Around 50,000 people have converged on Tamworth in northern New South Wales this week for the country music festival, which officially kicks off today (January 20th).
Hotels and camping grounds are booked solid as Australia's country music capital prepares to swell to more than twice its usual size.
About 800 country music artists will perform in parks, pubs, halls and on streets in a virtually endless series of concerts during the 10-day event.
Big-name country stars such as festival favourite Kasey Chambers will rub shoulders with hundreds of lesser-known artists, many looking for a big break.
Buskers will pack the town's Peel Street - often dubbed the "boulevard of dreams" - hoping to get noticed.
Other events litter the calendar, including the Australian premiere of the Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line and a tribute dinner to 92-year-old country music icon Smoky Dawson.
It all culminates in the CMAA's prestigious Golden Guitar Awards on January 28.
Presented annually in front of an audience of 5000 fans, artists and industry people, the awards recognise excellence in country music songwriting, performance and recording.
Four-time Golden Guitar winner Beccy Cole will this year become the first female to host the awards.
The "demo" music video clip has become an important promotional tool and a means of reaching thousands of country music fans worldwide via services such as YouTube®, MySpace®, Facebook® and many other internet based video sharing or social networking websites.
