4 Nov 2025
Tens Of Thousands of Music Fans Unite at the Inaugural Country Music Festival
(Tuesday 4 November) - Australia’s newest country music festival Strummingbird made its debut this year, with a soaring celebration of music and community - uniting country music fans across the Sunshine Coast, Newcastle and Perth. Over two weekends, tens of thousands of festival-goers came together for a uniquely Australian take on the modern country festival experience, filled with surprise collaborations, high-energy performances and plenty of line dancing.
Over three huge shows, crowds were treated to an outstanding line-up that blended international heavy-hitters with homegrown favourites. With Jelly Roll, Shaboozey and Treaty Oak Revival headlining, there was also a strong showing of Australian and New Zealand talent alongside a host of other internationals, including James Johnston, Kaylee Bell, Matt Hansen, Drew Baldridge, Julia Cole, The Jack Wharff Band, The Dreggs, Wade Forster and more. Each line-up included a dynamic mix of country, Americana, rock and pop-infused sounds that perfectly captured the spirit of Strummingbird’s inaugural year.
At the sold-out Sunshine Coast edition, Maddison Glover’s line-dancing class featured a special guest, as she brought out James Johnston to join the festivities. Later, Johnston surprised fans once again, as he filmed the official music video for his single ‘One More’ live on stage. Plus, Treaty Oak Revival welcomed Wade Forster on stage during their set - a standout moment that captured the festival’s spirit of connection and spontaneity.
In Newcastle, Treaty Oak Revival’s performance of ‘Boomtown’ once again proved a crowd favourite, echoing their Sunshine Coast triumph, and energy levels skyrocketed in Newcastle and Perth when Jelly Roll brought out both Kaylee Bell and Shaboozey for powerhouse guest appearances - an especially memorable moment for local fans, with Bell, a New Zealand-born artist now based in Australia, joining two international heavyweights on stage.
By the time the festival reached Perth, local heroes James Johnston and Kaylee Bell united for a heartfelt duet, capping off the festival with a distinctly homegrown touch. Beyond the music, the fun kept rolling in the Strummo Bowlo, where festival-goers of all ages filled the dancefloor for impromptu line dancing sessions to everyone’s favourite brat Charli XCX and more. Everyone got involved in The Nutbush line-dance too, with fans joining in from around the main stage, embodying the infectious joy that defines Strummingbird.
Whether you were raised on country or just love a good guitar riff, Strummingbird welcomes all - and after this year’s response, the festival has been welcomed by the country community and cemented its place on the Australian live music calendar. With planning already underway, you better believe Strummingbird will be back to see you all in 2026!
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STRUMMINGBIRD 2025 -- DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL IMAGES HERE
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK
Saturday 25 October 2025 – Kawana Sports Precinct, Sunshine Coast | Kabi Kabi & Jinibara [SOLD OUT]
Saturday 1 November 2025 – Newcastle Foreshore, Newcastle | Mulubinba
Sunday 2 November 2025 – Claremont Showground, Perth | Boorloo
Presented by Kicks Entertainment and Live Nation
MUSIC LINEUP
JELLY ROLL
SHABOOZEY
TREATY OAK REVIVAL*^
JAMES JOHNSTON, KAYLEE BELL, MATT HANSEN,
DREW BALDRIDGE, JULIA COLE, THE JACK WHARFF BAND^+,
THE DREGGS, WADE FORSTER, ZAC & GEORGE, RACHAEL FAHIM, DENVAH,
PLUS LATE NIGHT RIOT WITH HOT DUB TIME MACHINE*+ AND Y.O.G.A^
*Sunshine Coast ^Newcastle +Perth
Strummingbird is an all-ages event.
Strummingbird Newcastle is supported proudly by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.