Even though the 2021 Tamworth Country Music Festival was cancelled due to ongoing COVID restrictions, Tamworth Regional Council, together with the Country Music Association of Australia has announced that the 49th annual Country Music Awards of Australia, the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards, will proceed as a live event from Tamworth.
It will take place at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre on 23 January. The 2021 Awards will be revamped to comply with NSW health restrictions and social distancing measures, meaning the event will be open to industry only. It will be set in an intimate cabaret design with a combination of live performances from the finalists and the winners announced on-stage, pre-recorded moments, crosses to those who may be unable to make it on the night – but no live audience.
"As we worked towards planning the 2021 Awards, both operationally and fiscally, it became clear that a live presence here in Tamworth was precisely what the industry needed," says Toyota Golden Guitar Awards Executive Producer, Peter Ross.
"It is the perfect way for Tamworth to demonstrate its support for Australia's country music artists in what has been an incredibly tumultuous year. By having artists and industry physically in the room, they can present, perform, accept awards, and support each other's recording excellence over the last year. While audiences will not be able to witness the atmosphere at Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre, they will be able to experience the sensational show via the online stream."
The set up at Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre will be smaller than previous years and will see artists and industry at round table seating with COVID distancing, rather than the usual theatre-style arrangement and the ABC will continue to be the Awards' broadcast partner.
The finalists for the 2021 Awards will be announced on 19 November via a live-streamed event from Tamworth Town Hall.
