Another Festival In Trouble As NQ's Rock'n Country Pleads With Fans

The Australian country music festival scene could be hit with another significant blow without your help. NQ’s Rock’n Country, which hosts the Reboot competition, is in danger of cancelling its 2023 event due to ticket sales.

According to a social media statement posted by organisers, NQ’s Rock’n Country needs to move 1,000 more tickets for the festival to viably go ahead. In addition to pleading with fans and potential attendees about the dire situation, organisers have also made a GoFundMe campaign for those who can’t attend the event but would still like to show support.

“We need to sell 1000 more tickets this week in order to see this festival go ahead,” festival organisers plainly stated on Facebook yesterday (25 July). “If you have been holding off on purchasing your tickets, we are asking you to BOOK NOW! If you can't attend but would like to show your support, then please click below and donate to our GoFundMe page.

“We love being able to deliver high quality acts to North Queensland, but it comes at a price, and unfortunately, we have not received any funding from the government this year, which means we need the support of North Queenslanders and friends”.

Geoff Baguley, the man behind the festival, explained more about the government funding situation on the GoFundMe description page. After starting NQ’s Rock’n Country three years ago, Baguley and the team have faced lockdowns and border restrictions due to Covid-19 that heavily impacted the festival.

Baguley says previous Australian federal governments have contributed funding to the festival, but Baguley has received confirmation that the federal government won’t be supporting the event this year.

“This decision has caused a massive funding shortfall - that we are struggling to fill,” Baguley admitted, looking to raise $200,000.

The GoFundMe statement continued, “The Government has made this decision despite the overwhelming evidence of the good that the festival does for the community - and the economic benefits to the City of Mackay.

“The people set to lose if the festival cannot go ahead:

1. Artists (both established though most importantly emerging)

2. Local businesses supplying the festival (Stages, equipment hire, food, etc etc etc)

3. Charities (Variety, Variety Bash and RMH)

4. ... and music fans!”

This year’s NQ’s Rock’n Country is headlined by Morgan Evans and features a stacked line-up, including Kasey Chambers, Kaylee Bell, Shannon Noll, The Wolfe Brothers, Adam Brand and many more.

It’s also hosting the Reboot competition, with Denvah, Jay Santilli and Findlay Webb named as this year’s finalists.

According to the website, Reboot is a “unique competition offering an opportunity for Australian country music artists to move forward on a world-class platform. The competition will target exceptionally talented artists, who have put their careers on hold, are lacking the confidence to be involved in the industry, with the uncertainty and risk to solely focus on their music career, following so many unexpected challenges.”

The three finalists will open the main stage at NQ’s Rock’n Country 2023 with a 30-minute set across the three-day festival, which runs from 18 to 20 August at the Mackay Showgrounds. You can buy tickets to attend this year’s event here.