Rex Baldwin started his country music career in 1966 when Geoff Brown took him to Tamworth to busk in front of the ‘Cheapa Music’ store. Since that first trip to Tamworth, Rex has only missed three years of the Tamworth County Music Festival.
With Rex’s love of country music and the support of family and friends, he organised the Gunnedah Country Music Muster which has run for 10 years and in 2025 Boggabri was the venue giving attendees five days of non-stop country music.
This year, the registered person who travelled the furthest came from Queensland and travelled 1398km to Boggabri.
Rex said at one festival a few years ago they had attendees from every state of Australia and one from New Zealand.
One couple from Grafton, Marie McKenzie and John McMahon, took the opportunity to attend the festival as well as visit Marie’s daughter in Narrabri.
One person who was not registered this year was Benedikt Niedl from Austria. Benedikt is working in Boggabri and called in to enjoy a day of country music and meet some new people.
Unfortunately, the 11th festival has had some hiccups. Cyclone Alfred affected a lot of travellers from Queensland and northern NSW with 50 vans that were registered cancelling, then nature opened the skies again for the last couple of days with very heavy rain and flooding.
The 88 vans and their owners rolled into Boggabri on Monday and Tuesday for the start of the festival. The festival caters for all levels and abilities and finishes with well-known guest artists playing Saturday and Sunday.
The first three days were for ‘walk-up artists’ where many and varied talents were showcased. Friday night was a concert of the best walk-up artists. On Saturday morning, they had a fun session with a mini-Olympics and Saturday evening was the festival dinner.
This year the Boggabri Rugby League Club provided the dinner and there was nothing but praise. Some people saying it was the best dinner they have ever had at a festival or anywhere else.
Mick Curry and his wife Joy and children Mika (11) and Blue (9) are travelling round the country after returning to Australia when their home in the Philippines was destroyed by fire.
They have a home in Gundiah, Queensland, but decided to home-school the children and have a look around the country.
The Curry family attended the Tamworth County Music Festival in January where the children were busking in the street.
Mick said, “the kids have found a love of country music and have received a lot of support when they play, they still have a lot to learn but they enjoy the music”.
During the Tamworth festival, Mick found out that there was a competition for juniors so he asked them ‘do you want to have a go?’ They said yes, so he entered them.
There was a lot of excitement when ‘The Curry Kids’ won the Tamworth Country Music Festival Junior Golden Gig Award’. No-one has a bigger smile than Blue when they play.
On the other end of the scale, Boggabri’s 90-year-old Des Samuel also showed his talent over the three days of walk-up artists.
When asked if he had any advice on how to be still entertaining at 90, he said, “just keep breathing”.
Ann Beckett from Dapto was travelling with a group of the South Coast Country Music Association. On the way to Boggabri, she sang at Cessnock and Maitland. From here she is going to the Bingara festival and then will head over to Dubbo and south towards home.
Lindsay Lanham from Gunning has attended all of Rex’s festivals and enjoys meeting up with family and friends and helping out where he can.
Reese Blindmen hails from Manilla and according to all who know him, say that he excels at every instrument that he picks up and also sings a great tune. Reese’s grandmother and mother were well-known country music singers and he has grown up with all the old songs.
He is passionate about country music and enjoys travelling to festivals.
Rob Breese is one of the well-known participants, both singing and in the backing band.
While he has grown up with country and loved it all his life, it’s only been in the last few years that he has made it his full-time vocation.
Rob, a chef, made the decision to become a full-time performer after he had to close his business in Tamworth during COVID.
Now you can catch him at places such as Gladstone, Wee Waa, Tambar Springs and many more places in NSW and Queensland.
Brian Letton is a regular and well-known singer song writer at Tamworth Country Music Festival and began his professional career in 1989. Brian attended the last day of the Boggabri festival.
Bass player Geoff Clapson had the audience in stitches when Rob asked him to do his bird calls and impersonations.
While the weather wasn’t ideal, everyone enjoyed the week and are looking forward to seeing what Rex’s 60th year in country music will entail.
