Venues in Tamworth

Introduction: It's important to know that each venue is associated mainly with one particular style of country music and this chosen style stays much the same year after year even if different bands are booked. Pubs: There are many in Tamworth. About half are right in town, but the rest are scattered around and you have to find out where they are. Some pubs specialise in country-rock, some country-blues, some just country. Clubs: The biggest club in town by far is the West Tamworth Leagues Club which is at West Tamworth of course and is commonly known as Wests or just WTLC. They took over the RSL club a few years ago, and after a beaut art deco renovation, it's now called Wests Diggers. The Diggers is right in town next to the river. If you have purchased a ticket to something run by Wests, make sure you go to the right place, as they are about 2 Km apart. Other clubs include the Services Club in Marius Street, also right in town. Years ago there was a big Workman's Club. And of course, there is a Golf Club. Bowling Clubs: There are at least five bowling clubs in the city, and all have a programme of country music during the festival. Just to be different, the venues are now briefly presented in suburb order. (1) The Main Street I have decided to write this without saying CBD, downtown or uptown. Like many country towns, the shopping centre is basically four blocks of the main street, plus a bit in the side streets. It's easy. You just walk up and down and enjoy the buskers and go shopping. Pubs include The Central, The Albert, The Courthouse, The Tudor, The Imperial, the Tamworth Hotel and the Fitzroy Tavern. The two clubs near the shops are called Diggers and The Services Club. There are many other stages and tents erected just for the festival. Quite a few streets are closed off. There is a lot that could be said about all the venues in the middle of town, but just go and explore. I went to all of the pubs and clubs mentioned above during the last festival. Pictures of Venues in the Tamworth Main Street Pictures of Venues Near The Main Street Everything pictured above is within walking distance of everything else. (2) West Tamworth and the Bridge Street Area Bridge Street (cross over the bridge, would you believe) is the road that leads eventually to Gunnedah and Werris Creek. At a roundabout is The Family Hotel, an important venue for honky tonk music and discerning fans. Just down side streets are The Locomotive Hotel, the Golf Club and a bowling club. About 2 km past the Family Hotel and out on the Gunnedah Road (The Oxley Highway) is a hotel simply named The Pub. The main thing at West Tamworth is the West Tamworth Leagues Club. It is a very large club with a huge bistro, lots of pokies and several rooms where bands play, some with free shows and some ticketed. The main auditorium for ticketed shows is called Blazes. Wests tickets are available on-line, so you might need to book in advance. Sometimes there are huge tents erected on the oval just for the festival. Opposite the WTLC is the Southgate Inn. It includes the Scully Room which been turned into a dining room. The Southgate is the main meeting place for the inner Sydney country music fans who gather at noon to read the newspapers and enjoy some Cajun music. Pictures of Venues in the West Tamworth Area (3) South Tamworth Originally the only thing at South Tamworth was the Longyard Hotel, spiritual home to the Aussie Bush Band style of music, originally made famous by bands such as The Bushwackers. The Longyard has several bars and a lot of music. Behind the Longyard is TREC, the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre. This huge venue has major concerts most nights, including of course The Awards on the last Saturday night. This is an important broadcast on regional television right across Australia, but in Sydney it's ignored, mutilated and delayed. TREC is where you will see the big stars of Australian Country Music. Costing zillions of dollars, TREC was built after several gruesome fiascos with unsuitable venues for The Awards. The main road going into Tamworth is initially the New England Highway. The local name is Goonoo Goonoo Road but it's pronounced gunny-ger-noo. If you say Goo-noo Goo-noo, you'll have the locals in stitches. Along this road is Butler's Auditorium and the Balladeer's Homestead (it's the Salvation Army Hall for the other 50 weeks) and numerous motels. Pictures of Venues in the South Tamworth Area (4) North Tamworth Out at the north-western end of Peel Street is Joe Maguires. This hotel is essentially the spiritual home of the original festival and its original fringe supporters. The hotel has been modernised out the back, and crowds immdediately doubled to fill the new beer garden. Good fun. Up the hill is the Oxley Bowling Club. Check your programme for this one. Pictures of Venues in the North Tamworth Area (5) East Tamworth and Nemingha This is the location of the Oasis Hotel, spiritual home of the Australian Bush Balladeer movement, and also the venue on occasions for a notorious wet tee-shirt competition. It has music for the entire festival, with new artist or group every hour. It's that pick and strum style made famous by pioneers such as Buddy Williams and Tex Morton. By far the best of the Bush Balladeers is Melissa Bajric (pronounced badge-rick). There is also a spot of yodelling and lots of nostalgic songs about living on the land and going droving. I go to this every year. Pictures of Venues in the East Tamworth Area (6) Out of Town Some events are held at Moombi, Barraba and Calala, see the programme for details.

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