Dear TommieIt’s cliché to say that Tamworth is more than a place; it’s a feeling. But it really is a warm hug when you enter this north-eastern region of New South Wales.
It’s no surprise that country-lovers have been making this annual pilgrimage for Hats Off To Country, which is now in its 26th year of operation.
Initially intended to be a one-off salute to Australia’s country music icon, Slim Dusty, the festival was simply too good, and no one can stand between Tamworthians and a good time.
Countrytown sat down with Dear Tommie to learn more about her experience with Hats Off To Country and how the Tamworth region gets around it. It was clear that Tamworth is central to Dear Tommie both as an artist and as a person, with four generations growing up in the region.
She plans to not only play at the festival, but get involved in the activities happening over the weekend. In fact, she even credits her career to the council who took a chance on her when she was starting out.
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"It was people at the Council – the Tamworth Regional Council – that first gave me a shot as a singer in so many different instances," she recalls. "Whether it could have been just to sing for Julia Gillard at the Sports Dome opening or at the PBR [Professional Bull Riders] when it came to town... I'll die on the hill for Council."
"I’ve had over four generations grow up in Tamworth," she adds. "We’ve been there a long time so it’s hard for me to work out what is Tamworth and what is my family."
Hats Off To Country will be held from 10th to 12th July, and over the three days there are ticketed and free events scheduled to take place around Tamworth. As always, the line-up is stacked with great Australian talent including Golden Guitar winners Amber Lawrence, Brendan Radford And The Bushwackers, Mak & Shar, Jason Owen, and – of course – Dear Tommie.
“Hats Off To Country offers a variety of incredible country music acts on a smaller scale to the well-known January festival,” said Tamworth Country Music Coordinator Cheryl Brown. “Tamworth becomes a hub for singer-songwriters in July and offers cooler temperatures for those who prefer travelling in winter.”
New to the festival line-up this year is something a little bit different – a stage show. Strike A Chord, a brand new show featuring Tamworth stars Aleyce Simmonds, Allison Forbes, Goldheist, Roz Pappalardo, and Sally-Anne Whitten.
This mixed format and raw storytelling has become a cornerstone for how people think about Tamworth.
When asked about the Tamworth gems that Dear Tommie would recommend new and returning tourists visit during the festival, she was bursting with tips and must-sees.
“Go to Goonoo Goonoo Station for a meal – whether it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner," she urges. "It's now this beautiful restaurant down on the plains of the outskirts of Tamworth. Go there and just see the atmosphere of how the land probably looked a little while ago. Go to the Tamworth Surf Club or get some Tamworth Surf Club merch.
"I think there really is a lot of culture in Tamworth that people don't understand," she continues. "We just love to celebrate the culture that we have there, whether it's the greatest Chinese restaurant ever, which is called the Dragon Palace.
"You know how you see the palms in Las Vegas? We have the same thing but it's called King George Avenue... It is stunning. I highly recommend getting a photo down there."
Dear Tommie has also been busy outside of Tamworth, releasing her single The Rough in May, which received a great reception, although she knows there is a big journey ahead of her.
The track arrived just days before the announcement of a signing to Mushroom Booking Agency, which she labelled “a dream come true,” and is an indicator of big things to come in the near future.
"I have not released any new music in over a year," she admits. "So my expectation was… well, we all hope we get what we want out of a release... I'm just genuinely in a bit of shock with how well the song has been received and how much love I've felt, to be honest."
"The last probably four or five years in music have been like the Kokoda Track, and now I'm about to climb Everest," she concludes. "Now is the real grind."
Hats Off To Country runs from July 10th to July 12th in Tamworth, New South Wales. Tickets are on sale now, with the full program line-up available now via the official website.
Hats Off To Country 2026
Amber Lawrence
Brendan Radford
Dear Tommie
Jason Owen
Mak & Shar
The Bushwackers
Strike A Chord Featuring Aleyce Simmonds, Allison Forbes, Goldheist, Sally-Anne Whitten, and Roz Pappalardo
…and many more
This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body
