Hats Off to Country
See you 11-13 July 2025!
Hats Off To Country mid-year celebration
If you love the Tamworth Country Music Festival, you’ll love Hats Off To Country in the country music capital!
What began as a concert in June 2000, to salute Australia’s king of country music Slim Dusty, has become a mid-year celebration of all thing’s country music in Tamworth New South Wales.
Hats Off complements the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival on a much smaller scale offering cooler temperatures, a hub for singer-songwriters, and a haven for good times.
Hats Off welcomes members of the:
- Australian Bush Balladeer Association
- Country Music Association’s Junior Academy
- Tamworth Songwriter’s Association
The inaugural Tamworth Bush Balladeer Awards will take place 11 July, 2025. Find out more about entering the awards below, as well as attending the awards ceremony and concert.
Program of events
Hats Off To Country attracts an impressive range of performers from all over the country.
Check back soon for a full list of artists and venues.
More information
Keen to know more?
You can find out performers and other announcements on our Hats Off To Country Festival Facebook page – www.facebook.com/HatsOffToCountry
You might also like to keep across everything happening in the country music industry with a subscription to the Tamworth Country Music Capital News.
About the 2025 Tamworth Bush Ballad Awards
The organisers of the Hats Off To Country, mid-year country music festival, will present the inaugural Tamworth Bush Ballad Awards, to celebrate traditional Australian country music.
Dianne Lindsay and Peter Simpson were appointed to run the event following the success of the annual Back To The Bush Spectacular which has been held in Toyota Park during the Tamworth Country Music Festival since January 2017.
In 2024, Hats Off To The Bush – a celebration of Bush Ballads and Verse – was held in the Tamworth Town Hall and featured popular bush balladeers and musicians.
One award was presented at this event to Tom Maxwell who was the recipient of the first Bush Balladeer of the Year award. Tom received the award in recognition of his contribution to the bush ballad genre, his songwriting and excellence in recording and performance, as well as for his commitment to the industry, and general respect and support to other artists.
Enter or Attend the 2025 Tamworth Bush Ballad Awards
Award Categories
In 2025, there will be seven categories:
- Male Balladeer of the Year
- Female Balladeer of the Year
- Songwriter Balladeer of the Year
- Instrumental Balladeer of the Year
- Australian Ballad of the Year
- Best New Talent Balladeer or Encouragement Award
- Recognition Award For Bush Balladeer of the Year
Attend the Awards and Concert
The Tamworth Bush Ballad Awards and Concert will be staged on Saturday, 12 July 2025 from 2pm at the Tamworth Town Hall, during the Hats Off To Country Festival.
Tickets will be available soon.
Enter the Awards
Eligibility period of material released is from 1 January 2024 to 30 March 2025.
All entry enquiries to be directed to a member of the Tamworth Bush Ballad Awards committee on 0401-095-306.
Entries close 30 March 2025.
