Last month, the dates for next year’s CMC Rocks festival were announced, and anticipation for the 2027 multi-day extravaganza has only increased since then.
The forthcoming event commences on Wednesday, 17 March, and concludes on Sunday, 21 March. As usual, campers will have exclusive access to the festival grounds on Wednesday, 17 and Thursday, 18 March, before the main festival opens and the live music begins on Friday, 19 March. The festival returns to its long-running home of Willowbank Raceway in Ipswich.
Fans of the Queensland-based festival, whether they attend every year or have never attended, are hoping for something special next year, as CMC Rocks is commemorating its 20th anniversary.
Of course, every year is special when you’re enjoying three days of country music, but a milestone anniversary like that has punters going off in the comments on Countrytown’s recent posts about the festival.
So, while we expect the lineup for next year’s event to drop sooner rather than later, we’ve had a look at predictions from Countrytown readers, examined their upcoming tour dates, and whether they have potential to perform at CMC Rocks 2027.
We’re not looking to get anybody’s hopes up, so take any names mentioned with a grain of salt.
Who Countrytown Readers Are Hoping Will Appear At CMC Rocks 2027
International Artists
Ella Langley
Ella Langley has never performed in Australia, and with her breakthrough moment going beyond the US and taking over ARIA Charts, it’s fair to say that CMC punters are rallying behind her and hoping she’ll headline next year’s festival.
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Looking at her tour dates, Langley has a sizeable gap in her schedule, making CMC Rocks a possibility. Her 2026 itinerary concludes on 31 October, and her sole 2027 date (for now) is 29 May.
Garth Brooks
Country icon Garth Brooks hasn’t played in Australia since 1994. With over two decades between drinks, fans are hoping he comes back for CMC Rocks—what a way to celebrate 20 years of the beloved festival, right?!
We can’t say it’s likely, but we didn’t expect him to tour this year, either. So far, he has no tour dates locked in for 2027.
Billy Ray Cyrus
Last in Australia in 2018—and before then, 1993—Billy Ray Cyrus also featured in some Countrytown readers’ comments. With no tour dates on the horizon and the recent release of the album, The Hill—his first album in 14 years—there’s some understandable hype about Billy Ray hitting festival stages in Australia.
Luke Combs
Is Luke Combs too big a name to headline CMC? We think so, seeing as his most recent Australian run took place in stadium venues last year. But, we wouldn’t completely rule him out, since he has a relationship with the festival: Combs headlined CMC in 2019 and made his debut at the festival the year before.
Morgan Wallen
Like Luke Combs, the appearance of Morgan Wallen’s name on Countrytown comments predictions begs the question: is he too big for CMC?
His last tour Down Under, in 2023, was held in arenas. But whenever he returns to our shores, we predict he’ll be at stadium level. However, like Combs, Wallen has history with the festival, having headlined in 2023 and performed in 2019.
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts last visited Australia in 2013, so their eventual return to our shores is much anticipated. Continuing their Life Is A Highway reunion tour, no shows are currently scheduled for 2027, leaving them wide open for CMC.
Miranda Lambert
Believe it or not, Miranda Lambert has never toured Australia. She was set to make her long-awaited debut in March 2020 and, well, you know why that was cancelled. She was also scheduled to headline that year’s CMC. With no tour dates scheduled for 2027, it’s possible, but we wouldn’t say it’s likely that Lambert is planning to tour Australia.
Avery Anna
Rising star Avery Anna visited Australia twice last year. She made her debut at CMC in March, then returned for Ridin’ Hearts in October, as well as opened for Megan Moroney in Brisbane. She’s touring for the rest of the year and into 2027, but has a gap between dates in January and April, leaving the door open for CMC Rocks.
Treaty Oak Revival
Like Anna, Treaty Oak Revival visited Australia last year, appearing at Strummingbird Festival and playing two headline shows along with Wade Forster. Could the country rockers be readying another visit to our shores? At the time of publication, they have no tour dates between November and April.
Zach John King
American singer-songwriter Zach John King has never performed in Australia, but that doesn’t mean he won’t! Touring through the remainder of the year, he currently has only one show scheduled for 2027, and that’s in July. With a debut album, I’m What You Get, on the way, he may want to bring it to Australia in March.
Australian Acts
Brad Cox
Brad Cox is no stranger to CMC Rocks, having performed in 2019 and 2024. He’s playing at Strummingbird in October and as part of the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January, leaving the possibility of playing at CMC again next year.
Mack Geiger
Mack Geiger made his CMC Rocks debut this year, and has also hit stages at CountryFest, Strummingbird, and Lasso Country Music Festival. The Queensland singer is experiencing a meteoric rise, having made his Grand Ole Opry debut—to a standing ovation—in June.
In March, Geiger announced his signing with Records Nashville/Columbia Records, before recently launching his debut US headline run. He currently has no tour dates announced for 2027.
Tori Forsyth
With her new album, Self Preservation, on the way, Tori Forsyth is representing grunge-country, and we believe that kind of energy would blow punters away at CMC Rocks. No tour dates are on the horizon just yet, so a triumphant festival performance would be excellent.
Hayley Jensen
Having previously performed on the main stage at CMC Rocks, Hayley Jensen potentially returning would be a real thrill. She’s touring until October and appearing at next year’s Tamworth Country Music Festival—why not CMC two months later?
Casey Barnes
A CMC veteran, the well-oiled machine that is Casey Barnes is always welcome on festival stages with his electrifying live sound and recent release of his new album, Made For This. He—and Hayley Jensen—are performing at Geelong Country Music Festival on Saturday, 20 March. It might be close, but they could potentially appear on the Friday or Sunday.
Lane Pittman
Having stunned fans at CMC Rocks in the past, Lane Pittman will be welcome in 2027. Like a handful of other artists we’ve mentioned, Pittman’s sole tour date for next year (so far) is at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Dear Tommie
Rising star Dear Tommie is primed to make her CMC Rocks debut, having shared the stage with Dasha, Tori Forsyth, and others. With no tour dates on the way, seeing her at the festival next year would be fantastic.
Tyla Rodrigues
Having made her mark at last year’s CMC Rocks, Tyla Rodrigues is coming up in the Australian country music scene, and, at the time of publication, doesn’t have shows announced for next year.
