Festivals
Artists Keep On Coming To Tamworth ’24
The producers of the 2024 Toyota Country Music Festival in Tamworth have announced the second lineup of ticketed acts for the 52nd event, signaling the start of the countdown to the biggest live country music festival in the country.
Other acts taking the stage in the country music capital of Australia in January are the multi-time Golden Guitar winners and ARIA nominees The Wolfe Brothers, who play the Longyard on January 26 and the legendary Daryl Braithwaite, who play Blazes Showroom on January 27. On January 25 Toyota Star Maker Max Jackson will be present at Moonshiner’s Honky Tonk Bar. The Screaming Jets and Australian rocker Ian Moss will both play at the Longyard Hotel on January 23 and 25, respectively. On January 20, Tamworth native Lane Pittman—who just went on tour with Luke Combs—will have his one and only headline performance at the Tamworth Hotel.
The must see shows continue when on January 19, multi-award winner Kate Ceberano will play at the Longyard, and on January 25, Melbourne’s alt-rock group KINGSWOOD will play at the Tamworth Hotel. On January 22, Luke O’Shea and Kevin Bennett, the Golden Guitar winners, will perform together at the DAG Sheep Station. Alan Fletcher will also be a part of the TC Cassidy, Andy Penkow, and Donella Water performance at the Capitol Theatre.
Barry Harley, the manager of the 52nd Toyota Country Music Festival, believes there will be something for every musical taste at this amazing celebration.
“There is something for everyone to enjoy at the Toyota Country Music Festival, which features thousands of shows over the course of 10 days and hundreds of artists from a variety of genres,”
“We can’t wait to see fans and guests in Tamworth in January and are thrilled to add more incredible artists to the 2024 lineup.”
Beccy Cole has been added to the roster for Orchestral Country, a star-studded special event that will take place at TRECC on Wednesday, January 24. This event, which will be a highlight of the 2024 Toyota Tamworth Country Music Festival, will bring together some of Australia’s top country musicians with a 30-piece orchestra. Along with two more special guests who have not yet been revealed, other artists participating in this once-in-a-lifetime event include Adam Harvey, Fanny Lumsden, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley, Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham, and Amber Lawrence!
Col Elliott, Katrina Burgoyne, Gavin Chatelier, Bryce Sainty, Darren Carr, Col Thomson, Tom Maxwell, Graham Rodger, Ash Grunwald, 8 Ball Aitken, Michael Carpenter and the Banks Brothers, Vixens of Fall, Tom Curtain, Kelly Brouhaha, Hayley Jensen, and Kevin Bennett and The Flood are among the other shows that have tickets available in 2024. The Louisiana Hayride Show, Homecoming with Lily Grace, The Songs and Stories of George Jones with Liam Kennedy-Clark, Women of Country with Lozz Benson, Balladeers on Darling including Anne Fraser, Jason Carruthers, Shelly Jones Band and Peter Smokie Dawson, the 2024 Tamworth Songwriters Association Awards, The Johnny Cash Tribute Show with West Texas Crude, Gunbarrel Highwaymen Final Tour with Reg Poole, Owen Blundell & Terry Gordon, the Luke Combs Tribute Show with Ross Webb & the Rusted Track, Travellin’ Still: The Songs of Slim Dusty with the Slim’s Touring Band & Pete Denahy, Keith Urban, Shania Twain and Bryan Adams Tribute Show with Craig Woodward and Ally Friendship, the 2024 Senior Academy Live, Manilla Community Choir and the ever popular Bush Poets Breakfast.
This comes after an already stellar lineup that features some of the most talented performers in the nation, such as the most successful Golden Guitar winner of all time and Australasian Roll of Renown and ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Kasey Chambers. Troy Cassar-Daley, an ARIA nominee and nine-time Golden Guitar winner Top 2023 Golden Guitar winners Adam Harvey Lee Kernaghan, multiple award winner, country music legend Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley 2023 Toyota Album of the Year and ARIA Award winner Beccy Cole Eight-time Golden Guitar and ARIA award winner Casey Barnes 2023’s Female Artist of the Year is Fanny Lumsden. John Williamson, the renowned country music artist, Graeme Connors, who will commemorate 50 years in the business in 2024, Andrew Swift, the 2023 Golden Guitar winner, and Amber Lawrence 2023 Toyota Star Maker winner Ashleigh Dallas Favourite acts include Loren Ryan, Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham, multi-award winner Shane Nicholson, and Melinda Schneider, the queen of country music. In addition, the highly anticipated Toyota Golden Guitar Awards, known as the “night of nights” in country music, will take place on Saturday, January 27, at the Tamworth Entertainment and Conference Centre (TRECC). ARIA nominee and multiple Golden Guitar Award winner Tania Kernaghan, together with 2014 Golden Guitar Award nominee Jason Owen, will host the 2024 awards.
Meanwhile, registration for the 2024 Toyota Country Music Busking Championships is already open for aspiring musicians hoping to secure a seat on the Boulevard of Dreams, located along the notorious Peel Street.
The organisers of the Toyota Country Music Festival are urging buskers of all ages to sign up for the wildly popular competition.
According to Mr. Harley, “one of the most iconic aspects of the Tamworth Country Music Festival is the Toyota Busking Championships, where some of the biggest names in the country music industry, including Keith Urban and Troy Cassar-Daley, got their start.”
“There will be plenty of prizes up for grabs at the 2024 Best of the Buskers concert on Sunday, January 28, in Toyota Park, where the top ten buskers from throughout the 10-day period, as chosen by the judges, will be invited to perform.”
The opening concert of the 52nd Toyota Tamworth Country Music Festival, which will take place in Toyota Park, the festival’s largest venue, on January 19, 2024, will feature a number of 2023 winners, including Andrew Swift, Lyn Bowtell, Luke O’Shea, Lane Pittman, Amber Lawrence, and many more. The event will culminate with a breathtaking fireworks display. Every night of the Festival, Toyota Park will be the site of free events, such as the perennially popular Toyota Star Maker Grand Final, Americana in the Park, Back to the Bush, Australia Day Celebrations, and Toyota’s Best of the Buskers.
Vin Naidoo, Chief Marketing Officer of Toyota Australia, stated that Toyota is honoured to be supporting such a remarkable group of Australian artists.
We still urge aspiring musicians to sign up for the Toyota Busking Championships. The talent on show never ceases to amaze, and many of the players on the current lineup got their start in the tournament.
“We’re excited to see how each performer demonstrates their skills for the thousands of attendees of the Toyota Country Music Festival in January.” stated Mr. Naidoo.
Tickets are now on sale for all shows and events, including the prestigious Toyota Golden Guitar Awards.
Stay up to date on the 52nd Toyota Tamworth Country Music Festival at www.tcmf.com.au, TCMF Facebook and TCMF Instagram.
Festivals
Golden Night in Tamworth: Winners Announced for 53rd Golden Guitar Awards
The Toyota 53rd Golden Guitar Awards lit up Tamworth last night, celebrating the very best in Australian country music. With 17 categories recognizing work from October 2023 to September 2024, the evening was filled with historic wins and unforgettable performances.
Troy Cassar-Daley dominated the night, taking home five awards, including Male Artist of the Year, Toyota Album of the Year, and Song of the Year for “Some Days.” His total tally of Golden Guitars now stands at an incredible 45, cementing his place as Australia’s most decorated country artist.
Global country superstar Keith Urban added a new accolade to his collection with the prestigious Roll of Renown induction and Top Selling Australian Country Album for HIGH. Reflecting on his journey from Peel Street to global stardom, Urban described the honour as a dream come true.
Max Jackson, last year’s New Talent of the Year, added two more awards to her name, including Female Artist of the Year, while delivering a stunning performance of her winning single, “A Little More Country.”
Local favourite Ashleigh Dallas celebrated another win with Setting Suns crowned Traditional Country Album of the Year, and Casey Barnes’ upbeat album Mayday secured Contemporary Country Album of the Year.
Collaborations shone brightly as The Wolfe Brothers and Kaylee Bell’s “Beer in a Bar” earned Vocal Collaboration of the Year. Meanwhile, bluegrass queen Kristy Cox picked up her seventh Golden Guitar for Let It Burn.
Emerging talent also took centre stage. Lane Pittman, currently on tour with Luke Combs, was named New Talent of the Year, marking an exciting chapter for the former Tamworth local.
The night reflected the heart and talent of country music in Australia, wrapping up one of the busiest and most vibrant festival’s in recent memory.
Latest News
Felicity Kircher Crowned Toyota Star Maker 2025
Rising country music star Felicity Kircher has been named the 45th Toyota Star Maker, following an electrifying Grand Final at the 53rd Tamworth Country Music Festival. Representing Tingalpa, Queensland, Kircher captivated the audience with heartfelt performances of her original songs Dear Rose and Ultimatum, securing her place as one of Australia’s most promising emerging artists.
Kircher, a seasoned performer and multi-instrumentalist, has spent over a decade honing her craft on stages across Australia. From touring with Kasey Chambers to standout appearances at festivals like Gympie Muster and Savannah in the Round, she has solidified her reputation as a powerhouse in contemporary country music. Her recent single, I Am Cry, has been making waves on radio and streaming platforms, further showcasing her versatility and talent.
The competition, held at Toyota Park, featured 10 finalists backed by the renowned Sam Hawksley Allstar Band. Each delivered two songs, but it was Kircher’s unique voice, stage presence, and artistic depth that won over the judges.
Star Maker Coordinator Cheryl Brown praised Kircher’s readiness to embrace the next phase of her career: “Felicity is an inspiring artist who continues to test musical boundaries. We are excited to see her flourish with the support of the Star Maker program.”
As the Toyota Star Maker winner, Kircher receives a prize package worth over $100,000, including 12 months’ use of a Toyota vehicle, fuel cards, and recording opportunities. The Star Maker program has a legacy of propelling its winners into the spotlight, and Kircher’s victory promises an exciting future for the young artist.
Congratulations to Felicity Kircher on this remarkable achievement!
Latest News
Keith Urban’s High Wins Top Selling Album of the Year at 53rd Golden Guitar Awards
Australian country music sensation Keith Urban has clinched the prestigious Golden Guitar Award for Top Selling Australian Country Album of the Year with his latest album, High. Released on September 20, 2024, the album has captivated fans across Australia and beyond, solidifying Urban’s legacy as a powerhouse in country music.
High, Urban’s 11th studio album, features 11 tracks, including chart-topping hits like “Messed Up As Me” and “Chuck Taylors,” as well as a memorable duet with Lainey Wilson on “Go Home W U.” The album has enjoyed 16 weeks in the ARIA Top 20 Australian Country Albums chart, holding the coveted #1 spot as of January 13, 2025.
Announced ahead of the Toyota 53rd Golden Guitar Awards, the recognition is based on ARIA chart data and award eligibility criteria, honoring High as the top-selling Australian country album for the calendar year 2024.
The other standout albums rounding out the top five include Troy Cassar-Daley’s Between The Fires, Kasey Chambers’ Backbone, Casey Barnes’ Mayday, and Lily Grace’s Old Enough to Know Better.
Peter Ross, Executive Producer of the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards, praised Urban’s accomplishment: “High is an incredibly versatile album showcasing Keith Urban’s exceptional talent as a singer, songwriter, and musician.”
The 53rd Golden Guitar Awards will take place on Saturday, January 25, 2025, during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, the largest country music event in the Southern Hemisphere. Fans can join the celebration live at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre or via the festival’s online livestream.
Stay updated on the festival and awards via www.tcmf.com.au and official social media channels.
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