CMC Rocks into 20 Years

September 24, 2026September 24, 2026Leave a comment

Promotional poster for CMC Rocks QLD 2027, celebrating 20 years, featuring artists Eric Church, Brooks & Dunn, and Ashley McBryde. Event details include dates March 19-21 at Willowbank Raceway, Ipswich, QLD, with ticket sales starting September 25.

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.

Two men standing side by side against a dark textured background. One man wears a denim jacket and sunglasses, while the other dons a western-style shirt and a cowboy hat. — Photo: Matthew Berinato

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.

A woman with curly hair and highlights gazes thoughtfully outdoors, with a blurred grassy field and cloudy sky in the background. — Photo: Nathan Chapman

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.

A man with a beard wearing sunglasses and a greenish distressed jacket, posing against a textured gray background.

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.

Stage hosts: Storme Warren | Mike Carr | D.J. Grizzly Adams

Morgan Wallen gets Up Down Under for CMC Rocks 2019

October 1, 2018October 1, 2018Leave a comment

UP DOWN singer Morgan Wallen is shining proof that life can throw you curveballs when it comes to your childhood ambitions, but your dreams can still come true. He will add to those achievements when he heads to Australian for CMC Rocks 2019 in March.

The US singer-songwriter had dreams of being a professional baseball player, but an injury forced him to change his life direction and now he’s playing the stadiums he dreamed of as a child, just in a different field.

Morgan Wallen will join other international and Australian acts at CMC Rocks 2019.
Photo: supplied

Morgan has released three singles – The Way I Talk, his latest Whiskey Glasses, but it was his second, Up Down, that caught the ears of new country fans, when he teamed up with chart-toppers Florida Georgia Line.

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CMC Rocks Queensland 2019 artists announced

September 27, 2018October 1, 20181 Comment

FULL ARTIST LINEUP

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE (USA) – THOMAS RHETT (USA) – LUKE COMBS (USA)

MICHAEL RAY (USA) – LOCASH (USA) – FRANKIE BALLARD (USA) – CARLY PEARCE (USA) – CAM (USA) – DEVIN DAWSON (USA) – KASEY CHAMBERS – TROY CASSAR-DALEY – DANIELLE BRADBERY (USA) – ASHLEY MCBRYDE (USA) – BRANDY CLARK (USA) – LINDSAY ELL (CAN)

Thomas Rhett is among the headliners announced for CMC Rocks 2019

MORGAN WALLEN (USA) – THE SISTERHOOD BAND (USA) – JIM LAUDERDALE (USA) – JEDD HUGHES – TENILLE TOWNES (USA) – NOAH SCHNACKY (USA) – HOME FREE (USA) – ALEYCE SIMMONDS – IMOGEN CLARK – MELANIE DYER – OAKWOOD

THURSDAY 14* – FRIDAY 15 – SATURDAY 16 – SUNDAY 17 MARCH 2019

WILLOWBANK, IPSWICH QLD

*Campers entrance only

GENERAL PUBLIC ON-SALE: 9AM AEST (QLD), TUESDAY 2^ND OCTOBER

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Gord Bamford returns Down Under

September 23, 2018September 22, 2018Leave a comment

AS GORD Bamford readies himself for another visit to Australia, Rebecca Belt revisits her chat with the Canadian-Australian at CMC Rocks Queensland 2018.

Catching up at CMC Rocks, Gord said he was excited to be part of such a huge festival and to build on the success off his previous Australian visits.

“Things have really taken a big jump for me and I want to spend as much time as I can here,” he said.

“There are more Canadians here this year than I’ve ever seen and this is as good a festival as I’ve ever seen.”

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Dean Brody’s Australian Dirt Road Stories

September 22, 2018Leave a comment

AS WE count down to the announcement of the CMC Rocks Queensland 2019 artist announcement, Rebecca Belt revisits some of her CMC Rocks 2018 interviews.

A FLYING visit Down Under in March saw Dean Brody perform twice at CMC Rocks Queensland to the delight of the Australian country music lovers.

Arriving on the Wednesday prior to the festival and leaving on Sunday didn’t give the Canadian singer-songwriter a lot of time in the country, but enough time to leave a lasting impression with new and old fans, alike.

The singer-songwriter said he would love to return to Australia and spend a month or more here to really appreciate the country and soak up the sights.

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Adam Harvey celebrates 10 years of CMC Rocks

March 24, 2017Leave a comment

By Rebecca Belt
ADAM Harvey was of the first performers to take the stage at CMC Rocks Queensland this year and was also one of the first artists on CMC Rocks the Snowys, 10 years ago.
As CMC Rocks celebrates its 10^th festival, country music fans continue to flock to the event. It’s now put the house full signs up for two consecutive years.
“The fact that it’s sold out is testament to how big the event is getting,” Harvey said. “It’s a great chance for us to catch up with our mates because we don’t get to see each other, other than at big events like this.”
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Eric Paslay rocks Australia and CMC

March 23, 2017March 23, 2017Leave a comment

By Rebecca Belt
AS CMC Rocks Queensland fans roll into Willowbank and set up camp, Eric Paslay prepares to bring his brand of music to the masses.
By the time he takes to the stage, he will have already been in Australia for about 10 days, so he’s well and truly acclimatised and has enjoyed taking in the sights of Sydney and beyond.
“It’s my first trip to Australia,” he said. “My parents lived in Thailand for six years and I always wanted to come down, but never got there.”

Paslay said his Australian fiddle player, Luke Moller, had warned him about the wildlife including the kangaroos and the drop bears, but it hadn’t scared them off.
“Luke is the man and we love him to death and we’re so glad we’re getting to rock Australia,” he said.
Eric Paslay
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