Organisers of the Blue Water Country Music Festival are headed to Tamworth this weekend in preparation for the Nelson Bay event.
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The delegation has a number of big Australian artists they wish to persuade to sign on for the June long weekend event.
Kasey Chambers, Lee Kernaghan and Gina Jeffreys are among them.
“You might even call it a fact finding mission,” organiser Peter Clough said.
And they might even mix a little bit of business with pleasure.
“We’ll obviously be sussing out a few acts while we’re there,” he added.
The Tamworth Country Music Festival begins Friday.
Lasting 10 days and including more than 2800 events it is the undisputed champion of Australian country music festivals.
It’s revered among regulars for its blend of headline acts and street vibe.
Keith Urban, once a busker at the festival, is among its most famous products.
Six delegates will attend the festival from Port Stephens.
“We’re meeting with a number of artists,” Mr Clough said.
“We’re also hoping to talk to Kasey Chambers as a potential Australian headline act.
“Personally, I’d like to see Lee Kernaghan in Nelson Bay, he’s got a big pull among fans in the industry. Even Gina Jeffreys.”
Like Tamworth, the big name artists will perform at ticketed venues.
Only hours before Mr Clough and his crew set off for Tamworth, he was able to confirm Soldiers Point Bowling Club was on-board along with Wests Diggers.
“The bigger clubs are a key component to help secure these bigger acts,” Mr Clough said.
Organisers have already flagged in recent weeks the return of the popular country music cruises on the Bay.
Patrons will be able to book tickets to these events that will include meals and on-board beverages.
“Sure, we need these big name acts but we have to market ourselves as having that point of difference, like the cruises, the water and the seafood,” Mr Clough said.
“If we want to help tourism in Port Stephens we have to highlight the things we do well.”