CMC Rocks QLD Announces Dates For 2023 Event

As the dust settles on an enormously successful sold-out homecoming event on the weekend, CMC Rocks QLD is delighted to reveal dates for the March 2023 festival.

Between Wednesday 15 and Sunday 19 March 2023, CMC Rocks QLD, Australia’s premiere international country music festival will land in Willowbank, Ipswich helmed by some of the hottest global superstars; with the full artist line-up to be announced on Tuesday 11 October!

With just six months between last weekend’s hugely anticipated 15th Anniversary and the 2023 event – which sees the festival return to its regular March slot on the annual calendar – CMC Rocks QLD will once again deliver the ultimate country music line, certain to light up the country community’s spirit like nothing else!

Chairman of Chugg Entertainment, Michael Chugg said, “We waited a long time to put on this year’s show, and we knew it was going to be spectacular. Everyone involved, from the artists, staff, crew and especially our CMC Rocks fans, absolutely outdid themselves. And you better believe we’re going to do it all again in just six months’ time!”

Jeremy Dylan, Festival Director, Potts Entertainment said, “It’s been an incredible, emotional weekend for all of us – the fans, the artists and all who have been working behind the scenes to pull off this triumphant return. The loyalty of our fans is awe-inspiring, and they came to party. We felt the love and we know Brad, Kane, Morgan, and everyone who stepped onto that stage did as well. After three and a half years, it felt like we came back stronger than ever and now we’re barrelling into 2023, as we return to March for what is going to be the biggest CMC Rocks yet.”

Over the weekend just gone, the first CMC Rocks QLD since March 2019 went off with the kind of explosive energy country fans have bottled up and waited to unleash for the past 3 and a half years! Across three days, 22,000 patrons descended on Willowbank to take in live sets from international chart-toppers Brad Paisley, Kane Brown, Morgan Evans, Jimmie Allen, Blanco Brown and more, along with an absolute smorgasbord of the finest homegrown talent on offer!

Spirits were sky high as crowds entered the main festival area on Friday afternoon, with local heroes Casey Barnes and Troy Cassar-Daley returning to the CMC Rocks stage. First Nations talents Isaiah Firebrace and Mitch Tambo joined Lee Kernaghan during his set for a stunning rendition of their new single Come Together.

Friday also served up anticipated debuts from US stars MacKenzie Porter and Abby Anderson, who played in the afternoon, then joined Jimmie Allen on stage that evening during his explosive set. It was Kane Brown’s stellar performance that brought the first night to a close, including chart-topping hits Like I Love Country Music, One Mississippi and more, along with I’ve Got Some Famous Friends, featuring some of his festival mates – Blanco Brown, Restless Road, and MacKenzie Porter – live on stage. Brown left no doubt as to why he’s one of the hottest stars in country music right now.

Saturday’s all female Songwriter’s Show line-up captivated, MacKenzie Porter, Laci Kaye Booth, Lindsay Ell, and Abby Anderson playing in the round, stripped-back and intimate, showcasing their incredible raw talent. As day turned to night, crowd favourite Troy Cassar-Daley continued the good vibes, lifting the crowd with his live show.  

From debuting in a lunchtime slot at the first ever CMC Rocks in 2008, Nashville-via-Newcastle star Morgan Evans made his anticipated homecoming as a festival headliner at the 15th Anniversary event. On Saturday night, Evans had spirits soaring as he laid down a blistering set featuring hit singles Day Drunk and Diamonds, fans singing along to every word.

Wingham’s own James Johnston is as country as they come, drawing large crowds on Sunday afternoon, with audiences jamming along with singles Raised Like That and Small Town. US singer-songwriter Niko Moon continued to enthral on his CMC Rocks debut, followed by crowd favourite Brad Cox, who had some serious country spirit on display and fans in the palm of his hand.

Accompanied by an extraordinary fireworks display to close out an epic three days, Paisley’s Sunday night headline set blew the lid right off the Rebel Stage. Delivering a legendary performance punctuated by chart-topping hit after chart-topping hit, plus a duet with Lindsay Ell, Paisley had it all and then some, reminding us why exactly why CMC Rocks QLD is the ultimate country music experience. 

Queensland Tourism Minister, Stirling Hinchliffe said CMC Rocks was a significant feature on the It’s Live! In Queensland events calendar.

“The Queensland Government backs CMC Rocks because we know fans travel from far and wide for this first-class country music experience,” Hinchliffe said. “It’s terrific to see to this international country music event return as wonderful addition to Queensland’s great lifestyle while also supporting local jobs. Major events bring visitors who are predicted to invest more than $14 million in the Ipswich visitor economy during next year’s 16th anniversary of CMC Rocks. Now is the time to start planning your CMC Rocks international country music experience for 2023.”

Ipswich Mayor, Teresa Harding said two festivals within six months would be a huge boost to the region and inject millions of dollars into Ipswich’s economy. “CMC Rocks 2022 was incredible this weekend and we’re thrilled to be welcoming the event back to Ipswich in 2023 to its regular timeslot in March,” Mayor Harding said. “This world class festival is a highlight on the event calendar for people from all over Australia and around the world and having it twice within six months is a win-win for everyone.”  

CMC Rocks QLD firmly cemented their place as Australia’s most significant country music event in 2022, with a festival experience like nothing else around! From new bars – Big Time Charlie’s and Gordons Pink Pamper Beauty Bar – to fresh new activations including an eight-metre-high cowboy boot, Great Northern House, Singles Mingle, Honky Tonk Stomp line dancing and more, CMC Rocks is the ultimate, incomparable country music experience.

The Queensland Government is proud to support CMC Rocks QLD through Tourism and Events Queensland as part of the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar, showcasing Australia’s best live events in Australia’s best destinations.

Stay tuned for the full CMC Rocks QLD 2023 artist line-up – coming on Tuesday 11 October!