VISITORS are rocking up Tamworth well ahead of time camping out for a chance to view superstar acts such as Paul Kelly, Kasey Chambers and Adam Harvey.
Tamworth's 43rd annual country music festival kicked off today, with more than 50,000 visitors expected to come the regional city each January, doubling the town's population over the 10-day festival.
Prime positions next to the Peel River were snapped up by the keenest campers, who started arriving as far back as Boxing Day.
Late arrivals have already missed out on prestigious water views, relegated to the over flow on the local view.
Visitors have turned out to see thousands of performers in many different venues, from buskers in Peel St, to US superstar Kenny Rogers, who will close the festival with a concert at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre on January 25.
Visitors started rolling in late last year, with many of them setting up camp on the Riverside sporting fields for the full festival.
Lutsje Waddington with her daughters Samara, 9 and Roxanne, 7.
The Riverside camping grounds has a collection of well-travelled fans from all walks of life, hanging out in anything from a motorhome to a basic tent.
Gary and Lutsje Waddington have come along to be at Tamworth, travelling from Cairns with their young daughters, Samara, 9, and Roxanne, 7.
The couple are on holiday from their tour guiding business Cape York Safaris.
They were originally heading for a coastal holiday, but decided to come to Tamworth instead this year.
"We like country music and we've always wanted to come to the festival," Mrs Waddington said.
John and Joel Baddock and long-time festivalgoers, coming to Tamworth from Coolangatta.
Their camping neighbours, Bill and Kerri Gardeniers, are festival virgins, and after just two nights camping nearby, they've made good friends.
"We've been coming here for about 15 years. We love Tamworth and the music," John said.
