In the Press 

Tamworth

Tamworth, the country music capital of Australia, hosts a ten-day festival of over 2,000 performances in 150 different venues. Performers in the 2000 Tamworth Festival included Lee Kernaghan, Charlie Landsborough, Adam Harvey, Jane Saunders, The Wolverines, Brendan Warmsley and some with wonderfully Aussie names like Fatmen Don't Linedance, Psycho Zydeco and Drunk But Not Intoxicated.

Many award ceremonies take place to honour songwriters, poets, buskers, and Australian country music artists in the 'Golden Guitar Awards'.

The last Saturday is a fun-filled action day. Linedancers meet early in the morning on Peel Street to rehearse their steps, then at precisely 10.30 am they all perform together. A new record was established in 2000, with a total of 6275 dancers. Wow! Everyone who takes part takes a signed certificate as a keepsake of the event.

The Grand Finale of the festival is the Golden Star Award Night with awards given to the best in country music. John Williamson won three awards.

Excerpt written by Hannah Valize for Country Music Round-up

" Colorado came to town and wowed the Aussies. They shared the large trailer stage with Norma O'Hara Murphy at the end of the main Peel Street. Norma herself has been classed as a living legend, with many awards to her credit. As singer/songwriter she has produced all her own albums. The boys of Colorado backed her for a half-hour set, and then they quickly changed into their kilts and gave their audience a superb show of Celtic and country music. Geordie played the fiddle and Bryan switching from keyboard to the accordion. They were in perfect harmony together and very soon word spread and their audience grew with every show. National TV NBN took notice too, and they did a half an hour show on their live news programme and were invited onto NBN's trailer for the Saturday procession."

From The Irish World, 17 March 2000, written by Gertie McGuinness

"Scottish country group Colorado performed on a large outside stage across the end of the main Peel Street. They played support for lady legend Norma O'Hara Murphy, who sang a set of traditional music, and then, dressed in their kilts it was all high action with the fiddle and accordion and even Scottish dancing.

Soon word spread and their audience grew to several thousands. Their manager is David Burns, great great grandson of the Bard. One of the roving reporters of TV station NBN was so taken, they gave them a half hour programme on national TV and also a spot on their huge float in the cavalcade."