Tamworth what's on: Next Exit music festival featuring bands Ocean Alley, Spacey Jane coming to Bicentennial Park in May

Next Exit Festival will be held at Bicentennial Park on Friday, May 21, and local Australian bands are set to play live and light up the night.

Psych-rock outfit Ocean Alley and triple j Hottest 100 success story Spacey Jane have been announced as headliners for the new festival.

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Merci, Mercy will also take the stage at the park, as will Dear Seattle and CLEWS.

The festival is designed to draw attention to Aussie artists and regional towns, after a tough run for the arts and for tourism amid the COVID-19 pandemic and before that, devastating bushfires.

MJR Presents head of touring Scott Mesiti said the inaugural festival - run over two weekends in four different locations - will draw attention to those who need it.

"We pass so many 'Next Exit' signs on the highway and often drive past with only our destination in sight," he said.

"The original concept for 'Next Exit' Festival was to help bushfire-affected towns, regenerate tourism and hire as many local suppliers as possible."

Mr Mesiti said "so much" had happened since then - like the global pandemic - but the aim of the festival remained the same.

"We have designed a safe festival that can be delivered under current restrictions and will employ many people from our industry who have sat on the sidelines for too long," he said.

Tickets for the event will go on sale at 10am on March 9, and can be bought online at www.mjrpresents.com.

The travelling festival will also visit Mudgee, Batemans Bay and Gosford in May.

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