Live Review: Groundwater Country Music Festival Saturday Recap

The Gold Coast turned full country this weekend as the Groundwater Country Music Festival brought the talent to Broadbeach. Saturday’s lineup was stacked, it featured a genre spanning showcase of Australian and international talent that proved exactly why this festival has become a must on the live music calendar.

Kicking off the day was some Beachside Line Dancing with Chris Watson. Offering both a beginner and experienced session, it was the perfect way to warm up your legs for a big day exploring the different stages and all of what Groundwater has to offer.  

From there it was onto the Surf Parade Stage for Chloe Styler who delivered a dreamy, alt-country-pop set that wouldn’t be out of place on a Coachella lineup. For an early act, Styler drew a serious crowd. Not just casual passersbys either, there were fans who had arrived early and were singing along to every word.

Standout moments included Free Pass to Forget About Me, which Styler introduced as being about “unintentionally allowing someone to treat you poorly.” It's a future heartbreak anthem with a bridge that hits powerful to say the least. She also teased an extremely vulnerable new single Placeholder and gave the crowd the ultimate insider scoop that it’s dropping November 14. 

Made You Mine was another stand out unreleased track that offered a fun, pop forward moment that lifted the mood. Styler’s set felt polished, confident, and quietly powerful. Definitely one to watch.

Just a few blocks over, the Country Music Cocktails: The Next Wave event at Den Devine presented by Australian Bitters Co. was absolutely buzzing. Tucked away in an intimate bar setting, ten of Australia’s freshest country acts took turns performing for a solid three hours.

Benson Manor, Felicity Dowd, Frecko, Jacynta’Lee, Kaitlyn Thomas, Keely Ellen, Linc Phelps, Piper Butcher, Mak & Shar, and Sandee Facy were on the bill and they delivered a show worthy of a main stage moment. 

The event was completely full with a queue of hopefuls lining up outside the doors for a chance to get in. The hosts kept the banter flowing and the laughs coming between acts. It wasn’t just a showcase of new talent, it was a highlight of the day.

A brief rain delay in the afternoon threatened to dampen spirits, but the festival team’s clear communication and fore planning meant minimal disruption to the lineup. 

By late afternoon, Max Jackson had Surf Parade heaving. Her set was a mix of upbeat anthems, softer ballads and crowd favourite covers which had a sea of fans stretched far down the street. Jackson knows exactly how to command a big crowd but somehow makes it look effortless. There was a point during her slowed down dreamy cover of Bryan Adams’ classic Summer Of ‘69 where the crowds voices echoed louder than the band. An incredible moment.

Over at the Broadbeach Mall Stage, things slowed down for a moment with an acoustic set from Sara Berki. The revamped stage area, now complete with scattered stools and barrels created an intimate country chill vibe to sit and really soak in the songs. Berki’s stripped back set allowed her emotional storytelling to really land and that it did. The crowd overflowed from the designated stage area and poured out onto the mall.

As the sun set the energy only built when The Wolfe Brothers hit Surf Parade for the final headline slot of the night, Broadbeach was absolutely packed. You literally couldn’t move down Surf Parade. The band brought their signature high voltage country rock energy and had the crowd from the first chord.

There were some magic moments that only a festival like Groundwater can deliver. Lane Pittman returned to the stage to join The Wolfe Brothers for a rowdy rendition of Throw 'Em Back and Max Jackson jumped up for Something Good's Gonna Happen. And of course, the crowd just ate it up.

International outlaw country queen Nikki Lane was a show stopper at The Kurrawa Big Top. It’s been a decade since her last Australian appearance and you could tell the crowd was hungry for it. Lane’s smoky vocals and the tightness of her band provided a world class performance to lucky attendees.

The party didn’t end there, The Broadbeach Tavern kept things rolling with a late night '90s country party put on by Liam Brew. After a full day of country music goodness, it was the ideal way to wind down… or keep winding up, depending on how many cold and refreshing drinks you had downed.

Groundwater’s Saturday was stacked with standout talent and moments. From dreamy pop country openers to boot stomping closers, there were surprise guests and packed side events. The day hit every note it needed to. 

If you haven’t been to a Groundwater Country Music Festival before, not going in 2026 is simply not an option.