It’s time to get back on the horse, dust off my cowboy hat and mosey on down to Tamworth on Monday … yes, it’s croonin’ and crying time again at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

It feels wrong to be looking forward to a good time when so many people are having the worst time of their lives in the midst of the flood crisis.  Perhaps music’s special power to bring solace may help some, or enable others to take their minds off their worries, albeit briefly, and I can’t think of a better genre than country to do that. I’m sure the thoughts of all at Tamworth will never be far from the troubles of their fellow Australians in Qld.

OK, I’ll put it out there from the start – I’ve been slacker all year, and my commitment to getting up to speed with new country music has been woeful.  One Lyle Lovett concert of 1980s favourites, and seeing James Blundell perform in The Ultimate Rock N Roll Jam Session were both great performances, but here I am, still grooving to music that’s 20-50 years old!

For penance – 12 years at a catholic girl’s school run by the Show-No-Mercy Sisters taught me many lessons in its redemptive power – I’ll share a video from last year that I hoped would never see the light of day.

It features yours truly performing a duet with Country Music Awards’ female artist of the year, good sport, and Tamworth’s own Felicity Urquhart.  Our singing snippet was to be part of a 1000 voices recording I’m hoping didn’t get canned after showing little early promise.

Country Music Awards’ female artist of the year Felicity Urquhart with Linda McGregor

A triumph of spirit over talent – and testament to the benefits of a strong singing partner – it’s a cruel reminder to do more than just replace my amalgam fillings before ever singing in public again.

I’m looking forward to catching up with Felicity next week  to see if I’m due for any royalties; being in the front row of the Telstra Road to Tamworth final on Tuesday night; and doing all those things in Tamworth I missed out on last time.  With my trusty flipcam in hand to record it all for you.

Any requests?

Boot-scooting, steel guitars, or a star interview?

I’m your intrepid reporter and guide down Peel Street, at the largest music festival in the Southern Hemisphere and hottest music ticket so far this year…the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Yeah haaaa!

Felicity Urquhart – Girl in the Mall