Nathan LamontGroundwater Country Music Festival, taking over Broadbeach on the Gold Coast in October, has something special lined up for First Nations artists.
This year, the beloved festival is introducing Country Calling, an intimate showcase of First Nations music, culture and storytelling, featuring Nathan Lamont, Georgia Corowa, and Joey Leigh Wagtail.
Country Calling is presented by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Office (NATSIMO) and pulls inspiration from Nashville’s Bluebird Café, providing a songwriter-round live music experience.
Nathan Lamont – a proud Wiradjuri artist, 2025 CMAA Sister City Nashville Exchange recipient and three-time Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalist – will be joined by Georgia Corowa, a Bundjalung, Innigai and South Sea Islander singer-songwriter who’s performed alongside Emma Donovan and Xavier Rudd.
Joey Leigh Wagtail will round out the showcase. The Dunghutti singer-songwriter, who draws from culture in his music, is preparing for the release of his upcoming album, Austral Eden.
Country Calling takes place at the 13th edition of Groundwater, returning to Broadbeach from Friday, 16 to Sunday, 18 October. The showcase happens on Sunday from 11:45 am on the Broadbeach Mall Stage.
Experience Gold Coast Festival Director Mark Duckworth explained that each year, Groundwater spotlights emerging talent and showcases the diversity of music across Australia.
“Groundwater has always been about investing in new talent, giving artists opportunities to shine and showcasing the incredible breadth of Australian country music,” Duckworth said.
He continued, “Country Calling really brings that to life and gives these artists a platform to share not only their music, but the stories behind their songs, and audiences the chance to engage with them in a really special way.”
NATSIMO Program Manager Sue Ray added, “NATSIMO is deeply proud to be delivering the Country Calling showcase, as it demonstrates the power of music to create opportunity, connection and lasting impact.
“For artists, it provides a pathway to new audiences, industry networks and professional growth. For the community, it offers a unique opportunity to engage with authentic First Nations stories and experiences, helping to build a richer, more inclusive and vibrant Australian music landscape.”
In addition to the Country Calling line-up, this year’s Groundwater Country Music Festival is headlined by Kasey Chambers. It features Kaylee Bell, The Wolfe Brothers, Beccy Cole, Kingswood, James Blundell, Lane Pittman, Henry Wagons, Hayley Jensen, Tyla Rodrigues, Andrew Swift, Austin Mackay, Dear Tommie, and many others.
As always, Groundwater is free to attend – find out more about this year’s event here.
