CMC Rocks QLD – 2019 Dates Announced

CMC ROCKS QLD | 2019 DATES ANNOUNCED

AUSTRALIA’S PREMIERE COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL

RETURNS TO WILLOWBANK IN 2019

WHERE: WILLOWBANK, IPSWICH QLD

WHEN: THURSDAY 14* – SUNDAY 17 MARCH 2019

*Campers entrance only

Following the spectacle that was CMC ROCKS QLD’s 11^th Anniversary and biggest year ever, it can today be revealed that Australia’s leading country and roots music festival will return to Willowbank, Ipswich from Thursday 14 – Sunday 17 March 2019.

In 2019, an extended festival program exclusively for campers will kick-start festivities, beginning at 1pm on Thursday at the Jack Daniel’s White Rabbit Saloon, and continuing through to 2am the next morning. The festival Main Stage will open at 11:45am on Friday, to get the official celebrations started!

The biggest event on the Australian country music calendar, CMC Rocks this year played host to a record-breaking 20,000 music lovers, who descended on Willowbank to catch their favourite local and international music idols live in action; from Kelsea Ballerini on her second Australian visit to Darius Rucker, Busby Marou, Travis Collins and superstar headliner Luke Bryan.

2018’s jam-packed festival line-up once again delivered the ultimate country music experience to fans from across Australia and around the world. With too many highlights to list, festivalgoers were treated to the perfect mix of food, fun and frivolity, with artist signings, intimate Songwriter Shows, Bubbles Bar makeovers, Boathouse Steakhouse serving up topnotch dining, and the Carlton Dry Honky Tonk Bar complete with mechanical bull. Plus lots more! Launching in 2019 Sweetheart’s Singles Mixer, will provide the perfect forum for festivalgoers to meet their Mr or Mrs Right!

This year, America’s Darius Rucker blitzed his debut Rocks performance with a sizzling set of originals, Hootie & The Blowfish tunes, and a few covers thrown in for good measure, Kelsea Ballerini, Rocks alumni and one of North America’s hottest young stars, closed Saturday night with an explosive Main Stage set, while local duo Busby Marou wowed capacity crowds with their unique brand of acoustic-pop.

“It’s amazing… how much energy this crowd has!” – Kelsea Ballerini

“The fans are crazy, they camp out for days, they just make the most of this experience. You look out over a crowd and you realise ‘I have fans over here!’ and there is nothing more special than that.” – Luke Bryan

“The fans are here, they do their homework, they’re ready to have a good time.” – Darius Rucker

The most anticipated performance of the weekend came from the ultimate showman, country superstar Luke Bryan, who tore through a set of fan favourites against a dazzling firework display to close out CMC Rocks’ best festival yet.

This year nominated for a Helpmann Award for Best Contemporary Festival, CMC Rocks QLD is fast becoming one of the most highly regarded annual events in the country.

2018 saw CMC Rocks create history, selling out over 20,000 tickets within an hour of going on sale, with crowds travelling from as far as Ireland, UK and USA to attend the four-day event, injecting more than $12 million into the Queensland economy, double that of 2017.

Queensland’s Tourism Industry Development Minister, Kate Jones, said the event was a firm highlight on Queensland’s events calendar.

“The outstanding success of the 2018 event in driving visitation and boosting the local economy confirms yet again the importance of events to Queensland’s economy,” Ms Jones said.

“With a long history of bringing high profile and diverse acts to the stage, CMC Rocks QLD will no doubt be a highlight on the Australian music calendar in 2019.”

The southern hemisphere’s most significant country and roots event, CMC Rocks has over the years hosted world-class sets from international music icons like Tim McGraw, Toby Keith and Alan Jackson to Lady Antebellum, Faith Hill, Taylor Swift, Dixie Chicks and Little Big Town. Complemented each year by an array of Australia’s most prolific stars and exciting up-and-comers, including Lee Kernaghan, Troy Cassar-Daley, Travis Collins, The McClymonts, Morgan Evans, Busby Marou and more, CMC Rocks never fails to deliver the very best of country music to local music fans.

The Queensland Government is proud to support CMC Rocks QLD through Tourism and Events Queensland as part of the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar, showcasing Australia’s best live events in Australia’s best destinations.

2019 is sure to pack a punch for CMC Rocks festival-goers, showcasing the best that country and roots music has to offer, in an unforgettable festival setting.