BILLIE JOE PORTER: MENTORING AND SINGING AT TAMWORTH

BY KARLEY REDFERN

Billy Joe Porter has been making waves in country music, and it's clear why. A finalist in the 2022 Toyota Starmaker Competition, her unique songwriting and sound have caught the attention of many. As she shared about her process, Billy Joe said, “It’s a mystery. Even to me to this day. Trust the process kind of thing. Sometimes they just flow out in a few minutes, and sometimes you can just be working on them for years, but yeah, it's a really fun thing to do.”

Billy Joe's path to country music started close to home, growing up in Quirindi, just down the road from Tamworth. She’d come to the Tamworth Country Music Festival each year, soaking in the atmosphere before stepping away from music for a time. She later returned to her roots, picking up a guitar when she moved to Tamworth and soon finding her songwriting voice.

“It’s been an interesting path, but I’m thrilled to be here now, getting to perform on the streets of Tamworth where I walked around as a kid,” she said.

Her recent show at Moonshiners was another highlight. “I couldn’t believe how many people showed up,” Billy Joe said. “The vibe was high, and we had a red hot band. We just had a really good time.”

Her connection to Tamworth is strong, and it’s clear her upbringing has influenced her music. “Yeah, the country music we had on repeat growing up definitely shaped my taste. I’ve listened to a lot of different music, but the core of my sound is rooted in storytelling and real-life experiences, like country music.”

If you want to keep up with Billy Joe's music and news, you can find her on Facebook and Instagram under @BillieJoPorterMusic, or visit her website at Billy-JoPorter.com.

And if you're lucky enough to catch her next performance, don't miss the chance to hear her hit song “This Is Us Here,” which she played in the studio.