The Tamworth Town Hall will come alive tonight with the rich sounds of traditional Australian country music at the Hats Off To The Bush concert, a celebration dedicated to the enduring legacy of bush ballads and verse.
This year’s concert will feature an impressive line-up of artists, including Dean Perrett, Jeff Brown, and Glenn Jones. Rod Coe, renowned for his work with Slim Dusty’s Travelling Country Band, will serve as the musical director for the backing band.
The evening will also showcase performances by Anne Kirkpatrick, Paul Ricketts, Caitlyn Jamieson, Alisha Smith, Lindsay Butler, Shaza Leigh, Gary Fogarty, Steve Newton and a graduate from the Junior Academy of Country Music.
The night of exceptional entertainment will be hosted by acclaimed songwriter and guitarist Peter Simpson and Dianne Lindsay, daughter of the legendary Reg Lindsay, who were honoured with the Order of Australia medals in 2023 for their outstanding contributions to the Australian country music industry.
Hats Off To The Bush builds on the success of the annual Back To The Bush Spectacular, held since January 2015 during the Tamworth Country Music Festival at Toyota Park. This new event aims to shine a spotlight on the Bush Ballad and Verse genre, celebrating its unique place in Australia’s musical heritage.
“It’s great to see that Tamworth Regional Council understands the importance of the bush ballad genre and continue to support this passionate group who are working hard to preserve the musical heritage of this country.” said Tamworth Country Music Capital News Managing Editor, Cheryl Brown.
A highlight of the evening will be a presentation to the Bush Balladeer of the Year.
This award will be presented to an artist who has made significant contributions to the genre over the past two years and will be judged by a group of highly regarded bush ballad critics/enthusiasts from the
exte sive list of bush ballad artists on the scene.
The criteria includes:
- Contribution to the bush ballad genre
- Excellence and quality in recording and performance
- Touring and/or appearances
- General respect and support for other artists and the industry
- Song writing
- Involvement in or creation of special projects or initiatives
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