Tamworth’s popular mid-year Hats Off To Country music festival will return this winter from July 11-13, with a number of Australia’s best country artists set to perform.

The festival offers music lovers, locals and visitors a chance to enjoy country music outside of the large-scale festival held in January.

More than 60 events will be held at venues across the Tamworth region over three days.

Golden Guitar winner Travis Collins will bring his new acoustic show Boots, Beer & Barstools to Wests’ League Club, while newly inducted Galaxy of Stars recipient Luke O’Shea and Lyn Bowtell will perform Love & Laughter at the North Tamworth Bowling Club.

Other artists set to perform include The Bushwackers, Ross Wilson & The Peaceniks, Y.O.G.A, Viper Creek Band, Lawrie & Shelley Minson and Lindsay Butler & Shaza Leigh.

Festival co-ordinator Cheryl Brown says Hats Off complements the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival.

“Hats Off is on a much smaller scale, offering cooler temperatures, and is a hub for singer-songwriters, and a haven for good times,” she said.

The Festival began as a concert in 2000, to salute Australia’s king of country music Slim Dusty and has grown into a mid-year celebration of all thing’s country music right around the Tamworth region.

During the three-day celebration, a number of events will be hosted by the Tamworth Songwriters’ Association and the Australian Bush Balladeer Association will host the annual ABBA Bush Ballad Concert.

The CMAA Junior Academy will run from 5-12 July, with the graduation concert aligning with the festival. The Academy is an intensive residential music course held in Tamworth, led by music professionals, mentors and industry leaders including Lyn Bowtell and Roger Corbett.

For the first time, Tamworth Regional Council will also host the Inaugural Tamworth Bush Ballad Awards.

Events manager, Barry Harley, says the Tamworth Bush Ballad Awards will celebrate traditional Australian country music.

“This event will bring some of the best bush balladeers in Australia to Tamworth in July to celebrate the genre’s storytelling tradition and honour those keeping the spirit of the bush alive in song,” he said.

“As Australia’s Country Music Capital, it was a no-brainer to host the inaugural event in Tamworth, in line with the popular mid-year country music festival.”

For a full program, visit Hats Off to Country