Today is going to be a LONG day, so maybe sleep in, then check out this column for all the best things to do as you squeeze the last bit of fun out of the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Today you have to come to terms with the fact that there are more things you want to do than you can possibly do, so I’m going to give you options and you can choose… or do a bit of this and a bit of that and somehow manage to do everything.
From 9am, Cast Iron Kid is busking on Peel Street outside OPSM and I’ve heard great things. Or, if you’re looking for air conditioning and some great early-morning picking, some of our favourites have come across the ditch, with Phil and Lana Doublet at Tamworth Services Club in The Lounge.
Unfortunately, we can’t be everywhere at once, though, so I’ll be checking out the Country Music Parade, which has been a tradition in my family for as long as I can remember… and that’s a long time.
If you’d like a bird’s-eye view of the festival, you can also book a joy flight with Precision Helicopters at the Gipps Street Sports Fields. They’re operating all day.
From 10am, last year’s Best of the Buskers winners Charley Castle & The Boys in the Well hit the Longyard Hotel front deck, which sounds like a lovely Saturday morning session to me. Another festival tradition is the annual duck race, back for its 35th year, with the Great Country Music Duck Race starting from the Peel River Pedestrian Footbridge.
At the same time, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Tia Hannah takes the stage at Tamworth Shoppingworld. If you’re still around Peel Street at 10.50am, catch Zac & George at Toyota FanZone before they head to the Golden Guitar Awards tonight.
By 11am, I’m torn. Brendon Walmsley is at the Tamworth Community Event Centre in The Bluebird Room, which is always one of the highlight shows of the year. Melinda Schneider brings her Tender Tour to the Capitol Theatre, while Fanny Lumsden and her Prawnstars take over Tamworth Town Hall. If it’s new talent you’re after, TMFM Discovered 2026 is happening at Centrepoint on the JB Hi-Fi Stage.
The big names keep rolling through FanZone, with James Johnston on stage at 11.10am, followed by Robbie Mortimer.
By now it’s time to think about lunch, so head to West Tamworth League Club for the Legends Long Lunch with Daniel Thompson, Anthony Taylor and Blake Dantier.
From 12.30pm, Jem Cassar-Daley hits Moonshiners Bar, and anyone who saw her perform with her dad on Thursday knows exactly why you need to check out this rising talent.
At 1.30pm, you’ll find me at Toyota FanZone for Ian Burns, before heading back there again at 2pm for WA talent Corey Colum. From there, it’s either Jimbo Stokes at The Tamworth Hotel or a trip out of town to Nundle Memorial Hall for Easton (USA), Magpie Diaries, Brea Burns (USA), CJ Stranger, Dank Hank and The Hot Ones (Kingsley James), running through until 11.30pm.
It’s one of those days where you could happily stay put at the Tamworth Community Event Centre, with Billie-Jo Porter on from 2.30pm.
From 3.30pm, Gemma Tiller arrives at South Tamworth Bowling Club, while The Cartwheels play the Legends Lounge at Wests and The Viper Creek Band hit the Longyard Hotel.
By 5pm, it’s time for the fun and fashion of the Golden Guitar Awards at Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre, with the red-carpet arrivals kicking off ahead of the awards ceremony. If fashion parades aren’t your thing, the wonderfully talented Lucy Beveridge plays the Riverside Camp Grounds stage from 5.40pm.
Then it’s time for some serious action at the ABCRA National Finals Rodeo at the Australian Equine & Livestock Events Centre.
From 7.30pm, if you love bluegrass, pop, country and even a bit of ABBA mixed with banjo, mandolin and double bass, The Pigs are at the Longyard Hotel.
It’s a party night, so you’re guaranteed a good time from 10.30pm, with Katie Jayne at Wests’ Diggers or The Cooper Rieger Band at Tamworth Services Club.
And as an unofficial farewell to the festival, think of this as the after-party. The Ultimate Superstars of Country bring the songs of country music’s biggest names to life at Wests in the Blazes Showroom.
Bec Gracie, aka The Country Journo, has been a country music journalist for more than 20 years and we’re proud to have her leading our TCMF26 coverage for New England Times. Join the email list to get her festival tips in your inbox every day!
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