Strummingbird Festival Brings Country Music Boom to Australia

In a major development for Australia's live music scene, the inaugural Strummingbird country music festival has concluded its two-weekend run, drawing tens of thousands of attendees across three cities. Presented by Live Nation and Kicks Entertainment, the multi-date, all-ages event marked one of the most ambitious country-focused touring formats launched in the country in recent years.

The 2025 Strummingbird lineup combined popular US acts like Jelly Roll, Shaboozey, and Treaty Oak Revival with a strong mix of emerging and established Australian talent, including James Johnston, Kaylee Bell, and Rachael Fahim. Beyond the main stage performances, the festival organizers focused on engaging fans through interactive experiences, from line-dancing workshops to crowd-wide Nutbush dance breakouts and surprise collaborations, such as Jelly Roll bringing out both Shaboozey and Bell during his sets.

The debut of Strummingbird comes amid a rising interest in country-adjacent genres across the Australian market. Local acts like James Johnston have achieved notable chart success, further fueling the demand for this type of event. With the Sunshine Coast leg selling out in advance and the Newcastle edition receiving strategic backing from Destination NSW, the festival's inaugural run has been a resounding success. Live Nation, the co-presenter, is already planning a return in 2026, signaling a bright future for Strummingbird and the country music scene in Australia.