Brooks & Dunn, Eric Church and Ashley McBryde will headline CMC Rocks QLD when the festival celebrates its 20th anniversary at Willowbank from March 19-21 next year.
The three US artists will headline a lineup that also includes Parker McCollum, Kameron Marlowe, Turnpike Troubadours, Blake Whiten, Lanie Gardner, Kaylee Bell and Lane Pittman.
Brooks & Dunn will return to Australia for the first time in almost 20 years for their CMC Rocks debut.
The Country Music Hall of Fame duo has had more than 30 years in the music industry, with 20 US No.1 hits including Neon Moon, My Maria, Boot Scootin’ Boogie and Red Dirt Road.
The duo was also announced last week as the recipient of the 2026 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be presented at the CMA Awards in Nashville in November.
Eric Church will make his first visit to Australia when he takes to the CMC Rocks stage, while Ashley McBryde will return for her third appearance at the festival.
Church is a seven-time ACM Award winner, four-time CMA Award winner and 11-time Grammy nominee. His catalogue includes Drink In My Hand, Springsteen and Talladega, while his latest song, On The Road, was released recently.
McBryde previously performed at CMC Rocks in 2019 and 2023 and will return with her latest album, Wild.
CMC Rocks Festival Director and Chugg Entertainment Chairman Michael Chugg said Brooks & Dunn’s return was particularly fitting for the festival’s 20th anniversary.
“Brooks & Dunn were one of the first US acts that our festival founder, the late Rob Potts, ever toured in Australia almost twenty years ago, so it feels fitting to have them headline CMC Rocks’ 20 Year bash in 2027,” Chugg said.
“We have lots in store for next year, it will be a mega celebration – our biggest and most ambitious festival yet.”
Festival Director Jeremy Dylan said the festival had been working towards bringing Church to Australia for almost 20 years.
“Eric Church has been on our bucket list for almost twenty years, and we are certain the Chief will raise the proverbial roof with his legendary live show,” Dylan said.
The festival will again feature the Songwriters Show, Nifty’s Sports Bar, Big Time Charlie’s, the Amazon Music After Party, Back Forty and Lil’ Buckaroos, along with food, retail and other entertainment across the festival site.
CMC Rocks began in Thredbo in 2008 before moving to the Hunter Valley and Townsville and eventually settling at Willowbank.
More than 25,000 people travelled to Ipswich for CMC Rocks in 2026, generating an estimated $13 million to $15 million for local businesses and tourism operators.
Tickets for CMC Rocks QLD 2027 go on sale to the general public at 10am AEST on Friday, September 25.
Brooks & Dunn | Eric Church | Ashley McBryde | Kameron Marlowe | Parker McCollum | Turnpike Troubadours | Blake Whiten | 49 Winchester | Randall King | Lanie Gardner | Zach John King | Colby Acuff | Tyler Nance | Kaylee Bell | Lily Meola | Tyce Delk | Kassi Ashton | Lane Pittman | Liam St. John | Kruse Brothers | Zac & George | Rachael Fahim | Jade Eagleson | Tori Darke | Dear Tommie | Sons of Atticus | Loren Ryan | Jack Billmann | Ethan Galway | Piper Butcher | Sarah Grace Buckley | Bianca Joulianou | Caillin Malley | Willie Pake |
Stage hosts: Storme Warren | Mike Carr | D.J. Grizzly Adams
