Congratulations Rachael Fahim.

That’s a wrap for tonight, guys! We’re heading home, but will be back at it early in the morning. 

Goodnight!

10.03pm: Judges still haven’t made a decision. Lucky 2016 Star Maker winner Karin Page can wing it, as she performs impromptu song. 

9.30pm: Finalists have finished performing their two songs. Judges are now deliberating and the winner will be crowned shortly.

8.45pm: Head to the Northern Daily Leader’s Facebook page to see live-stream videos of the top 10 finalists perform their second song shortly. 

8.30pm: Here’s our photo gallery of Toyota Star Maker concert so far. Do you feature? 

Guy Sebastian makes surprise performance on stage. 

7.45pm: We’re almost halfway through our 10 contestants. Check out some of their songs so far. 

7pm: Toyota Star Maker concert kicks off at Bicentennial Park. 

2014 winner Jared Porter opens the show.

Esteemed musician Darren Coggan declares Star Maker competition is the major event of the first weekend of the festival as he declares the first free concert open.

Ten grand finalists will perform two songs, before the winner is announced the 2017 Star Maker.

3.20pm: That’s what real excitement looks like! Brooke Lambert is clearly loving her time in Tamworth.

3pm: Have you been to Peel Street today? There’s plenty happening.

2.45pm: The crowd is loving Jasmine Rae’s performance.

2.20pm: Kyle Cartner impresses the crowd.

2.05pm: There’s some great acts at Fanzone this arvo!

1.45pm: Did you year Travis List and Kristy Cox performing at Country Under the Vines?

1.40pm: A few special Tamworth visitors got a private performance with Kasey Chambers today!

1.30pm: Taylor Pfeiffer is excited to have been nominated as a musician in the Gold Medallion Media Awards.

12.30pm: What a cutie!

12.20pm: With their country rock vibes and a new EP to be released - Route 33 are ready to get Live and Loud at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Read more.

12pm: Looking for a quintessential country outfit to wear this week? Head to the St John’s op shop for the annual festival sale. Find out more here.

11.40am: What’s your favourite spot to watch a #TCMF2017 performance? Here’s some footage of Route 33 at Fanzone.

11.25am: Brooke Lambert has been busy performing and signing guitars this morning.

11.20am: Here’s a quick update from our newsroom.

10.55am: Cute alert! 11 and 7-year-old Justene and Jolene are busking at The Longyard.

10.45am: A stellar line-up has been announced by The Pub Group. Find out the latest here.

10.15am: Star Maker judging is under way! Take a look behind the scenes here!

We’re a bit star struck here in the office today.

10am:  And it turns out even the stars buy the paper!

9.45am: Tamworth, meet Nat Pearson.

9.30am:

Hats, boots and more festival attire. What’s old certainly is new again and it’s all at St John’s Op Shop.

9.15am:

Looking for something to do today, while raising money for charity aswell? 

Country Under The Vines is a regular part of the festival, which started about five years ago and raises money for Tamworth’s Ronald McDonald House. 

Last year it moved to the Longyard Hotel for the first time. It starts at 1pm on Sunday.

The huge line up includes Jasmine Rae’s only Tamworth performance. 

Doors open at Midday, and auction items include an autographed Keith Urban guitar and memorabilia from Alan Jackson.

9am: Day two, it feels like so long ago….

8.45am: After a years’ hiatus, Country Music Cocktails was back on Saturday and with more than 40 artists – it was a huge hit.  If you couldn’t get there, here’s what you missed.

8.30am: The stars just keep rolling in to the country music capital!

8.15am: A car crash, a bacterial infection and juggling motherhood and work – it has all led to Seleen McAlister’s best year yet and a Golden Guitar finalist spot to boot.  Read her story here.

8am: We’re still buzzing over the action packed Cowboy Up event. Here’s the photos from the night.

7.45am – What country music star was asked NOT to perform at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.  Puzzled? Carolyn Millet has the answers right here.

7.30am: A concert and a celebrity workout will be held in the city on Wednesday to raise funds for a preschooler battling leukaemia and awaiting a bone marrow transplant. Find out how you can help, here.

7.15am:  if you were busy catching gigs around the place, you missed a cracker of a rodeo last night where some of the country greats saddled up for Cowboy UP. We sent Ella Smith along and here’s what she had to say.

7am: What a day and what a night! – it’s now day three of #tcmf2017 and it’s also Toyota Star Maker Day!  Before you head to tonight’s grandfinal we thought we’d give you a little taste of what you can expect from the top ten.

Day 3 is here! And no-one is taking Sunday easy! If you’re in Peel Street today, Fanzone is the place to be. Head to the clock tower! 

Keep up with rolling updates of the latest Festival news, gig times and all the stuff you just can’t miss! 

7.00am: Good morning! Here’s what’s making Festival news on Day 3!

The latest New England North West news headlines are here

Aleyce Simmonds is a woman who wears many hats, and it is those experiences that have helped shape a raw new album to be released at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

The Tamworth woman will release More Than Meets the Eye on Friday, January 20 and it will form part of a launch show on Friday, January 27. This is a story you just have to read!

Snapshot: Breaking news headlines from around the nation

Did you know: There have been only two Festivals in the last 25 that have not seen rain!

1976: Reba McEntire made her first recordings for Mercury Records. Upon its release that year, her single "I Don't Want to Be a One Night Stand" failed to become a major hit on the Billboard country music chart, peaking at #88

2001: Tim McGraw was at #1 on the US Country chart with Greatest Hits. All of the songs, with the exception of "Let's Make Love" (a duet with his wife, Faith Hill), were released on various albums by the singer. Up to 2008, the album had sold over six million copies in the US.