Hats, hay, boots and all.

Hello, my name is Jillian and I live in Australia’s Country Music capital, Tamworth.
Yes, it almost feels like a dirty confession to say those words every January because locals are thin on the ground. My town is overtaken by thousands of music fans from across Australia this time of year as the whole place parties for ten days straight.
This annual party has been happening for 41 years now and yes, I’ve been here for almost all of them. It’s suppose to be a celebration of the country gene of music but these days there is a bit of everything if you look in the right places.
I’ve spent my lunch hours over the past week just walking the main street and taking in what is on offer for free. There is a lot and I didn’t get to see it all but I’ve captured some moments I hope you like. When I was taking these shots I had you in mind, you being a person who has never been to Tamworth never lone a festival. My first shot it our main street, Peel Street, the day before the official start of the festival, this is how it usually looks the other 11 months of the year.
I have so many images to share I’m going to try to post  them in groups. This post is all about the street the buskers call the boulevard of dreams because over the festival’s history some big country music stars started right here in Tamworth. You may have heard of one of them who played with a guitar case in front of him for a few years as a kid. He also won a couple of talent quests, the first when he might have been around 8-9 years old. He was a young man when he won the Star Maker competition in Tamworth. He’s name is Keith Urban.
Please remember I took most of these images at lunch time so the crowd numbers were slightly down on the number of people about when the temperature dropped back to the mid 30 degrees.

Peel Street Tamworth one day before the 2013 Country Music Festival.

Fitzroy Street is closed for traffic.

All roads might lead to Tamworth in January but that doesn’t mean you can drive down them.

Walking the street.

Ice cold drinks served to people walking the hot tar.

You haven’t done the Tamworth Festival if you haven’t walked down the middle of Peel Street.

A small army of volunteers look after the visitors during festival time.

No… it doesn’t mean free beer.

View from the hill – day one.

Welcome to the festival.

Tamworth’s post office clock overlooks the festivities.

What Peel Street normally looks like on a weekday.