Tamworth Country Music Festival reveals another wave of artists for its 55th anniversary

Casey Barnes, Brad Cox, Mack Geiger and a host of Australian country favourites are among the latest artists announced for the 2027 Tamworth Country Music Festival, with special tributes, songwriter showcases and emerging talent adding to the milestone celebrations.

Tamworth is gearing up for a particularly big January, with the Toyota 55th Tamworth Country Music Festival unveiling its second major artist announcement ahead of the 2027 event.

Following the first wave of artists revealed in July, the latest additions bring together established country favourites, rising stars, international performers and a diverse collection of special events across the city's venues.

Among the highlights is a tribute to Dolly Parton, bringing together some of Australia's most recognisable country voices for a one-off performance celebrating the music and legacy of the country icon.

Amber Lawrence, Max Jackson, Melody Moko and Michael Waugh have joined an already impressive line-up featuring Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole, Catherine Britt, Darren Coggan, Denvah, Dylan Wright, Ellie and Tia Hannah, Fanny Lumsden, Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham, Hayley Jensen, Kevin Bennett, Kirsty Lee Akers, Lyn Bowtell and Melinda Schneider.

The tribute promises to be one of the festival's notable collaborative performances, drawing together artists from different generations of Australian country music.

Elsewhere, The Longyard Hotel is preparing for a busy festival, with Mack Geiger's upcoming show already making history as the fastest-selling performance ever across The Pub Group's venues.

Casey Barnes will return for his biggest Tamworth headline show yet, joined by special guest Rachael Fahim, who has also been named ambassador for the Macca's Golden Gig.

Three-time Golden Guitar winner Brad Cox is taking a slightly different approach, presenting two performances at The Longyard.

An all-ages acoustic afternoon will give fans the chance to hear stripped-back versions of his songs alongside stories from the road, before Cox returns that evening for a full-band, adults-only show.

The venue will also host Running in the Shadows of Fleetwood Mac and The Ultimate Superstars of Country Music Tribute Show.

Songwriting will once again take centre stage across the festival, with Caitlyn Shadbolt, Piper Butcher and Sammy White joining forces for a writers-in-the-round performance at Moonshiner's Bar, where Austin Mackay will also make his Tamworth Country Music Festival debut.

At Tamworth Town Hall, the Buddy Knox Talent Quest will provide performance opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists of all ages, continuing the festival's role in supporting emerging performers.

The Capitol Theatre will welcome Melissa Bajric alongside Lindsay Waddington and special guest Brooke Seabrook, while New Zealand's Jenny Mitchell and Midnight Chicken will share an intimate evening of storytelling and string-band music.

Smaller venues are also playing an important role in the 2027 program.

The Listening Room at the Tamworth Community Event Centre will feature alternative country and roots artist Hazel & The Thief, Frecko's High Tea at High Noon and a John Williamson tribute from The Brendans featuring Pixie Jenkins.

Other performances include Side By Side with Chris Matthews, Jimmy McGrath and Ricki Wood, Stories & Songs with Charli Jade and Leyon Milner, and Bending The Rules – A Night of Alt Country featuring Sandy Louise and John Stokes.

The Bluebird Room will offer an equally varied program, including singer-songwriter Talitha Jae's Matrescence in the Round, exploring the experiences of motherhood alongside Olive Mae, Tania Nichamin, Angela Easson and Virjilla Joyce.

Wes Carr, Michael Waugh, Brendan Radford and Two Tone Pony are also among the artists appearing, alongside a New Zealand showcase and the Tamworth Songwriters' Association's 50th anniversary concert.

Festival Executive Producer Peter Ross says ticket sales are already tracking ahead of the same time last year, with the growing program reflecting the breadth of contemporary country music.

‘The Toyota 55th Tamworth Country Music Festival showcases a rich and diverse program of artists and events, offering something to appeal to every audience,’ Ross says.

‘For more than five decades, Tamworth has welcomed Australia's most celebrated country music artists while also providing an invaluable platform for emerging performers to launch and elevate their careers.’

That balance between established names and emerging talent is evident throughout the latest announcement.

Wests Entertainment Group has confirmed additional performances from Jason Owen, presenting the music of John Denver and Glen Campbell, Melbourne band Homeward, who will launch their new album, Jack Botts and Angie Who.

At Diggers, Nashville artists Craig Wayne Boyd, Dan Smalley and Arron Nichols will come together for The Yanks Are Coming, while the program also includes 8 Ball Aitken, a fingerpickers' showcase and several tribute productions.

Nashville-based Australian Melanie Dyer will return with her Daisies From Dirt show at The Press, joining a line-up that includes Bob Corbett & The Roo Grass Band, Gretta Ziller, Lily-Grace Grant, Piper Rodrigues and a series of songwriter sessions.

Tamworth Services Club has also revealed performances from Luke O'Shea, Kevin Bennett, Ashleigh Dallas, Allison Forbes, Allan Caswell, Simply Bushed and several other festival favourites.

The free Toyota Park Stage program continues to grow, with inaugural Keith Urban Rising Star Scholarship recipient Ethan Calway joining the Opening Night Concert.

The Smith & Western Jury will appear at Americana in the Park, Golden Guitar winners Wicker Suite and Kristy Cox have been added to Bluegrass Hoedown, and Buddy Knox will perform at Country Party in the Park.

Beyond the performances, the festival will again provide opportunities for the industry to connect, with the University of New England supporting the Country Music Industry Seminars from 19 to 22 January.

Attention will also turn towards the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards, with nominees for the 2027 awards set to be revealed in Sydney on 17 November during ARIA week. Melody Moko will host the announcement.

The 55th Golden Guitar Awards ceremony will take place on Saturday 23 January 2027, forming one of the centrepiece events of the festival.

With more than five decades of history behind it, Tamworth remains a significant meeting place for Australia's country music community, bringing together artists, industry professionals and audiences from across the country.

And with the latest announcement spanning everything from intimate songwriter performances to major headline shows, the 2027 program is shaping up to celebrate both the music that built Tamworth's reputation and the artists carrying it forward.

The Toyota 55th Tamworth Country Music Festival runs from 15 to 24 January 2027, with tickets and program information available at tcmf.com.au/whatson