Hats Off To Country is taking over Tamworth this weekend, and while it may be smaller and cooler than its January cousin, there’s no shortage of star power, singalongs or standout new music.
Celebrating its roots as a tribute to Slim Dusty, Hats Off has grown into a mid-year mecca for singer-songwriters, fans, and anyone who loves a good yarn with their country music. And this year, it’s also the launching pad for two brand-new singles that are already making waves.
ARIA-nominated singer-songwriter and ten-time Golden Guitar winner Lyn Bowtell has reunited with her early 2000s country trio Bella, releasing I Don’t Wanna Stay today — the first single from the group in over a decade.
“There’s something magical that happens when Kate, Karen and I sing together,” Lyn said. “We just lock in — musically and emotionally. Our friendship is still so strong, and every time we sing, it feels effortless, like coming home.”
The new single, co-written with Kate Ballantyne at one of Lyn’s SHE Songwriting Retreats, captures the yearning to return to a place — or a person — that feels like home.
“It all started with an idea Kate brought to the table — that feeling of being somewhere you don’t really want to be, and just wanting to get back to the people and places where you truly belong. That idea really struck a chord,” Lyn said.
Produced by Lyn Bowtell and Damon Morton and featuring an all-star line-up of session musicians including Rod McCormack, Josh Schuberth and Bill Risby, I Don’t Wanna Stay is a lush, harmony-driven track that’s already been picked up by Apple Music’s New Music Daily playlist.
Lyn, who’s been in Tamworth this week directing the CMAA Academy of Country Music, will also take the stage with Luke O’Shea for their beloved Love and Laughter Dinner Show at North Tamworth Bowling Club on July 12. Fans can also look forward to the official music video for I Don’t Wanna Stay, which premieres on July 18, ahead of Lyn’s long-awaited solo album Paper Cuts, set for release in September.
Also lighting up the Hats Off program is Tamworth’s own Owen Smith, whose new single Upper Class Bogan is out today — and turning heads for all the right (and wrong) reasons.
The cheeky, hook-laden tune was co-written with Golden Guitar winner Matt Scullion during the 2024 Academy, and takes aim at Aussie battlers with big wallets and even bigger personalities.
“I was driving through Sydney and saw a Porsche four-wheel drive and I thought, ‘Who goes out and thinks they want a sports car that can fit 12 kids and six dogs in it?’” Owen said.
“That’s where the idea of Upper Class Bogan came from — people who have made it big and yet choose to live their best bogan lives.”
The song made its debut at the Academy’s graduation concert in January, complete with students donning borrowed Hawaiian shirts and Dobe Newton from The Bushwackers on spoons.
Owen knew he was onto something when he saw Academy Director Lyn Bowtell “laughing her head off” during the first performance.
The single, recorded across multiple locations including Owen’s home base in Tamworth, features Dobe Newton, Matt Scullion, Simon Johnson, Brad Bergen and Gabi Louise. The DIY video, shot with mates around Tamworth, is set to drop in the coming weeks.
“I feel like this song is turning things up a notch,” Owen said. “I’ve started building a fanbase and community, and this just takes it further. I believe it will resonate with a lot of Australians — I love being able to reflect on our culture, and that’s a big part of what this song is.”
See the program and find out more on the Hats Off to Country Facebook Page.
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