Some of the most influential people in Australian country music are not the ones on stage, but the ones quietly working behind the scenes.
On Saturday night at the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards, one of those long-time contributors was brought into the spotlight.
Country singer-songwriter and multi-award winner Gina Jeffreys made the moving announcement that the 2026 Country Music Capital Award was going to Tamworth Regional Council Festival and Events Manager Barry Harley.
“This man, back when I started 35 years ago, when someone with so much integrity and so well respected in the industry believes in you, you think, maybe I should believe in myself,” Gina said.
“And he was one of the first people to do that for me. I’ve loved him with all my heart ever since.
“He’s continued to support me in every new generation. He’s one of the nicest people in the music industry. And we all love him so much.”
With that, Gina revealed the recipient of the Country Music Capital Award, honouring a man whose working life has been inseparable from the Tamworth Country Music Festival for more than five decades.
Gina described Barry as a central figure in Australian country music, driven by passion, work ethic, and belief in the music itself. His story is woven through the modern history of Tamworth.
He entered the industry in the early 1970s as a set designer and builder for the fledgling Golden Guitar Awards at Tamworth Town Hall, helping lay the foundations for what would become Australia’s most significant country music event. His influence expanded through the 1970s and 1980s with Radio 2TM’s events arm, where he helped stage and promote the Golden Guitar Awards and other industry-building initiatives.
From there, his career spanned media, publishing, and industry leadership, including time with the Northern Daily Leader, Rural Press, and the Country Music Association of Australia. Along the way came major developments that shaped both the festival and the broader industry, including the evolution of Capital News, the growth and revitalisation of Star Maker, and the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre emerging as a key festival venue.
In the 2000s, when Rural Press transferred its country music assets to Tamworth Regional Council, Barry was appointed Council’s Manager of Festivals and Events and all things country music, a role he will retire from at the conclusion of the 2026 Tamworth Country Music Festival.
As custodian of the festival and its key cultural assets for more than a decade, Barry has played a defining role in ensuring its longevity, transparency, and community ownership.
When Barry took the microphone, he was shocked nearly beyond words.
“One thing about surprises is that it doesn’t give you an opportunity to prepare anything,” he said.
“Mind you, anyone that knows me knows that I don’t prepare anything anyway, so it’s a fair call.”
Barry said he felt like an “imposter”, noting he was always supported by great teams.
“Nothing that I’ve been involved in or achieved has been done on my own,” he said.
“It’s always involved other people, teams, and I’ve had the privilege of working with great teams from 2TM days back in the late 60s and the 70s, through to BAL, through to Rural Press, the CMAA initiation back in the 90s, right the way through until Tamworth Regional Council.”
He spoke about the importance of learning from those around him and the value of collaboration.
“One of the things that I’ve been able to utilise is you can see much further and much clearer if you stand on the shoulders of giants,” Barry said.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with giants.”
Barry went on to acknowledge several industry figures before turning his attention to his most recent team.
“My most recent team is the Tamworth Regional Council, which is not one or two, it’s in fact dozens if not hundreds of people working behind the scenes to actually make this festival what it is,” he said.
“I want to acknowledge the power of the marketing, the events, and all of the traffic and all of the other workers in council that actually make this festival come to life.”
Barry’s weekend of recognition did not end at the Golden Guitar Awards. On Sunday, 25 January, he was also honoured with the CMAA Lifetime Achievement Award at a surprise celebration held in the historic Tamworth War Memorial Town Hall.
During the presentation, Tamworth Regional Council Mayor Russell Webb presented Barry with a guitar decorated with photographic memories of his many roles across more than five decades in country music. The instrument featured images spanning his work behind the scenes, alongside messages from colleagues acknowledging the impact of his contribution.
“You’re a special achiever,” Mayor Webb said.
“You’re a great man.
“You will be missed, but you’ll certainly never be forgotten in this industry.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented by Dobe Newton, recognising Barry’s extraordinary contribution to Australian country music across more than five decades.
He closed by accepting the honours not as personal accolades, but as recognition of the collective effort behind Tamworth’s country music story.
“So I think, if I may, just graciously accept this award on behalf of all those people I’ve mentioned,” Barry said.
“And thank you very much.”
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