GLENMORE Park resident Fiona Fields received a strong vote of confidence from the country music public, winning a people’s choice award last week. Fields took out the Meet ‘n’ Greet Fans Choice Award for the Most Popular Independent New Artist at the 2011 Tamworth Country Music Festival.

THESE days, in cities throughout the world, people queue for hours to shake Tommy Emmanuel’s hand and have him sign an autograph. He’s probably the world’s best guitar picker today – certainly the awards and honours that have come his way point to that.

Andrew Thompson made the finals for all his chosen events at the Tamworth Country Music Festival this year. File ANDREW Thompson is living the country music dream, having just returned with top honours from the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

An 84-year-old who has gained recognition for 700 of his poems despite “very little education”, is inspiring people that “anything is possible” no matter your age or ability.

SOME of the biggest names in Australian country music are tipped to be heading to the Garden City in March for a special one-off charity concert. Toowoomba's own country music star Gina Jeffreys has played a leading role in organising the event and getting fellow music stars on board.

Jabiru Everyone was affected by the recent floods in one way or another (and more severe environmental events will happen as the climate changes) so, in act of generosity a group of local musos has put together a fundraising concert so we can all help those in dire straits.

Lee Kernaghan has told the Board of the Country Music Association what happened the night he was mistakenly presented with the Best Album award at this year's Country Music Awards.

The New South Wales Government has pledged $6.3 million for remediation work at the Woodsreef asbestos mine, in the state's north west. The promise comes three months after the state's Ombudsman released a scathing report highlighting the threat the site posed to the nearby township of Barraba.

The New South Wales Government has pledged $6.3 million for remediation work at the Woodsreef asbestos mine, in the state's north west.

Last band standing – The Re-Mains. Just back from a brain-bleaching stint at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, where the noise of the competing buskers on Peel Street has been officially registered by reeling satellites, The Re-Mains return to the Lennox Pub this Saturday night, January 29.

Award-winning Mackay songwriter Tom Oliver considers what he has put down on paper as he hones another song towards its final form. Peter Holt MEET Tom Oliver.

The Golden Guitars awards mix-up post-mortem panel will be confirmed today and the awards organisers say an independent review could be completed within a week.

GUNNEDAH embraced the Australian passion for sport yesterday with a raft of activities. Sport has been a feature of the town’s Australian Day celebrations for almost 30 years with yesterday seeing the 29th running of the Australia Day triathlon and 28th staging of the raft and craft race.