If you’ve attended a civic event in Cessnock in the past 20 years, there’s a chance you’ve seen her sing.

Now the Cessnock singer-songwriter has the chance to shine on the stage at a major music festival – but she needs your vote.

Tara is the only local artist in the top 25 of Hope Estate’s Campfire Festival People’s Choice Competition and if she makes the top 10, will earn a spot at the festival in March.

“Besides being a country music artist I am also a huge fan of country music, so when Hope Estate announced that they would be holding the Campfire Festival I was excited that such a fabulous line up of country artists would be performing right here in our backyard,” she said.

“When the People’s Choice Competition was announced I couldn’t wait to put my name in the mix, it’s such a great opportunity.”

Tara released her debut EP ‘Strong Hands’ in 2004 just prior to reaching the finals of the Star Maker competition in Tamworth.

In 2009, she released her debut album ‘Now’s The Time’, which generated four radio hits, earning her a top five finalist spot in the 2012 TIARA awards, as well as a finalist spot in the MusicOz awards.

Tara had more radio success with her second album “What It Takes” in 2013.

She said she was thrilled to make the top 25 of the Campfire Festival competition.

“With some of my favourite artists performing at the festival including Beccy Cole and Lee Kernaghan, I’ve got my fingers crossed that I can get enough support to make the top 10 and be a part of it,” she said.

Hope Estate owner Michael Hope said he was “blown away” by the quality of artists that applied for the competition.

“We truly struggled to cut it down to the Top 25 and would be happy for any of our finalists to perform at Campfire Festival 2015,” he said.

Voting is done via Facebook and closes January 31 – click here to vote for Tara.

The Campfire Festival will be held at Hope Estate from March 13 to 15. Artists include the John Butler Trio, Lee Kernaghan, Kasey Chambers, Shannon Noll, Ash Grunwald, Beccy Cole, Mental as Anything, The McClymonts, Wendy Matthews and many more.

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Meanwhile, Tara will perform at Cessnock’s Australia Day ceremony at East Cessnock Bowling Club on Monday. See more here.