Keith Urban confirmed to headline the 2016 Deni Ute Muster!

Each year the Deni Ute Muster asks their audience to name which artists they’d most like to see and every year Australia’s international music superstar Keith Urban‘s name is at the top of the list, so it is with great excitement that the organisers behind the iconic Deni Ute Muster today announce that Keith Urban has been confirmed to headline the Muster on 30 September 2016.
 
Keith Urban needs no introduction to music fans around the world.  Urban’s reputation as a premier songwriter, vocalist, musician and virtuoso guitarist is second to none and he is set to release his eighth studio album RIPCORD on 6 May. This new 13-track album has already produced Urban’s 19th and 20th US No. 1 songs.
 
RIPCORD is the result of collaborations with an eclectic group of Award-winning writers and co-producers including Jeff Bhasker, busbee, Greg Wells and Nile Rodgers, as well as long-time collaborators Shane McAnally, Ross Cooperman, Dann Huff and Nathan Chapman, all of whom worked with Urban on his previous US No. 1 album FUSE.
 
The 4-time Grammy Award winner who was raised in Queensland, made his biggest splash in Nashville, where he helped rewrite the rules of contemporary country music. 

Celebrating its 18th birthday this year, the Deni Ute Muster has certainly come of age and is one of the top bucket list events in Australia with around 18,000 patrons flocking to the southern New South Wales town each October long weekend.

Joining Keith for the party are some of the country’s most well known and loved performers.

James Reyne’s songs have provided the soundtrack to endless Australian summers – The Boys Light Up, Reckless, Beautiful People, Lakeside, Fall Of Rome, Hammerhead and Motor’s Too Fast and he’s been a part of our lives since making his debut on Countdown in 1979 with Australian Crawl  – the band he lead for seven years, releasing four studio albums in five frenetic years in the ’80s. He’s been a solo artist for the past 28 years, releasing eight studio albums, plus two acoustic collections, a covers album and two live albums. 
 
James’ distinctive diction has also attracted attention. Semantics producer Mark Opitz says: “No one else sings like James Reyne. He is unique, and you don’t want to lose that.” While Ed Nimmervoll says it’s a voice “as familiar to us as the taste of Vegemite … essentially Australian”: James Reyne and the Deni Ute Muster – a match made in Australiana heaven.
 
Adam Brand and The Outlaws is an all-star line-up of Australian country music’s most prolific names: Adam Brand, Drew McAlister, Travis Collins, Matt Cornell and Mike Carr – each member a multi-ARIA and Golden Guitar winner in their own right.  Adam Brand and The Outlaws is what you get when you join one of the key artists of his generation with 4 of the finest country musicians to emerge in this country over the last 2 decades.
 
They’re called ‘Outlaws’ but the lads are a bunch of good time boys looking to provide the ultimate party soundtrack and their shows are sure to become the stuff of legend. It won’t last forever though: outlaws don’t stick around. So buckle up and get ready for some sonic fireworks! Adam Brand and The Outlaws have arrived and are heading to the Deni Ute Muster in 2016.
 
There is no question that ARIA Hall of Fame inductee John Williamson is a musical icon of Australia. His name is firmly cemented in the culture and fabric of the country he loves with an impressive career spanning more than 45 years.
 
To his credit are unofficial anthems, tributes to legends and unsung heroes and tender ballads that have captured the spirit of the nation in song unlike any other. His honest and passionate songs are synonymous with the country that inspires him and connect him with his countrymen regardless of age, sex or creed.  Add to this his ability to deliver unforgettable live concert experiences that combine the perfect blend of humour, romance and campfire stories woven together by his music. You can understand why he is one of the most in-demand live performers in Australia
 
You can call him what you want, Mallee Boy, True Blue or just plain Fair Dinkum; but there is no denying that after more than forty years in the music industry, John Williamson is truly an Australian icon and the Deni Ute Muster are thrilled to have him back on the mainstage in 2016.
 
Troy Cassar-Daley is regarded as one of Australian country music’s finest singer/songwriters. He is a hugely successful artist, much adored by country music fans across Australia.  
 
Troy’s career has spanned 9 studio albums over 25 years.  Throughout this time he has been awarded numerous accolades including 4 ARIA Awards, 32 Golden Guitars, 2 APRA Country Song of the Year awards, 9 Deadlys (Australian Indigenous Artist Awards) and 4 CMAA Entertainer of the Year awards.  He has sold in excess of 450,000 albums and received numerous gold and platinum records.
 
Troy Cassar-Daley is a man who believes deeply in community and giving back to the industry. Troy is a proud member of the Bundjalung nation who has a true connection to his land and people.  Most significantly, through his generosity of spirit as a man, artist, husband, father and son, he reminds us of what is real, of what matters and what doesn’t, through his music. A great chronicler of the human heart, Troy’s live show is an experience to be revered and we’re excited that he’s bringing the band back to Deni for the 2016 Muster.
 
Shannon Noll’s everyman appeal lies in his honesty; he strikes a chord with legions of music fans, tapping into a pure emotion that’s both his own and instantly relatable.  His rise to fame as the first runner-up of the initial Australian Idol series in 2003 changed his life from farm hand in Condobolin forever.
 
Since taking to the stage and commencing his successful recording career, Australia’s favourite son “Nollsie” has gone on to receive acclaim with certified triple-platinum sales, number #1 hits, five top 10 albums, has 17 platinum and three gold accreditations, and boasts a reputation as the only Australian male artist in national chart history to have ever achieved 10 consecutive Top 10 singles.
 
Shannon Noll remains one of the most recognisable names and faces in the Australian music industry with only a few matching his success and we’re thrilled he’ll be taking time out to head to the Deni Ute Muster for the first time.
 
Queensland boys Busby Marou have forged a reputation as one of the hardest working musical acts in Australia. Tom Busby and Jeremy Marou have created a completely unique vibe based on Tom’s everyman’s approach to story telling interspersed with Jeremy’s guitar virtuosity.  They sell out shows everywhere from Surry Hills to Mt Isa and have an incredibly loyal and diverse following.
 
Busby Marou’s second album, Farewell Fitzroy, debuted at #5 on the National ARIA chart following their debut album achieving certified GOLD status and included the single Biding My Time which took out the APRA Award for Blues and Roots Work of the Year and came in at No. 81 on triple j’s Hottest 100.  Most recently, their single, Days of Gold picked up the APRA Music Award for Blues & Roots Work of the Year 2016 and they’re currently putting the final touches on album #3 which is due for release later this year. 
 
It’s hard to believe a story that begins with 2 young sisters packing up their ute and driving across the Nullarbor in search of adventure, could also be the story of one of Australian country music’s most-respected and best-loved acts. However, for Sophie and Celeste Clabburn, The Sunny Cowgirls have never been about sticking to the script.
 
With 10 years in the industry, 7 studio albums, an acclaimed live album and 2 DVD’s, as well as sold out tours across Australia, The Sunny Cowgirls are the most surprising of seasoned professionals; young and fun-loving with the well-travelled knowledge of what it takes to get a country crowd on their feet.
 
Equally adept with dirty-booted anthems such as the raucous Cutting Up B&S Style and the crowd-pleasing Grog Monster, as they are with some of the most poignant and stirring portraits of life on the land, such as Still Circling, Good Spot Here and the Golden Guitar-nominated Green and Gold, The Sunny Cowgirls have cemented a place as a firm crowd favourite at Australia’s biggest country music events and show no signs of losing enthusiasm for playing in front of the cheering crowds that continue to fill arenas, paddocks and everywhere in between.
 
Catherine Britt’s recording career commenced in 1999 when at the tender age of 14 she released her first EP followed in 2001 by her debut album release. Since then she has released 5 more studio albums as well as a ‘Best of’ album and has collected accolades, a legion of fans and a mantle of awards along the way including the country industry’s highest honours – 2009, 2013 and 2016 CMAA Female Artist of the Year Award and 2012 CMAA Single of the Year as well as an APRA Award, ARIA Award and CMC Artist of the Year nominations. In 2010, Catherine was presented with the CMA Global Artist of the Year award.
  
In 2015 at age 30 and a month after the release of her critically acclaimed album, Boneshaker, Catherine was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Almost a year of chemo and radiation treatment later, she is back out on the road doing shows as well as raising awareness of the importance of early diagnosis of Breast Cancer and we’re excited to be welcoming back this fierce young woman to the Muster stage.
 
Christie Lamb has been described as ‘the full package’ – a vibrant multi-instrumental award winning singer-songwriter. The talented songstress was voted ‘CMC New Oz Artist of the Year 2015’ by Australian Country Music Fans and has followed on from this success to receive one of the most prestigious awards in Australian Country Music, a Golden Guitar for ‘CMAA New Talent of the Year 2016’.   This is certainly no mean feat for a young artist to receive both awards consecutively and unheard of as an independent artist.
 
Throughout the past year Christie has toured the East Coast of Australia as a part of the ‘Girls Of Country’ tour with Amber Lawrence and Aleyce Simmonds, which was extended due to popular demand.   As Lee Kernaghan said, “Christie is an incredible artist; not only an amazing singer, she is also an extremely talented multi-instrumental musician. She is a star of the future” and the Deni Ute Muster look forward to her shining star returning to the stage in 2016.
 
Deep Creek Road is a 5-piece country rock band fronted by dual lead singers Steve Simmons & Jaime Holland. Their debut album, Cowboy on the Run was released in May,  2013 and the first single Here and Gone received extensive airplay on over 200 radio stations and the accompanying video charted in CMC’s Top 50 for over 3 months.
 
January 2014 saw Deep Creek Road play their first Tamworth Country Music Festival before heading to Nashville for further song writing sessions and recording.  In May 2015, Steve signed a contract with CMT (Country Music Television in the USA) to become one of their composers for instrumental music used for their TV shows.  2016 is set to be Deep Creek Road’s best yet with the release of their debut album and shows across the country including our own Deni Ute Muster over the October long weekend.
 
In its first year (1999), the Deni Ute Muster had approximately 5,000 patrons and set a new Guinness World Record for the most number of legally paraded utes at 2,839 – a record which still stands today.  Since 1999 the Deni Ute Muster has become the region’s biggest tourist drawcard and a celebration of all things Australian.
 
Deni Ute Muster General Manager, Kate Pitt, said today, “It’s a thrilling line up with the “best of the best” and to have Keith Urban as our headline artist for our 18th Muster is a wish come true.  We really wanted to pull out all stops and come up with a dream line up that our fans would love and we know we’ve delivered an awesome 18th birthday present“

With many more announcements to come the 2016 Deni Ute Muster is set to become the biggest yet. Pre-Announcement tickets are currently on sale. Head to www.deniutemuster.com.au or call Muster HQ on 03 5881 3388 to secure your tickets now! Previous members and new members will need to create a new account. Pre-Announcement tickets are limited and only available until sold out.

Photos and bios of the artists can be downloaded here

Deni Ute Muster
Conargo Road, Deniliquin, NSW
Friday, 30 September + Saturday, 1 October, 2016

Keith Urban
James Reyne, Adam Brand and The Outlaws
John Williamson, Troy Cassar-Daley, Shannon Noll
Busby Marou, The Sunny Cowgirls, Catherine Britt
Christie Lamb, Deep Creek Road
and much, much more to be announced!

www.deniutemuster.com.au
 
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