Country music and camping? Sounds like the dream duo to us. Throw in some of Australia’s most legendary artists – rocking out on the doorstep of the reef and the rainforest – and it’s a done deal.
If you’re hoping to get in on this winning combo, then you’ll want to snag tickets to Tropical North Queensland’s largest country music festival, Savannah in the Round, which will make its grand return to the Cairns Hinterland from October 11-13. As always, the three-day rodeo will take over the town of Mareeba (meaning ‘meeting of the waters’ in the local Aboriginal language), just an hour’s drive west of Cairns, with camping and glamping available so you can have the ultimate nights out.
Following a sell-out 2023 Australian tour, multi-platinum American country star Kip Moore will head back Down Under to headline the festival, alongside Australian punk rockers The Living End, Hoodoo Gurus and Jon Stevens. Also joining them at the country music bash is powerhouse vocalist Mahalia Barnes, true blue Aussie singer-guitarist John Williamson, rising country star James Johnston and proud Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung musician Troy Cassar Daley.
Last weekend, Savannah Sounds hosted an exclusive, sneak peek gig on the Great Barrier Reef, headlined by Brisbane-born indie band Sheppard and beloved country singer Lee Kernaghan. The musicians, along with country artist Max Jackson and electronic duo Kairos Kin, rocked a floating stage in front of 100 community heroes who volunteered to help during the Cyclone Jasper recovery. At the reef festival, these four were also revealed as the final performers to join the already star-studded lineup for Savannah in the Round this October.
The final program for Savannah in the Round will be released soon, but you can expect three days packed with live music kicking off as early as 8am at the Big Top Music Hall and Bull Bar, and from 4pm until 11.30pm on the Main Stage.
The icing on the cake? After a boogie, you can crash at the camping grounds, with everything from self-catered swag set-ups to luxury glamping available.
You can find out more about Savannah in the Round and purchase festival tickets here.
