Site logo
    Add a listing
    0
    Add a listing

    The Warm Embrace of Country Music

    An Australian country music legend. A rising country-pop songwriter. A genre bending country-techno DJ. And an eleven-year-old girl with a guitar and big dreams.  Their paths crossed at the 54th Tamworth Country Music Festival, creating  unforgettable moments that captured the heart of Australian country music. 

    Among the buskers was Georgia Stafford, an 11-year-old country music  singer/songwriter from the Sunshine Coast, who travelled from Noosa to attend her  second Tamworth Country Music Festival with three clear goals: to open for Lee  Kernaghan at TRECC, compete in the Golden Gig, sponsored by Macca’s, junior  talent quest and to debut three newly recorded original songs while busking on Peel  Street. 

    Georgia achieved all three and more. 

    In addition to opening Lee Kernaghan’s concert at TRECC, Georgia caught the  attention of acclaimed country artist Taylor Moss, which then led to a collaboration  with high-energy country-tech DJ Y.O.G.A (Reuben Styles of Peking Duk).  Georgia was also awarded third place in the Golden Gig, sponsored by Macca’s  junior talent quest, earning her a place in the festival street parade alongside multi  Golden Guitar winning artist Amber Lawrence and country music greats including  Troy Cassar-Daley, James Johnston, The Wolfe Brothers and Max Jackson. 

    “Tamworth Country Music Festival really is the Boulevard of Dreams,” Georgia  said. “Everyone is so kind and respectful. It feels like coming home every time.” 

    While Georgia appears like any other eleven-year-old; polite, smiley and a little  giggly, it is her voice that stops people in their tracks.

    Y.O.G.A, currently on the Cow-Tech tour, discovered Georgia while she was  busking on Peel Street. “I was pretty blown away when I walked past Georgia  Stafford singing on the street, the vocal maturity and the experience in her voice, it  was shocking considering she is 11 years old. I was blown away and absolutely  grateful that my stage was blessed with her presence shortly afterwards. I think it’s  something I’d love to do again and who knows maybe one day we could try and write  a song together.” Y.O.G.A said. 

    Taylor Moss, who launched a social media search to find the young busker  performing her APRA-nominated song The Women Who Raised Me, said: “Growing  up, I spent my life performing covers of women who shaped me – Shania, Dolly,  Taylor Swift. Women who paved the way so girls like me could dream of doing this  for a living. You can imagine my mind being completely blown when I found out  Georgia had been singing my song The Women Who Raised Me.” 

    Georgia later joined Moss for a special acoustic performance in an intimate setting  outside Tamworth. “We finally met, and I had the honor of accompanying her while  she sang my song. I sat there covered in goosebumps, and by the end, I was in tears.  Watching a young woman sing my words back to the world is the exact reason I do  this. Georgia is an absolute superstar with the brightest future ahead. I can’t wait to  create together again.” Taylor said. 

    “Taylor was so generous with her time,” Georgia said. “Singing together under a tree  on a farm was something I’ll never forget.” 

    Georgia also credits Lee Kernaghan as a major influence on her growth as an artist.  After first discovering her last year, Kernaghan invited Georgia to open his 2025  TRECC concert and again support him in 2026, where she performed two songs  including her original Ruby the Pit Pony. “Lee Kernaghan loves our country and his  concerts pay tribute to the people who work and protect the land. I am so inspired  every time I see him perform” Georgia said.

    “Georgia is one of country music’s brightest new artists. Her star is on the rise.” Mr  Kernaghan says. 

    Inspired by Kernaghan’s advice to focus on original music, Georgia recorded three  original songs at Airlock Studios in December, completing the session in a single  12-hour day with a live band. 

    With more songs written and recording plans underway, Georgia hopes to release  her first album this year, continuing to build her career one performance at a time under careful guidance from her music teachers Kellie & Gavin at Hamburger Music  Productions. 

    Georgia’s will compete in the 2026 Australian National Busking Championships in  November. In the meantime, Georgia will be kept busy applying for festival stages  and attending open mic nights. 

    Visit for more information: