12 noon, Monday 17th January 2011

Powerstation Park, Cnr Peel and Darling Streets

The fourth annual Aboriginal Cultural Showcase will include a week-long program of Aboriginal music and culture and be held during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

The Aboriginal Cultural Showcase provides unique opportunities for exposure and performance development to Aboriginal musicians with musicians will be able to perform on a number of stages. The schedule at the main venue will include free daily Showcases and master classes, and ticketed evening shows. The week will finish with a flourish at the Showcase Finale which exposes the talent of the best performers of the week alongside some of Australia’s most iconic Aboriginal musicians.

The daily Showcase walk-up slots are available to anyone of any level of talent and provide the opportunity to perform on stage with a professional backing band. Performers can hone their skills in a series of free master classes held throughout the week and for the first time this year, there will be additional opportunities for emerging musicians to record their music.

Some highlights for the 2011 Showcase are:

• Sean Choolburra will MC throughout the week
• The addition of a range of ticketed shows in the night times from Tuesday – Friday during the week.  Ticket prices from $5.
• Daytime walk-up shows and cultural workshops Monday – Friday will still be free entry (optional gold coin donation at the door)
• A range of master classes for musicians also provided free for registered walk-up artists
• Appearances from Cultural Showcase artists on other stages throughout the Festival from Friday 14th January to Sunday 23rd January
• The addition of a dedicated Cultural Showcase busking spot at 320 Peel Street (near the corner of Peel and Brisbane Streets)
• The format for the Finale this year  will be a range of duos and joint performances with headline artists taking an up-and-comer under their wing during the week and performing together in the Finale – a great opportunity for new artists who are picked (8pm, Saturday 22nd – Tickets from Tourism Tamworth)
• One person picked as the best of the best new artist will have the opportunity to perform on the main stage at the Saltwater Freshwater Festival on 26 January at Port Macquarie.
• Please note that the venue has changed this year to the Tamworth Community Centre, Cnr Peel and Darling Sts (across the road from last years)