Lee Kernaghan & His Timeless Connection to Tamworth Country Music Festival
Few artists embody the heart of Australian country music like Lee Kernaghan. Year after year, he returns to the Tamworth Country Music Festival, the undisputed country music capital of Australia, where fans gather from every state and territory for what has become a national homecoming.
Worn on stages, album covers, and everywhere in between, The Outback Club hat has become one of the most iconic symbols of Lee’s career. More than just headwear, this legendary Akubra represents his enduring connection to the people, places, and stories of Australian country music.
The Heart Of Australian Country Music
Tamworth
For Lee Kernaghan, Tamworth never gets old. The Tamworth Country Music Festival is more than just a performance stop, it’s a place filled with memories and meaning.
Returning year after year, Lee connects with audiences who share his love of life on the land, the road, and the communities in between. Touring across every state and territory, he finds inspiration for his songs in the towns he visits and the characters he meets, just as he has throughout his career.
“Country music is the spirit of Australia and our people,” Lee says.
It’s those people, from rural towns to regional centres, who make Tamworth what it is, a gathering place for the nation’s storytellers, musicians, and fans.
A Life-Changing Golden Guitar Moment
Among his many Tamworth memories, one moment stands above the rest. In 1993, Lee Kernaghan won his first Golden Guitar for the song “Boys From The Bush,” it was a defining milestone, and a life-changing moment.
The song became an anthem for rural Australia, giving a voice to those who lived beyond the city lights. It also cemented Lee’s place in Australian country music history and deepened his connection to Tamworth as the home of the Golden Guitar Awards.
Lee's Iconic Hat
The story of The Outback Club hat stretches back to 1992, when Lee released his breakthrough album The Outback Club. At a time when being proudly “country” wasn’t always fashionable in mainstream music, Lee, who grew up in the Riverina, wanted to show the world who he was.
He bought the biggest, blackest hat he could find, an Akubra Arena, and it became his signature look. Years later, the Keir family worked with Lee to design The Outback Club hat, creating a style that has become inseparable from his image.
Today, whether on stage, on album covers, or in the hearts of fans, the hat is more than an accessory, it’s a symbol of Australian country music, of pride in being country, and of Lee Kernaghan’s lasting legacy.
THE OUTBACK CLUB
A Legacy Worn
Lee Kernaghan continues to tour and inspire, and The Outback Club hat stands as a tribute to his journey, from small-town stages to national festivals, from Tamworth to towns across Australia.
It’s a symbol of pride in being country,
A nod to the people who shape the songs,
And a reminder that Australian country music is, at its core, about connection.
Wearing The Outback Club hat isn’t just about style, it’s about carrying the spirit of Australia’s greatest country music events with you, wherever the road takes you.
