Tamworth Hospital kicks off Country Music Festival

17 January, 2008

Tamworth Hospital will kick off the 2008 Tamworth Country Music Festival tomorrow, Friday 18 January with the annual raising of its giant guitar.

This is the 26th year Tamworth Hospital will raise the 10m tall giant guitar, an event that marks the start of the Festival every year. The raising has become a must-see tradition for many festival visitors.

The guitar will be secured onto the Bruderlin Wing, which is the hospital's highest point.

The 62 lights on the guitar are lit up every night and can be seen from many parts of the city throughout the Country Music Festival.

The guitar raising will also be a good opportunity for visitors and country music lovers to meet Tamworth Hospital’s Country Music Queen entrant Kirby Birks while enjoying a sausage sizzle. All proceeds from the barbecue will go to the Cancer Care Unit redevelopment at Tamworth Hospital.

General Manager of Tamworth and Armidale Hospitals Fergus Fitzsimons said Tamworth Hospital and its staff were proud to continue supporting the festival.

“Tamworth Hospital has a long and proud tradition supporting Tamworth and the annual Country Music Festival,” Mr Fitzsimons said.

“We look forward to continuing our dedication to the community by getting behind the festivities such as the Country Music Cavalcade – which Tamworth Hospital won the best overall float section in 2007 – and nominating an upstanding young lady such as Kirby Birks as our Country Music Queen entrant.”

Country music star Amber Lawrence - who has been nominated for two 2008 Golden Guitar Awards including Female Artist of the Year – will perform songs from her album The Mile after the annual raising of the iconic guitar on the Tamworth Hospital lawns, tomorrow at 12 noon.

Media are invited to attend the guitar raising beginning at 12 noon tomorrow, Friday 18 January 2008.

Contact: Emma Gibbs

Phone: 6767 7137 or 0428 114 767