Group's considering our options at the moment. It's something we might be able to do. We've got to study the new safety plans, implementing them and see where we can go."

Mr Green said some people would always be on the lookout for a tune in January, in Tamworth.

"Whereas there's no county music festival, that doesn't mean there won't be country music in Tamworth in that period."

The Tamworth Country Music Festival was cancelled in September.

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