Surprise guests expected for People’s Choice country music awards

A number of surprise guests are expected to take the stage at tomorrow night’s Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards in Tamworth.

But the official lineup of performers includes Paul Costa, Dale Duncan, Cassidy Rae Gaiter, The Long & Short Of It, MICKS, Blake O’Connor, Steph Penrose, Graham Rodger, Ali S, Gina Timms and Jim Williams.

Country music broadcaster and a previous winner of the Most Popular Country Music DJ award Jane Kellaway will compere the night.

The awards are held at the Tamworth Services Club in Marius Street from 7 pm.

"We are delighted with the line-up of performers again this year," said Bob Kirchner, spokesman for the organisers.

"Especially as we have a host of new stars to showcase to our audience together with a number of well established acts."

The People’s Choice Awards provide recognition and encouragement to artists and country music announcers as voted by the people.

"We opened the voting earlier this year," Kirchner said, "and as a result many more thousands of individual votes were cast.

"The thing we are particularly proud of with these Awards is that we don’t ask people to vote for a pre-determined list of finalists – anyone can vote and they can vote for anyone.

"As a result, we usually see hundreds of artists, songs, albums and videos nominated by our voters – a marvellous result in any estimation."

The People’s Choice Awards are staged for the 18th year in 2018.

Full list of finalists and ticket sales here.