Bega’s country music star Felicity Dowd has returned from an inspiring visit to the Tamworth Country Music Festival where she received accolades for several of her songs and performances.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Two songs – Never Going Home and Road Called Life – were named as finalists in the youth category of the Tamworth Songwriting Association’s (TSA) national annual awards.
“To get into the top five was a pretty big achievement, especially with two songs,” the 14-year-old said.
But her achievements did not stop there.
Road Called Life was also one of five finalists in the Capital Country Music Association (CCMA) National Song Writing Competition’s youth category.
“We entered that one a little bit late and thought ‘oh that sounds like a good competition to go in’,” Felicity said.
“I was a little bit shocked to become one of the finalists.”
Additionally, she competed in various talent quests and made the finals of the CCMA National Talent Quest junior category, the Wests Aristocrat Country Entertainer of the Year junior category and the TSA Talent Quest youth category.
“It was amazing to get into all the finals for those competitions,” she said.
As well as competing over the 10 days of the festival in January, the singer-songwriter managed to find the energy to busk around town.
“I guess if it’s your passion, you’ll find the energy to keep going,” Felicity said.
“The busking in the 45 degree heat was ridiculous though!”
While enjoying herself, she also learnt many lessons from her time at the festival.
“It taught me perseverance in really hot conditions!” she said.
“It also taught me to keep going.
“You don’t even have to win a competition, just being up there doing what you love is all you need.
“I’m feeling very inspired from going there. I just think it makes you grow as an artist and a songwriter.”
She wanted to thank all the people who had put money into her busking case as it helped her pay for her trip to Tamworth.
Felicity plans on performing at the Bombala Talent Quest, the Cobargo Folk Festival on March 1-3, as well as doing “a lot of busking”.