It was a bit different from what we are all used to, but instead of filling up venues across town, the Hats Off To Country festival took the internet by storm.
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Any 21st birthday is an event to remember, and this proved true not just for the organisers but also for the musicians who took to the festival's first ever virtual stage.
Event coordinator Cheryl Brown said the four days of jam-packed, livestreamed events went better and further than their wildest dreams.
"It reached thousands, from all over world; Canada, the UK, the US, and all over Australia," she said.
Saturday night's Songs & Stories Songwriters' Round with Blake O'Connor, Casey Barnes, Melanie Dyer, and Caitlyn Shadbolt had an astounding 10,000 views in just 45 minutes.
The real-time feedback also provided many artists to hear directly from their fans.
"For example, when the New Graces were on - a fairly new all female trio ... the amount of people commenting saying they couldn't wait to see them live gave them a real thrill," Ms Brown said.
West Tamworth Leagues Club had the livestream up on the big screen as they would a football game.
CEO Rod Laing said the audience it attracted was "small but sweet" thanks to COVID-19 restrictions.
"It was different, but you have the AFL games on the screen that people love to watch, so why should music be any different? It was great," he said.
For resident Christine Watson, she has been going to the Hats Off festival for 10 years, as long as she's been in town.
Fresh off the dance floor with the other Chris Watson, line dancing instructor for Dare 2 Dance, she said making the festival accessible when so many other events had been cancelled "kept the vibe alive."
She had been going to the library for the internet, but with 30 minute limits, having the livestream at Wests was "brilliant".
"I did miss a few that I wanted to see, but the beauty of it is I can always go back and watch those segments later," Ms Watson said.
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Organisers, audience members and musicians alike came away empowered that Tamworth and our musical culture had been front and centre on the national and international stage.
"The main thing for me is the spotlight was on Tamworth, and the Country Music Capital," Ms Brown said.
Click here to see the uploaded performances.
