Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from ACM, which has journalists in every state and territory. Sign up here to get it by email, or here to forward it to a friend. Today's is written by Northern Daily Leader journalist Eva Baxter.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Northern Daily Leader office was shaking last week.
Country music artists from all over Australia brought their guitars to the mecca of the genre - the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Troy Cassar-Daley, Lee Kernighan, Chad Morgan, John Williamson are names I didn't recognise a week ago - that now I don't think I'll forget.
My first time experiencing the festival is also the first time I've struggled to find a seat in a Tamworth pub. Being from Sydney - I'm used to paying a fortune for entry, lining up outside of bars and rubbing up against sweaty bodies.
It was like that in Tamworth last week - except for the entry fees. Even the most iconic of musicians performed plenty of shows for free. That's one of the things that makes the festival accessible to all.
I was lucky enough to interview a legend of country music, Chad Morgan, before one of his free shows at Tamworth Shopping World. Mr Morgan, 89, is celebrating the 70th anniversary of his career.
He told me his fans have been coming to see him for nothing at the festival for 20 odd years - since they've looked after him, he'll look out for them.
Over the years, Mr Morgan has received honours offered by the festival, such as having a bust in his likeness revealed in Bicentennial Park in 2017 and becoming the 1987 inductee on the Roll of Renown at the Golden Guitar awards.
The 2022 Golden Guitars were one of the first award shows to come back in full swing since COVID, and it was there that I watched Troy Cassar-Daley become the most decorated country artist, beating icon Slim Dusty's 38 Golden Guitars with a new total of 40.
Cassar-Daley said breaking the record didn't sit well with him, but he's proud to be a country artist.
The Leader office is no longer experiencing tremors, but a successful week of visitors and revelers has left Tamworth Regional Council considering opening a permanent festival in the city over Easter.
Until then, there are plenty of empty seats and tables humbly on offer once again at Tamworth's local pubs.
In case you are interested in filtering all the latest down to a late afternoon read, why not sign up for The Informer newsletter?
MORE STUFF HAPPENING AROUND AUSTRALIA:
- Overseas-born decline during coronavirus pandemic
- No furphy - this historic water tank is the real thing
- Couple's bid to throw 'best party ever' for their sick baby
- Ukraine ambassador warns of domino effect
- Why are regional property prices still rising?
- 'They're giving me courage': Woman gives back at 2022 Invictus games
- The dream of an affordable university education is at risk
- Inflation update spotlights cost of living
Eva Baxter
Eva is a Northern Daily Leader journalist based in Tamworth. She covers health, politics, energy, arts & entertainment, business, community, and a bit of everything else.
Eva is a Northern Daily Leader journalist based in Tamworth. She covers health, politics, energy, arts & entertainment, business, community, and a bit of everything else.
