Toyota 53rd Tamworth Country Music Festival | 17–16 Jan 2025
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Time to read 9 min
Ten-time Golden Guitar winner Lyn Bowtell on the Toyota Park stage
If you love exploring regional New South Wales, country music and a festival atmosphere, then we’ve found the perfect event for your summer road trip: the Toyota 53rd Tamworth Country Music Festival.
While summer might feel like a distant glow on the horizon, there’s no better time to start planning your next adventure on the open road, and this action-packed 10-day festival (17–26 January 2025) is an absolute must for anyone who enjoys country hospitality and, of course, the best country music in Australia. Soon to be in its 53rd year, the annual festival has become one of the most well-recognised events on the NSW event calendar and is home to the renowned Toyota Golden Guitar Awards and much more. Festivalgoers flock to the city of Tamworth every year to join in what is essentially a city-wide celebration of all things country music. Because unlike many other festivals, the Toyota 53rd Tamworth Country Music Festival is not restrained to a gated festival ground, but instead has stages and more than 100 venues all throughout the Tamworth region, with some ticketed shows but just as many, if not more, free for visitors and locals to enjoy.And with Tamworth located roughly halfway between Brisbane and Sydney and a shorter drive from Newcastle, it makes for a great detour during an east coast road trip or the perfect place to spend 10 days exploring this region before heading out into NSW’s central west for an outback adventure. The iconic festival is organised by Tamworth Regional Council with its long-time sponsor Toyota, which has several branded stages and events. The festival also welcomes the likes of McDonald’s with the Golden Gig, Sponsored by Maccas talent quest. Other major event sponsors are DestinationNSW, Kennard’s Hire, XXXX, KIX and ACM.
The cream of the crop
Toyota Golden Guitar Awards
If you want to see the very best of Australian music, then this is the place to be. The Big Golden Guitar is one of the most iconic attractions in Tamworth, and it’s on display for good reason. First held in 1973, the Toyota Golden Guitar awards are Australia’s longest running music awards concert, and is the highest tier of awards that any Aussie country music artist can participate in. To be held at 7.30pm on Saturday 25 January at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Events Centre, the awards will showcase the very best of Aussie country music artists and songs that have won the hearts of fans throughout the past year and, of course, the presentation of the coveted Golden Guitars. The 2025 awards will be hosted by Max Jackson and James Johnston.
James Johnston at TRECC in 2023
Hands of Fame
Another exciting awards ceremony also being held on Saturday 25 January is the Hands of Fame induction. This annual event has run since 1977 and honours selected individuals who have made a significant and ongoing contribution to Australia’s music industry, and festivalgoers can watch as inductees imprint their handprints into concrete at the Country Music Hands of Fame Park in Tamworth.
Hands of Fame imprints
Galaxy of Stars
And of course, we must also recognise the artists who’ve made a significant contribution to Australia’s music industry. The Galaxy of Stars ceremony was created more than 20 years ago by the Tamworth Regional Council, and each year the nominated artist receives a star-shaped plaque which is set into the forecourt of the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre to celebrate their place in Aussie country music history. The 2024 ceremony honoured six-time Golden Guitar winning duo, The Wolfe Brothers. Keep an ear out for this event in 2025 to see who will be inducted next!
The Wolfe Brothers on the FanZone stage in 2023
Festival fun
One of the things that truly sets the Toyota 53rd Tamworth County Music Festival apart is that it’s a non-gated event, meaning anyone and everyone can roam through the streets of Tamworth and take part in the vibrant festival atmosphere and the many free and ticketed events. Wander the city at your leisure, but make sure you explore the main street (Peel Street), listen to the many talented buskers who are some of the festival’s crowning glories and browse the many market stalls that pop up along the street.Once you’ve ticked off this bucket-list item, follow where your ear (or nose) leads you into the many pubs and venues offering great live music and fantastic food day and night. With more than 100 venues taking part, it makes one hell of a pub crawl. And of course, don’t miss other fun activities including platform sessions at the train station, the Strong Man/Woman competition and roving entertainers.
Wander Peel Street (and the rest of the Tamworth CBD) and find the next best thing around every corner
The stages
The festival has three main stages to check out. The Toyota Park stage is the festival’s main stage and features free concerts every night. It’s the perfect place to bring your camp chair and picnic rug and watch the performances in the serene setting of Toyota Park (also known as Bicentennial Park when the festival is not in full swing). Or if you prefer a more protected setting with a view of the stage, buy a ticket to the nearby Country Club and make use of the bar and seats provided. The Toyota FanZone stage has artists playing music every day and is ideal for all ages. And if you want to see young country music artists have their time in the spotlight, head to the Golden Gig, Sponsored by Maccas stage.
There’s music every night at the Toyota Park stage
Great festival vibes
Ticketed shows
There will also be plenty of ticketed shows where you can secure your spot to see your favourite country music artist on stage. To find out what ticketed shows are on sale now, head to the festival website.
Other must-visit attractions
The Country Music Parade is held on Saturday 25 and will feature some of the best country music artists as well as dancers, marching bands, local business and many more. The ABCRA National Finals Rodeo is the perfect action-packed activity for festivalgoers of all ages and will be held across three days and nights. Watch Australia’s best cowgirls and cowboys compete in a whole range of activities, including saddle bronc, bull ride, steer wrestling, barrel racing and more. If you’ve got young kids with you, make sure you check out the dedicated Family Zone where the kids (and kids at heart) can enjoy the carnival atmosphere and rides. There’ll also be a selection of kid-friendly shows taking place during the festival, such as Amber Lawrence’s Biggest Kids Country Show. The Australian Country Music Hall of Fame is well worth a visit to see various stage outfits, photographs, historical musical instruments and more, and the National Guitar Museum is home to many famous guitars, famous replicas, signed guitars and profiles of superstars, including Smoky Dawson AM MBE, QUEEN’s Sir Brian May CBE, Tommy Emmanuel AM, Keith Urban AO, and more. And of course, make sure you get a photo with the iconic Big Golden Guitar.
See some of Australia’s best cowboys and cowgirls at the ABCRA National Finals Rodeo
Planning your visit
To help make sure you tick everything off your festival bucket list, the festival website has a full guide of who is performing and the times and locations of all shows during the festival, just click here to access it.
With 10 days to fill, you’ll have plenty of time to book in which shows you want to see and which days you can spend exploring Tamworth and the region’s outer areas, such as Bendemeer, Nundle, Barraba and Manilla. Each of these villages have their own unique characters and adventures on offer, and even some venues which will also be taking part in the festival vibes and have artists performing. Fantastic music, picture-perfect countryside and adventures on every horizon — what could be better?Don’t forget to be sun-safe though. While you can enjoy the glorious sunny days, it can get quite hot while you’re outside exploring the streets of Tamworth. If you want to plan ahead to beat the heat, we recommend booking a show during the hotter parts of the day or finding a club or pub where you can enjoy a nice meal and some music.
Venues like the Longyard Hotel will have live music and more
Where to stay
There’s no shortage of places to park your camper when staying in Tamworth for the festival. For a spot close to the action and within walking distance of the CBD, the Riverside Camping Grounds next to the Peel River has unpowered sites suitable for camper trailers, tents and other RVs. While your power needs are up to you, there are toilet and shower amenity blocks, including an accessible toilet and shower, available as well as a canteen. Bookings for this site are encouraged before the festival, but best to book early and secure your spot if looking at other places.
The festival has made things simple for campers and created a full list of campgrounds and caravan parks around Tamworth to choose from, with options of powered and unpowered sites. Head here to find out more.
Keep the adventures going
There are plenty of things to see and do around Tamworth either before, during or after the festival. Some highlights include:
- Chaffey Dam: A short drive south-east of Tamworth and great for swimming, water activities, boating, fishing, bushwalking and picnics. There is camper and RV-friendly camping available nearby at Bowling Alley Point Recreation Reserve Campground with basic amenities.
- Oxley Scenic Lookout and Flagstaff walking trails: Enjoy fantastic panoramic views over Tamworth and the surrounding area.
- Public Art Trail: Follow the trail to see some excellent artworks and sculptures located all around Tamworth.
- Horton Falls National Park: This destination is perfect if you want to head off the beaten track for a daytrip in the car. There’s bushwalking, a spectacular waterfall, swimming holes, rugged cliff views, a picnic area and camper-friendly camping.
- Tamworth Kootingal Horse Riding Adventures: Book a tour and explore the 567-hectare Swamp Oak Station on horseback.
Oxley Scenic Lookout
If you’re travelling with kids, visit Marsupial Park and Adventure Playground, Tamworth Regional Playground, the many sealed and offroad cycle paths, Tamworth Regional Skate Park and, of course, the Big Golden Guitar.
The Big Golden Guitar
Upcoming festivals
To keep the festivities going, here are some other upcoming festivals in Tamworth to add to your calendar.
- Tamworth Barbeque Festival — 27–29 September 2024: Enjoy melt-in-your-mouth low and slow barbecue, market stalls, barbecue demonstrations and three days of live music, not to mention the National Thunder Motorcycle Rally that will be held as part of this first-ever festival.
- Fiesta la Peel Festival — 19 October 2024: This one-day event brings together music, art, food and community to celebrate the Tamworth region’s various cultures. There’ll be live music and dance, an international food fair, artisan marketplace, cultural exhibits, activities for the whole family and more.
- Taste Tamworth Festival — 4–13 April 2025: This is a 10-day celebration of food, wine and produce from across the Tamworth region.
- Hats Off To Country — July 2025: This festival first began as a concert in June 2000 in honour of Australia’s king of country music Slim Dusty AO MBE, and has now grown to become the smaller sister-festival of the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival, offering cooler temperatures, a hub for singer-songwriters and a haven for good times. But bring your winter woollies for this one!
Do you have what it takes?
- Toyota Star Maker: This is Australia’s longest running country music competition and the most prestigious annual country music talent search for those 18 years and over. Aspiring artists are invited to compete for the coveted Toyota Star maker title and prize package. Entries are open until September, with the top 10 finalists to be selected to perform on Toyota Park Stage during the festival. Enter online now.
- Golden Gig, Sponsored by Maccas competition: If you’re under 18 years, this competition is the perfect opportunity for young country music artists to display their talent and kick start their musical career. Enter online now.
Loren Ryan, the 2023 Toyota Star Maker winner
Find out more
To keep up to date with the latest festival information and plan your visit, head to the festival website.
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