fRETfEST® in Tamworth
Home to Australia's largest Country Music Festival! Our Tamworth showcase is now held in conjunction with the REGIONAL SONG CONTEST.
fRETfEST® provides opportunities for talented singer songwriters and musicians to showcase their own music at the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival, with excellent live concert performances on some of the biggest stages.
From Left, 14yo Luke Furbank from Bathurst, 16yo Molly Millington from Central Coast, 10yo Felicity Maher from Coonabarabran, Al Buchan, 17yo Tyler Shoobert from Binnaway, 15yo Georgie Taylor from Brisbane.
TOYOTA PARK STAGE - great experiences for young musicians!
15yo Georgie Taylor won the 2017 North Tamworth Bears Talent Quest, making it 3 years in a row for fRETfEST. 2016, won by 15yo Kyle Bryant, 2015, won by fRETfEST founder, Al Buchan.
13yo Jace Weatherall with 10yo Felicity Maher performed Advance Australia Fair on Australia Day, on the Peel Street Stage.
14yo Luke Furbank, runner up in the 2017 Regional Song Contest, performing on the FANZONE STAGE.
Regional Song Contest winner, Tyler Shoobert in the spotlight on Coca Cola Stage.
The Hog's Breath Cafe stage, with thanks to Tamworth Songwriter's Association.
Tyler Shoobert with guitar hero, Josh Needs and Fretfest director, Alan Buchan
Kyle Bryant wins the North Tamworth Bears Talent Quest (pic with Alan Buchan).
Alan Buchan with Emma Bell, Liam Kennedy-Clark, Cassie Hilbers and Angus Gill
Angus Gill (left), Cassie Hilbers, Liam Kennedy-Clark and, Emma Bell with Alan Buchan
18yo Teaghan Pugsley (left) with Nick & Sam, Kaitlyn Thomas and Alan Buchan.
Nick & Sam made the Newspaper. They drew big crowds in the Busking Comp.
2TM Radio interview live in the heart of the festival, introducing Queensland musicians live on stage to a massive community audience of listeners!
fRETfEST appeared at the HILUX STAGE in the heart of the festival, introducing 6 Queensland musicians live on stage in a 2 hour showcase.
Appearing on the COCA COLA STAGE in another 2hr showcase with Queensland Singer Songwriters Hannah Karydas (pictured below), Simon Thomas, Siskin River, Michael David, Mick McHugh and (from Melbourne) Jenny Biddle.
Following on from the showcase (pic above) we were invited to return to the 2TM JAYCO STAGE for an encore performance. Joining us on stage were Jenny Biddle, Michael David, Hannah Karydas, Simon Thomas and a dynamic duo of sisters, Tullara & Shalane Connors calling themselves SISKIN RIVER.
What do the Musicians say?
“Going to Tamworth was great because it provided me with a ton of performance experience and networking opportunities!” (Pictured with Al Buchan)
“fRETfEST provided great opportunities for me to perform my original tunes to a new, appreciative audience!” JENNY BIDDLE (pictured above) went on to win the People’s Choice Award.
“I enjoyed the opportunity to play in Tamworth and to experience the atmosphere of the festival." (Hannah pictured above)
“Many thanks to Fretfest for the opportunity to perform for great appreciative audiences at Tamworth. It was a privilege to have the opportunity to play alongside such talented songwriters." (Mike David)
“Fretfest at Tamworth was a great opportunity to begin getting our music out into the public and it gave us the chance to play on a couple of different, well-equipped stages, in front of an appreciative audience.”
From the
Director
Alan Buchan says, “fRETfEST is proud to support these young musicians and we hope in future, government funding agencies will get behind us and support what we do. It is clear that fRETfEST is providing the right stuff. Event managers and festival directors are eager to embrace fRETfEST and, importantly, audiences respond positively where ever we go.”
We’re getting on with the business of supporting Queensland musicians.
Pictured: Jenny Biddle, Michael David, Tullara Connors, Al Buchan, Shalane Connors, Mick McHugh, Hannah Karydas, Simon Thomas.
Thank you to Tamworth, in particular, thanks to Caroline Burton and the team at The Tamworth Regional City Council and the Hilux Stage, Mal McCall and the team at Radio 2TM Tamworth and the Jayco Stage, Luci Bolton and the team at Rural Press and the Coca Cola Stage, everyone at the North Tamworth Bears Camp Grounds and Geoff Thrift from PnB Music Tamworth!