Happy Birthday, Joy!

The grand lady of Country Music Joy McKean turned 80 last week.

The wife of Kempsey's most famous son, Slim Dusty, will celebrate in style with a concert to be held in her honour at Tamworth's Capital Theatre. With work on the Slim Dusty Centre underway, there are even more reasons for Joy to celebrate.

Mrs McKean has been one of the driving forces behind the Centre. The land on which the Centre will sit at South Kempsey, has recently been cleared and construction work is expected to begin within weeks.

The 'Happy Birthday Joy' concert will feature performances from some of the biggest names in country music and will be the first time many of the members of Slim and Joy's family have performed together since the hugely successful 2008 Slim Dusty Family Reunion Tour.

Slim and Joy's two children, Anne and David Kirkpatrick will be there both as perfomers and also to co-host the afternoon's proceedings. They will be joined on stage by members of Slim's Travelling Country Band, other family members and some very special surprise guests.

It will be a unique afternoon featuring some Joy McKean stories, many classic songs penned by her and, of course, a guest appearance by Joy herself.

STORY COURTESY OF MID COAST OBSERVER, JANUARY 20, 2010

BELOW ARE PICTURES OF THE CONCERT

Joy McKean performs during the Happy Birthday Joy concert - for her 80th birthday - at Capitol Theatre in Tamworth during the Tamworth Country Music Festival on January 21, 2010.

The 'Slim Dusty family' performing at the concert to celebrate the 80th birthday of Joy McKean at the Tamworth Country Music Festival on January 21, 2010.