Dylan Wright, Denvah & More Announced For Qld’s Debut Wild As Country Party

Calling all cowboys in south-east Queensland – the inaugural Wild As Country Party is coming to your neck of the woods in just a few months, giving you the ultimate opportunity to unleash your wild side.

Aptly described as “a feast for all the senses”, the new event features a jam-packed itinerary of performances and interactive installations, including live sets from more than 30 of Australia’s best and brightest up-and-coming country stars. Among them will be the latest winner of Australian Idol, Dylan Wright, as well as finalists Denvah and Trent Richardson.

Also featured on the live music lineup are the likes of Austin Mackay, The Wet Whistles, the Tyla Rodrigues Band, the Riley Young Band, the Zac Cross Band, the Jarred Wrigley Band and The 78 Sound, with more to be announced in the coming weeks. The whole shebang will be hosted by the inimitable Dee Jaye Bux, who will take to the decks between sets all weekend – and there will be a jaw-dropping showcase of performances from the latest suite of Kix Country Rising Stars.

Elsewhere at the festival, you’ll have your mind blown by the jaw-dropping Bullmania, a bull-riding spectacle (described as “beast vs. man”) with Australia’s best riders, as well as the adrenaline-pumping Dirt Bike Demons FMX show. And for those seeking a less intense experience, there’s the Going Country outdoors expo, where lovers of the outback country lifestyle can immerse themselves in a world of camping for 4x4 wonders.

Of course, the Wild As Country Party will have a dedicated culinary aspect, with the centrepiece being the Big Smoke Out – a tastebud-tantalising showdown from the most revered names in Australia’s devoted BBQ scene. Then there’s the ‘Sweet As’ Dessert Truck Battle, featuring a sprawling spread of sweet treats from some of Queensland’s finest.

If all that wasn’t enough, another core element of the event will be Johnny Ringo’s Honky Tonk Alley, a bespoke installation of bars with happenings like country karaoke line dancing and, of course, a mechanical bull. There will also be a range of community- and culture-focussed events highlighting regional arts, crafts, and businesses.

You can camp at both the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane Wild As Country events, so pack your family, swag, tent or camping chair. If the Gold Coast party is more your vibe, the city is full of stunning beachfront hotels and homestays to recharge before doing it all again the next day.

True to celebrating the community spirit of country, the festival will also raise money for BushED, “a charity dedicated to delivering education, health care and disaster assistance to Aussie kids in remote areas”.

Presented by Artist To Audience, KIX Country, iHeart Country, Countrytown and Johnny Ringos, the first-ever Wild As Country Party will go down over three days each along the Gold Coast (running from Friday August 9 to Sunday 11 at the Mudgeeraba Showground in Worongary), the Sunshine Coast (October 18 to 20 in the Diddillibah Noosa Hinterland) and Brisbane (November 29 to December 1 at Pine Rivers Park in Strathpine).

Tickets for all three events go on sale next Tuesday (May 1), and all ticketholders will go into the draw to win a trip for two to the 2025 iHeart Country Festival in the US. Head here for all the info you’ll need on that.