Tamworth country music: Venue-led events will 'feel like the festival' says publican as MP endorses plan

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson has endorsed the idea of a venue-led small event to replace the Tamworth Country Music Festival (TCMF), which he said would be an economic boost for the city.

Pub Group General Operations Manager Michael Squires said venues had consciously made an effort to imitate what would be an ordinary festival.

"We will do it as big as we normally do," he said.

"I think to the seasoned traveller it will still feel like the festival for sure.

"It's still going to be hot, there's still going to be plenty of people having a cold beer and a feed, still going to be good country music playing.

"The goal's obviously to emulate it as best you can, there's no doubt about that."

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The ten-day January event won't include every element of the festival, which was formally cancelled in September.

Peel Street won't have buskers.

There will be no free concerts in the park or events in public spaces.

And, the Longyard Hotel won't hold daytime events like the popular Bush Poet's Breakfast.

But Mr Squires said three of the four venues in the Pub Group will hold night events as part of a ten-night program that will run the length of what would have been the January festival.

"Clearly I think this time around there will be less visitors, that's for sure, with the festival being officially cancelled, but we think there's still be quite a lot of travellers through," he said.

"A lot of people make this their annual holiday and people are in a pretty giving mood this year, they're supporting towns. I think a lot of people will still come."

Mr Anderson has endorsed the idea of a smaller-scale country music festival.

"People are very aware now of the dangers of the virus so if they feel uncomfortable, if they feel vulnerable then they know what to do," he said.

"Hygiene is critical in terms of handwashing and making sure that personal hygiene is of a very high standard."

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The MP's endorsement of the event will go even further - his band Splashpool has been booked for two gigs in January.

The event will be a "huge" economic boost for Tamworth, Mr Anderson said.

Tudor Hotel Manager Tyson Rennie said the venue is still finalising plans, "but there will be some live entertainment during the period, like a proper country music vibe, there will be live entertainment but in a more intimate way."

Courthouse Publican Nathan Schofield said locals will probably stick around rather than "escape the mayhem like perhaps they normally would".

"That period from [January] 15 till [the] 24th there will be a lot of entertainment, people will not be short of choice to go out have a nice meal, listen to nice music," he said.

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Tamworth Regional Council expects the mini festival will bring an economic boost and an influx of tourists into Tamworth.

The Golden Guitar Awards will go ahead in a part-live, part-virtual format on January 23.

Tamworth Regional Council estimates the festival is worth $50 million to the local economy.

The Longyard, Family Hotel and The Pub will all participate in the 10-day event, but the Southgate Hotel won't be.

TCMF would ordinarily run from January 15 to 24.

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