Armidale singer-songwriter Hattie Oates is one who found opportunities when COVID-19 restrictions reduced live music at pubs and clubs last year.

The year 12 student who has her sights set on a career in music, said the bookings for private parties replaced those venues.

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"The standard weekend full of pub gigs became a lucky draw based on how many Coronavirus cases there were that week," the young musician said.

"Instead, intimate sessions in someone's backyard or around the dinner table became the norm.

"It was not only good for the cash flow, but also for keeping the passion and dream alive. It's why the revival of the dinner party has been an absolute lifesaver for my music and other musicians," she said.

As well as local bookings around Armidale and Tamworth, Hattie also travelled to play private events in Sydney, and even as far away as South Australia.

"There were birthday parties, private events like that, happening. A lot of people in Armidale wanted to have at-home parties when they could.

"Even those small ones - 20 or so people in the home - were definitely lots of fun," she said.

Hattie started learning the guitar at age 11 and has been a regular performer around the New England region for some years.

Now she is nearing the end of her school years, as a senior prefect at The Armidale School, and has been recording and releasing her music.

Last year Hattie released her latest single called High and she has plans to drop another four singles this year before her school days are over and she can focus full time on music.

In the meantime, with the pandemic ongoing, Hattie said she expected the increase in private gigs would continue.

"The idea of turning what would usually be a public gig into a memorable, intimate acoustic session or private concert, has been a popular way to spice up a stay at home weekend.

"I think 2021 will only see more of these kinds of events as postponed parties and gatherings from 2020 are finally allowed to go ahead.

"While the public venues are beginning to open up, certain restrictions that can be avoided at home still affect the normality of a night out," she said.

In the meantime, Hattie does have a couple of public gigs coming up in Armidale. She will be playing at the Wicklow Hotel on Friday, March 19 then the Whitebull Hotel on Saturday, March 20.

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