One of the "last men standing" at the heart of the Tamworth Country Music Festival will officially step away next year.

Country music impresario Barry Harley OAM is planning on stepping down from his role as Festival Director, but that doesn't mean he's walking away from country music entirely.

"It's time," Mr Harley told the Leader.

"I'm sort of mid-70s - I'm thankful that I haven't worked a day in my life, because I've actually 100 per cent enjoyed everything I've ever done."

One of the "last men standing" from the early days of the Festival in the 1970s, Mr Harley has been involved for the past 50 years.

"I used to design and build the sets for the Golden Guitar Awards, you know, through the late '80s, early '90s, and then through just a variety of job changes and ownership of

See Full Page