IT’S not long to wait now for our fabulous winter festival – Hats Off to Country. If you’re into sleep counting, it’s only 40 sleeps away. From Thursday, July 16, to Sunday, July 19, there will more country music in Tamworth than you can poke a fiddle at. From bush ballads to bush brekkies, singers, songwriters and strummers – you’ll find them in hotels, clubs and in shopping centres. Our Hats Off Festival is only a baby really, in festival terms. It’s nothing like the huge event held each January, but it’s infinitely enjoyable all the same.

 

Unlike January you’re not melting in the heat and you can usually easily find a park at your favourite venue. I love Hats Off because of its intimacy. At the very first Hats Off, Lawrie Minson christened it “the cuddly festival” – because you really do need to get cuddles to keep warm – or at least, that’s the excuse Loz used anyway! It worked for him – and it works for me. From now until Hats Off, I’ll be presenting a few entertainment options for you to digest and consider while you’re planning your winter festival dancecard. Let’s start off with one of the venues that brings you great country music every week of the year – the Oasis Hotel.

 

 

OASIS publicans Des and Joyce Gilfillan have built quite a reputation by presenting excellent bush ballad music and this Hats Off is a corker at their hotel along the Armidale Rd. Tamworth’s own firefighting bush balladeer, Brian (Howdy) Howard and his mighty fine band, the Wire Strainers, kick off proceedings at the Oasis on Thursday, July 16 at 7.30pm. There’s not too much about traditional country music that Howdy doesn’t know – and his repertoire is extensive.

 

Then on Friday night, it’s jam time with D & J and Co, and your host with the most is Nifty Nev Parnell. Nev has been a part of the Tamworth music scene for a long time, and he can still pick, strum and grin with the best of them. Queensland bush balladeer Pete Smith is a late addition to the Oasis Hats Off program and he will present a show with LBS recording artist, Lana Ross at 11.30am on Saturday.

At 3pm Saturday you’re in for a special treat – Dianne Lindsay and Friends. Dianne is the daughter of Reg Lindsay and Heather McKean, so there’s some great country music in those genes – and I’ll bet she’s got some fine friends too. The previous night, Dianne will be one of the stars of the Hats Off to the Hall of Fame – a fundraising event to be staged at Butler ’s Auditorium. Great news for Dianne Lindsay fans is that she is working on a new album at Rod McCormack’s Central Coast studio. Dianne just recently headlined the Reg Lindsay tribute concert as part of the third annual Cessnock City Country Music Festival, which by all accounts, was a super night of music and nostalgia.

 

D & J and Co are back on Saturday at 7.30pm and Graeme “Dubby” Doubleday is the host that evening. Dubby is good value and loves his traditional country music. He’s sure to introduce a swag of great guest artists throughout the night to keep one and all thoroughly entertained. To wrap up Hats Off at the Oasis, the music starts at 1pm on Sunday, July 19, with Tamworth ’s favourite girlpower group, Those Gals. Kerry, Carolyne and the disappearing Wendy are terrific harmony singers and never put in a dud performance. They’ll keep things moving along until 5.30pm when D & J and Co return with Trevor Coombes in the host’s seat for another night of great bush ballad and country music at the Oasis.

 

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