Country Music Takes Over Australia: Strummingbird Festival Makes a Splash

Australia just got a new music festival, and it's all about country tunes! The Strummingbird Festival, put on by Live Nation and Kicks Entertainment, just wrapped up its first run. It stopped in three cities: Sunshine Coast, Newcastle, and Perth. Thousands of people showed up to enjoy the music over two weekends. The festival featured a mix of big-name American artists and local Australian talent. Jelly Roll, Shaboozey, and Treaty Oak Revival were some of the international acts. Meanwhile, James Johnston, Kaylee Bell, and Wade Forster represented Australia. The lineup was a good mix of well-known and up-and-coming artists. But the festival wasn't just about music. There were line-dancing workshops and surprise performances. Jelly Roll even brought out Shaboozey and Bell during his sets in Newcastle and Perth. James Johnston filmed a live music video during his performance in Sunshine Coast. These extra activities made the festival more interactive and fun. Country music is becoming more popular in Australia. Jelly Roll's album "Beautifully Broken" did really well on the charts. It reached number 19 on the ARIA Top 50 Albums chart and number 3 on the ARIA Top 40 Country Albums Chart. Local artist James Johnston also had a successful album debut, which is a big deal for an independent country artist. The festival also paid attention to local culture. Each city had its own unique lineup, and there were acknowledgments of Māori and First Nations cultures. The Sunshine Coast leg sold out, and Newcastle got support from Destination NSW as part of their tourism efforts. Live Nation, one of the organizers, is already planning to bring the festival back in 2026. They've been expanding their music offerings in Australia and New Zealand, including pop, hip-hop, and Latin music. Besides the main stages, there were other fun activities. The "Strummo Bowlo" was a communal dance area where people danced to both country and pop songs. There were even moments set to Charli XCX's "Brat" anthems, which was a hit with the younger crowd.