The Historic Tamworth Town Hall today was the setting for the announcement of plans for the 40th Tamworth Country Music Festival.
The Mayor, Col Murray, presented the Festival Executive team to deliver on Tamworth Regional Council’s responsibilities and commitments. He released the 40th Festival Logo, announced the approval by Joy McKean & Don Walker for the use of the title of Slim Dusty’s Award winning song, Looking Forward Looking Back, opened the 40th Festival Artist & Musicians Green Room, outlined the plans for the Festival Theatrette in the Passchendaele Room & confirmed the Sponsor for the Festival & the Golden Guitar Awards. All in all not a bad days work.
Mayor Col Murray indicated, “the 40th Festival Executive team comes with strong credentials & experience headed up by Paul Sullivan – Director of Commercial & Community Enterprises, Peter Ross – Manager of Entertainment Venues & Festival Creative, Peter Greenaway – Festival Coordinator.”Paul Sullivan, recently appointed to his Council role, comes from a consultancy background where he had considerable success in dealing with major tourism promotions throughout Australia.
Peter Ross, the Theatre Director responsible for the running of the Capitol Theatre, has had his role extended to take in the creative aspects of the Festival & to bring all the Council run venues under his command.Peter Greenaway, the recently retired long serving manager of Southern Cross Ten Tamworth, has been encouraged by the Council to come out of retirement to take on the role of Festival Coordinator.
The Mayor indicated additional staff will be added to the Festival & Events Department to cater for the increased workload.
The Festival Logo was developed with the assistance of the Festival Working Group, the Tamworth Industry body who advises Tamworth Regional Council on aspects of the Festival.
The Mayor said, “the announcement by Joy McKean, that she and Don Walker gave approval to use the title of Looking Forward Looking Back as a statement attached to the logo, was the icing on the cake. It is a real bonus and it’s what this coming Festival is going to be about. We will recognize our past & we will move forward”.
The 40th Festival Artist & Musicians Green Room is a major approach by Tamworth Regional Council to seek the support of Artists, Musicians, and Technicians by offering their facilities in the old Mayoral Chambers to support the industry. The Mayor indicated at the launch “the Green Room will be a place for artists & musicians to relax, catch up or do a little bit of business.” The Artist & Musicians Green Room will work hand in hand with the Gold Card for Artists & Musicians which was developed last Festival by Lawrie Minson & Supporting Sponsors.
“The Heritage & History Groups will be please to know they will have an additional great location during the Festival to work from” were the comments from the Mayor “it will be the place where archival footage, visual displays, heritage talks can be conducted complimenting the great work of the ACMF.”