Tamworth Country Music Festival 50th anniversary kicks off with big opening concert at Toyota Park

Bicentennial Park has been converted into the festival's largest outdoor venue, Toyota Park, and tents and caravans fill the city's sporting fields.

Golden Guitar winner and ARIA #1 Australian country artist Kirsty Lee Akers will be inducted into the hands of fame during this year's festival - a festival which holds a special place in Akers' heart.

It was the money Akers saved busking on the streets of Tamworth that paid for her first EP, which started her career.

"It's just one of those things that I can't ever imagine not attending," she said.

"Even if I wasn't performing, I'd have to attend because it's just that one event of the year that I always look forward to."

Festival Manager Barry Harley said it's the young artists emerging on the streets and the talent search which inspires him most.

"We've got all the elements of a great festival - we just need the people and we need the locals to get engaged," he said.

"While we've experienced massive hurdles over the last few years, this 50th anniversary event will definitely be one to celebrate, so I encourage everyone in our city to get out and about and enjoy what this festival has on offer."

Tonight, celebrations will really begin with the opening concert in Toyota Park at 7pm, with a range of artists at different stages in their careers set to perform, including Akers.

Other acts include alt-country rocker Andrew Swift, country pop artist Melanie Dyer, up-and-comer Abbie Ferris as well as Vixens of Fall and multi-Golden Guitar winner Adam Harvey will headline.

FACED with a logistical nightmare, organisers have pulled off the impossible for the 50^th Tamworth Country Music Festival as caravans roll in and motels are packed to the rafters.

While it won't be January big, the program which kicks off today will feature 700 artists and more than 2800 events across the next seven days.

Think all the big stars and more, with a sprinkle of special milestones in between.

Troy Cassar-Daley will celebrate 50 years of friends and memories at Town Hall, Lee Kernaghan is marking the 30th anniversary of his first album The Outback Club at a huge show at TRECC, and John Williamson is bringing his big Winding Back Tour to town.

But it's not just about the party - this year's festival marks revival and renewal for the industry. It marks hope.

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COVID has hit the music industry hard, but none have done it as hard as country music artists, according to festival manager Barry Harley.

"The past couple of years have been torturous to most of the industry," he said.

"We've worked very hard to make this April event a significant event and still a celebration of the previous 12 months through our 50 years of Golden Guitars, but also the launchpad for what we believe will be an opening up of restrictions and a much more rewarding future for all of the music industry, but particularly our country music industry."

A star-studded lineup is set to tear the house down at the opening concert at Toyota Park on Monday night - the first of seven free concerts each night of the festival.

Headlined by multi-Golden Guitar winner Adam Harvey, the concert will feature Kirsty Lee Akers straight from television's The Block, 2020 Toyota Star Maker Sammy White, the sweet sounds of Melanie Dyer, Vixens of Fall and newcomer Abbie Ferris.

The Welcome to Country will be performed by 2022 Star Maker finalist Loren Ryan and Len Waters.

Alt-country rocker Andrew Swift will also be singing a couple of songs at the opening show, and has plenty of new music to share.

"I'm going to be playing songs from the new album, as well as the songs that have got me to where I am today, and a couple of new ones that aren't on the album," he said.

Stars will take to the stage from 7pm, and the night will end with fireworks at 9.30pm at Number 1 Oval.

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