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The Tamworth Country Music Festival is an annual music festival held in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia and is a celebration of Australian country music culture and heritage. The festival lasts for two weeks during late January and during this peroid the city of Tamworth (or 'Tam-vegas' as it has become known by visiting celebrities and journalists) comes alive, with visitors from all across the country and worldwide who come to join in the festivities. The festival has many times been counted among the world's top ten music festivals. In 2007 Forbes rated it as number 8 of the World’s Coolest Music Festivals[1]. The enormous number of visitors during the bash doubles the city's population and brings significant economic benefits to the region. Visitor numbers for the 2007 festival were estimated at 50 thousand.

The mass number of visitors means that accommodation throughout the area is consistently booked out for this period up to 12 months in advance, with many visitors camping in caravans and tents by the cities riverside. The festival is the second biggest country music festival in the World. A significant degree of national media coverage is given to the festival with all television networks showing the festival in the news. The commercial television stations Channel Seven, Ten and Nine have all broadcast shows and segments from the festival.

  • Tamworth is Australia's country music capital. Visit the Golden Guitar, a memorial to country music, on the New England Highway just south of the city.
  • There is a lookout in the Botanic Gardens in the north of Tamworth that gives stunning views across the area's agricultural land.
  • Oxley's Lookout is set high above the city. It's westward outlook allows for stunning sunset and evening views.

By car

The New England Highway runs inland between Sydney and Brisbane via Tamworth.

Sydney - Tamworth = 414 km

Canberra - Tamworth = 538 km

By train

Countrylink trains connect Tamworth to Armidale and Sydney. The train station is the CountryLink terminal which runs a bus further north to Inverell before each train departure and after each arrival. Peel Street is less than 5 minutes walk downhill.

By plane

QANTAS runs regular services between Sydney and Armidale via Tamworth. Taxi and car hire is available on-site.

The main mall along Peel Street can be walked on foot in about twenty minutes. The nice parks between the mall and the Peel River have pedestrian and cycle paths running through them. For anywhere else in the city, a car is definitely recommended. Tamworth's wide streets are not suitable for pedestrians or bikes.

A couple of bus companies run services through Tamworth on weekdays.

During the Country Music Festival in January there are special bus services which do various circuits of the city.

  • Akubra hats. This is the home of country music after all!
  • SSS BBQ Barns Near the Golden Guitar, Great Atmosphere, Food and Service with a Smile.
  • Hogsbreath on Peel Street serves a range of foods.
  • Outback Jack's, near the Golden Guitar, Goonoo Goonoo Road, is the newest restaurant in town. It is a steakhouse.
  • The Vault, Peel Street, a wonderful old bank converted to a rustic Irish pub and eatery.

Imperial Hotel, Cnr Brisbane and Marius Street, known to the young people of the town as "The Impy", is the hub of Tamworth's night life.

Good companions, Brisbane Street, also known as "The Goodies". With it's recently refurbished metro styling is another of the many local hotels. One of the few local venues with a cocktail list.

Tamworth Hotel, Marius Street (opposite the train station), known for its selection of beers, cigars and fine wine.

Central Hotel, Cnr Peel and Brisbane Street.

For a cheap drink visit one of the registered clubs, including Wests Diggers, West Tamworth League Club, the Services Club, or one of the sporting clubs.