Taylor MossWe’ve all felt that feeling at a music festival where you just never want it to end. If only you could bottle that feeling and spread it out further so that you can see more artists, meet more punters and genuinely immerse yourself in the culture.
Enter Queensland Music Trails - The Outback, an immersive event spread over 15 days and eight destinations. Part holiday, part arts and music festival, Queensland Music Trails is truly the first of its kind, offering an opportunity to get up close and personal with some of Australia’s rising country stars in breathtaking locations not often explored.
The festival has taken many directions, both geographically and in its identity, with a number of name changes and destination changes from red soil to green pastures. More recently, the Queensland Music Trails has stepped into a new era, championing the diverse, rugged QLD locations that artists are local to and worthy of.
This year's instalment of Queensland Music Trails might just be the most ambitious yet, kicking off in Charleville, then heading to Tambo, Barcaldine, Longreach, Winton, Hughenden, Julia Creek and finally Mount Isa.
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Lee Kernaghan, Taylor Moss, Tori Darke, Luke Geiger, Riley Ziskey, Jess White and William Barton are just some of the artists on the lineup, with many hints of joint performances. Many of these sets will be bolstered by local, homegrown talent and a great way to discover new faces in country music - not to mention the Tambo State School Choir.
Of course, these are not drag-and-drop events rolled out one after another for a new audience each time, as you would normally see at a music festival touring different cities.
Each location features a different lineup of events, artists and formats, with the punters following the trail treated to a diverse, jam-packed itinerary across the 15 days. Oh yes, you won’t find too many people heading to one of these cities to catch one of the day's events; rather, they’re hitching an RV and following the trail to be part of the fun in each city.
Queensland Music Trails ambassador Taylor Moss was part of the fun in 2024, performing a solo slot, and said the event was one of the best experiences she’s had and far exceeded her expectations for what this unique event would be like.
Sharing the ballot with other artists like Paul Dempsey, Tori Forsyth, and the Pierce Brothers, Moss was determined to be part of Queensland Music Trails again. She was named an ambassador in 2025 and went all in on the experience, renting an RV with her mother and doing the 10-day trail. Moss sat down with Countrytown to spill the tea on what to expect and how the event flows when so many kilometres are crossed.
“I said to the CEO, ‘This has been the best experience ever,’” Moss tells Countrytown. “You don't get to go to a gig and hang out with everyone, like you kind of go in and out.
“Everyone's got touring logistics, everyone's trying to keep everything as cheap as possible. But when you're out in regional Queensland, you can't get home pretty quickly. You're on an Outback timeline rather than the city timeline.”
It’s clear that attending Queensland Music Trails in 2024 and 2025 has been a significant experience for Moss, as she urged people to get involved and come and see what it is like to share music and country events with others, as you grow to know one another more and more as the kilometres clock up.
“It’s a really inclusive experience,” she adds. “There is so much [attendees] can expect. It’s not like any other festival anyone has ever done in Australia. It's a completely different, extremely niche experience.
“Expect to go out on the road and meet lots of friends. Expect to potentially get a flat tyre, and the caravan behind you will come and help you change your flat tyre. You know, expect to have a cuppa with someone in your campshare in the morning because everyone's camping in different locations in Charlotteville, and everyone just walks to each other's camps.
“It almost feels like you're not in the real world for a couple of days. And I think we live in a world now where people just put their headphones in, get their phone up, walk past, and you don't acknowledge people around you like we used to. Whereas this is the polar opposite. You get all your hellos and all your hugs.”
Between sets and events, Moss said it was common for campers and RVers to knock on the door and invite you to the hot springs or take you somewhere nearby to marvel at the undiscovered land.
Queensland Music Trails this year will feature hoedowns, headliners, poetry readings, film screenings, dinner and music under the stars, and so many thoughtfully curated experiences that put these regional cities front and centre.
With a full band accompanying Moss last year, she says this year she is excited to be more of an attendee than a performer, although she says she will definitely be up on stage many times, but in more of a supporting capacity.
She explains, “I just love seeing red dirt, and I'm really looking forward to doing less performances this year. I'm actually by myself this time, so that's going to be interesting. I'm not going to have Mum cooking and cleaning for me, so I'm going to have to really get my shit together! Because I'm not performing as much, it means that I get to enjoy the music a little bit more.
“If my music can connect with people, someone can relate to something that I'm singing about, I'm speaking about, or relate to a life experience that I've been through, then I've done my job as a human. Touring is my favourite thing to do, and playing gigs and getting to meet people, particularly on the Queensland Music Trails - that’s what I love to do.”
While the idea of a country party pilgrimage sounds like a very good time, Moss warns that punters have to be prepared for everything as services and supplies can be few and far between - but fortunately, community vibes are strong, so you are never in too much strife.
“Just make sure that you’ve got all your essentials,” she advises. “There's not a whole lot of shops on the way. There are community stores, but you need to make sure you have your mozzie spray, sunscreen, and all those things. I need to be packed just as much as a general punter, and make sure that I have all my bits and bobs, and I'm sure if I forget something, someone will lend me a hand.”
Queensland Music Trails - The Outback 2026
Charleville – Saddle Up (24 April)
Trail opener featuring live music under the stars, featuring Trail Ambassador Tori Darke, Luke Geiger, Cracker & Jess, plus Daryl Kirkup as your MC. Included as part of the 2026 Outback Trail Traveller Pass.
Tambo – Bush Dance (26 April)
Live music and line dancing, join the locals for a stomping good night out with Good Will Remedy, Blake Benecke and Leilani from Charleville Dance House. Ticketed event.
Barcaldine – Outback Exchange (28 April)
Set beneath the historic Tree of Knowledge, this pay-what-you-wish event invites budding musicians to gain first-hand advice from superstar Tori Darke, Will Lebihan (Good Will Remedy), and more to be announced. Free event.
Winton – Crackup Sisters in the Dust Arena (1 May)
Step into the Crackup Sisters’ backyard for a rollicking 1970s-style game show with circus, comedy and music from Niq Reefman and Matt Hill, followed by a special ticketed performance at the North Gregory Hotel.
Hughenden – Music by the Lake (3 May)
A lakeside evening of lanterns, culture and music as part of the Festival of Outback Skies, headlined by internationally acclaimed artist William Barton, with a Welcome to Country and performances by local Yirendali dancers. Ticketed event.
Dinner Under The Stars - Julia Creek – (5 May)
Experience the true heart of the Outback in Julia Creek with Dinner Under The Stars fireside with music from Taylor Moss and some local legends. Ticketed Event.
Mount Isa – Outback Sounds (9 May)
A jam-packed festival finale featuring headline artists Kaylee Bell and The Wolfe Brothers, Zac & George, Taylor Moss, William Barton, Homegrown Trio and the 2026 Toyota Star Maker, Jarrad Wrigley. Local Early Bird Tickets only $49.
Tickets are still on sale for Queensland Music Trails, with the option to attend some or all of the trail events. You can check out the full itinerary here.
