Canberra Country Music FestivalThe Canberra Country Music Festival is a 3-day event held during November with a focus on all sub-genres of country music, dance and workshops. The event was first held in 2009 at the Tuggeranong Homestead in southern Canberra. In 2010 the Festival relocated to Exhibition Park in Canberra which allowed for onsite camping and attracted almost 3,000 people.[1] The Festival typically hosts 50 performing artists across 5 stages.
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The Festival has pioneered several unique programming features including Dreamtime Country showcasing indigenous country music performers [2] which was widely covered even in Nashville [3] and inviting international country music artists to register to perform using the internet driven Sonicbids promotional approach [4].
The Festival also is the home of the Canberra Country Music Awards, Canberra Country Songwriting Awards, Country's Got Talent competition and Canberra Ute Car + Truck. Muster.[5] The latter event has been unique in featuring Top Gear's Arctic Explorer Hi Lux vehicles as well as the first electric and hybrid awards for utes and trucks in Australia. [6]
Performers scheduled for 2011 include: Sean Patrick McGraw (USA), Catherine Britt, Carter + Carter, Bobby Marquez (USA), Aly Cook (NZ), Round Mountain Girls, Doug McIntyre, Brothers3, Kel-Anne Brandt, Steve Passfield, Brewn' ACT), John Flanagan and The Begin Agains (VIC), Louise Egan (NSW), Bryen Willems, Bowen and Clare (NSW), Rod Dowsett (NSW), Leanne Melmoth (ACT), The Fry Brothers (VIC), Alice Plumb (NSW), Queen Juanita & The Zydeco Cowboys (ACT), Peter Christie Mountain Folk (NSW), Melissa Robertson (NSW), Counterfeit Cash (NSW), The Rain (QLD), Geoff Williams (NSW), The Wedded Bliss (ACT), Marta (VIC), Mark Lucas and The Dead Setters(NSW), Sharon Smith (QLD), Acoustic Radio (ACT), Mustered Courage (VIC), Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes (NSW), Ian Wholohan (NSW), Mark Shay (NSW), Alita (NSW), The Turrells (NSW), Alan Neal (NSW), Hannah Gillespie (NSW), Jaymy-Lyn (NSW), Sami (NSW), Louise Saint John (NSW) and Lorraine McCrimmon (NSW).
Performing artists appearing at the Festival in previous years have included: 8 Ball Aitken (QLD), Adam Harvey (NSW), The Adam Hole and Marji Curran Band (ACT), Adam Toms (VIC), Alice Plumb (NSW), Alita (NSW), Andrew Swift (VIC), Beaut Utes (NSW), Bec Hance (QLD/VIC), Bill Chambers (NSW), Bob (Roy) Rodgers And The Rodeo Clowns (ACT), Brewn' (ACT), Brittlejack (NSW), Brothers3 (NSW), Bush Capital Band (ACT), Bush Dancers Display Group (NSW/ACT), Cameron Cusack (NSW), Canberra Elvis (ACT), Carmen Fraser (VIC), Ceddy McGrady (NSW), Chris Webbe (QLD), Chucks Wagon (USA), Counterfeit Cash (NSW), Craig Morrison Little Cowboys (NSW), Dale Huddleston (ACT), Danny Mack (CAN), Darcy Fox (VIC), Des Morgan (VIC), Don McNatt (USA), Felicity (NSW), Franklyn B Paverty (ACT), Graham Scobie Band (NSW), Greg Champion (SA), Helen Begley (VIC), Hoola (NSW), James Norton (NSW), Jay Scott Berry (USA), Jetty Road (VIC), Josh B Shaller (SI), Karen McNatt (USA), Kelly Cooper (ACT), Kezz's Country (NSW), Kylie Hogan (NSW), Leanne Melmoth (ACT), Loris & Lefty (QLD), Lorraine McCrimmon (NSW), Megan Kelly (VIC), Melissa Robertson (NSW), Moniwell (ACT), National Capital Bootscooters (ACT), Nia Robertson Top Paddock Grazers (VIC), Nicki Gillis (NSW), Noel McClumpha (WA), Noel Smith (NSW), O'Neill & Rodgers (ACT), Pete Galvin (NZ), Queen Juanita & The Zydeco Cowboys (ACT), Rachel Dillon (WA), Ronni Rae Rivers (WA), Sean Hale (USA), Slim Newton (NSW), Step N Line (ACT/NSW), Steve Cheers (NSW), The Borderers (SA), The Fry Brothers (VIC), The McNatts (USA), The Rain (QLD), Tiana (NSW), Trainwreck (USA), Travis Collins (NSW), Travis Tex Hammond (VIC), Trixie Craig (NZ), Ukeleus (ACT) and Warren Derwent (ACT).