MUCH-loved local singer-songwriter Sam Snape makes no secret of his love for Boggabri.
The community has joined with him for celebrations to launch a single and again last year for an album release.
And now Sam plans on making Boggabri shine through initial plans for a music festival.
Sam officially released his vision to put Boggabri in the spotlight, affectionately known as ‘The Little Town With a Big Heart’, through the Good Friends Country Festival.
Plans for the event are in the early stages but Sam hopes to hold it later this year.
But Sam’s goal is simple – to put Boggabri on the map.
“Boggabri has a soft spot in my heart,” he said.
In the meantime, the tools are out and so is Sam’s welder’s helmet as he sets out to construct a stage for the festivities.
Sam celebrated the launch of his song Old Dog Old Ute Old Hat at Boggabri’s Commercial Hotel in 2024.
It was a wet night and a makeshift shelter was quickly made with tarps and steel.
“The rain definitely added to the event,” Sam recalled.
He returned again to the venue for the launch of his debut album Good Things last year.
Each event was a community celebration with funds raised for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
“I really wanted to keep this all going,” Sam said when speaking about his vision for the inaugural festival.
“I just love being able to get people together to raise some money for charity. Every little bit helps.”
While the festival will showcase music, Sam said he wanted it to incorporate other elements including a charitable cause.
His past events have featured charity auctions to support the fundraising goal.
Sam had big plans for the debut festival, including getting quotes and seeking headline artists.
But a price to purchase a stage came as a huge shock.
“I thought bugger it. I’ll make my own,” said Sam, who is a boilermaker by trade.
Sam has been busy making the stage which will be capable of featuring a proper light show and will have speaker wings.
“It will slowly pan out over the next few weeks,” he said. “It’s pretty epic.”
Sam’s sister Taylah, a photographer and website designer, has captured him in action as the stage progresses and also completed a new website for the artist, who continues to progress in the industry.
Sam was recently announced as a finalist for the 2026 Mothertone Muster Talent Search at this year’s Gympie Music Muster.
He was also selected to take part in The Campfire, a CMAA Academy of Country Music collaborative songwriting program.
Sam has also been busy with band work this year.
“Music is going really good,” he said.
“I’m keen to get some songs released before the festival.”
Sam is looking forward to upcoming performances at Ekka Royal Queensland Show and at a Brisbane venue in August.
He continues to do a variety of solo and band work.
“When people ask for entertainment, I try to push them to the band,” he said.
The publicity from announcing his initial festival plans, as well as the launch of Big Love in a Small Town earlier this year, have also paid off in droves.
Sam joined with cousin Anthony Snape to launch Big Love in a Small Town in January, coinciding with both Australia Day festivities and the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
The duo had the pleasure of performing the song at Gunnedah’s Australia Day celebration fittingly held among the gums and Dorothea Mackellar’s statue.
Further adding to the shire’s festivities, the song’s lyrics paid tribute to charming town life in both Gunnedah and Boggabri.
“It got some great playtime on radio,” Sam said of the song.
“We also picked up some interviews.
“It was really cool to be able to sing it in Gunnedah on Australia Day.
“Anthony is such an unreal artist. He had a bit of an insight with the lyrics.”
Sam said his initial festival ideas had also created some further opportunities, with inquiries coming for him to perform at events.
For now, Sam will keep welding away on the stage and work on plans for the Boggabri festivities.
He said he will keep the community informed as it progresses.
To order photos from this page click here
