THE GYMPIE MUSIC MUSTER 2017 EXPANDS ALREADY PACKED LINE-UP

The Muster’s diverse line-up has
something to get everyone moving.

THE Gympie Music Muster has expanded its line-up of all-Australian stars, with artists including Golden Guitar winner Lyn Bowtell, Darren Middleton, Chelsea Basham, Kaylens Rain, current The Voice contestant Judah Kelly, Joe Robinson, charity ambassador Fred Smith, and Kyle Lionhart.

It’s another Muster not to be missed, with organisers of the 37th annual event encouraging everyone to put on their best dancing boots to enjoy line dancing, as well as rock ‘n’ roll dancing to a live band on a dedicated dance floor.

No matter what your genre of choice, the Muster offers something for everyone’s taste –

• Enjoy an Australian country themed show on the main stage on Thursday night, including The Bushwackers, Anne Kirkpatrick, Chad Morgan and Travellin’ Still – The Songs of Slim Dusty, featuring Pete Denahy.
• Put on your dancing shoes for an 80s Party in the Crowbar.
• Everyone gets their chance to shine with 15 Minutes of Fame where the winner receives a chance to join an all-star line-up as the closing event on main stage.
• For younger fans, Amber Lawrence’s ‘The Kid’s Gone Country’ show on Friday and Saturday in The Grove is sure to get some little toes tapping.
• Audiences will also be able to see the Toyota Starmaker Showcase, Fender Guitar Jam, Songwriters’ Sessions, and the Muster Poets each day in the Crowbar.
• We will farewell another marvellous Muster with The Newgrass All-Star Showcase on Sunday night featuring artists performing a bluegrass song of their choice.

“The Muster is proud of its reputation of delivering a program that is unique to the festival,” Program Director Jeff Chandler said. “Along with numerous country, blues, folk, bluegrass and rockabilly acts, this year we are ensuring a program packed full of themed events and showcases where music fans will witness special one-off collaborations, ‘guitar jams’ and rising stars as well as get an opportunity to show off their line dancing or rock ‘n’ roll dance skills. And, to top it off, it’s a 100% all-Aussie line-up.”

The Muster’s diverse line-up has something to get everyone moving.

Golden Guitar winner Lyn Bowtell merges a soaring vocal range, commanding stage presence and profound songwriting to draw audiences in – her performances are not to be missed. This year her evocative vocal abilities took her through to the top 24 on The Voice.

Former Powderfinger guitarist Darren Middleton has won ARIA and APRA Awards in the iconic Aussie band, and is also an accomplished solo artist who continues to tour the country, and the world, with his thought-provoking songs.

Kaylens Rain is the pairing of siblings Kaylee and Glen Harrison, who combine Kaylee’s moving vocals with Glen’s stirring guitar-playing for unforgettable performances. Their contemporary country style is influenced by artists including Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Martina McBride and the Dixie Chicks as well as guitar-players Keith Urban, Joe Walsh and Don Felder.

Current CMC Female Artist of the Year, Chelsea Basham brings a burst of sunshine to the Muster with her feel-good songs. Hers is a stage performance that is upbeat and will take you to the beaches of Western Australia where she grew up, and beyond.

Joe Robinson is a self-taught virtuoso guitarist that has earned him a following across the world. As well as his instrumental abilities, he fuses rock, blues, jazz and r’n’b to create his own unique style of music and performance.

Performing on stage since the age of 10, Judah Kelly has opened for some of Australia's greats like The McClymonts and Diesel. With a soulful voice that will hit you right in the emotions, he is currently competing on The Voice, having made it into the final 12.

Kyle Lionhart is a folk and soul artist who hails from Byron Bay and has gained a reputation for stopping crowds in their tracks. He has shared the stage with Jeff Lang, Ash Grunwald and Kim Churchill with his performances bringing a range of acoustic and electric guitars in different tunings to the stage, combined with his wide vocal range.

Working with the Muster to help our mates, is diplomat and singer-songwriter Fred Smith. He was Australia’s first diplomat posted to Uruzgan Province in Afghanistan in 2009, where he served again in 2013, and has run songwriting workshops for the Muster’s charity partner Mates4Mates.

"My song Dust of Uruzgan which Lee (Kernaghan) covered on Spirit of the ANZACs, was written from the point of view of soldier named Paul Warren, who now works for Mates4Mates," he said.

This will be Smith’s first Gympie Muster, although he said he’d always known about the event.

"When they invited me to be the charity ambassador I knew straight away it was a good fit," he said. "I worked very closely with Australian soldiers and some of those boys need a bit of help when they get back, so I’m proud to be involved with Mates4Mates.”

The additional artists are:

• Kaylens Rain – Chelsea Basham – Melanie Dyer – Joe Robinson 
• Hussy Hicks Georgia Fall – Judah Kelly – Hurricane Fall 
• The Killer Queen Experience – Viper Creek Band – Fred Smith
• Kaylee Bell – Pete Denahy – Lyn Bowtell – Matt Cornell – Karin Page
• Amber Lawrence With ‘The Kid’s Gone Country’ Show – Christie Lamb
• Kyle Lionhart – Blues Arcadia – Linc Phelps – Liam Brew
• Tim Wheatley – Darren Middleton – 8 Ball Aitken – Shelley & Lawrie Minson
• The Electric 80's – Jodie Direen – Simon Kinney Lewis Band 
• Bob Abbot & The Fabulous Green Machine – PC & The Biffs – Rachael Fahim
• The Mercurys – The Faceless Men – Casey Barnes – Mitch King – Luella Widt Freya Hollick – Route 33 – Emma Beau – Seleen Mcalister – Mason Hope 
• Alice Benfer – Mark Porter – Karrie Haywood – The Rock ‘N’ Roll Boys
• The Muster Poets – Australian Institute Of Country Music 
• Eighties Themed Party Night – Gympie Blues Club 
• The Songwriters Sessions – ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie’ 
• Toyota Starmaker Showcase – Fender Guitar Jam – 15 Minutes Of Fame
• The Newgrass All-Star Showcase – Rock ‘N’ Roll Dancing – Line Dancing
• The Music Makers

To join...

• Jessica Mauboy
• Adam Brand - Busby Marou - Graeme Connors
• Amber Lawrence - Travis Collins - Sunny Cowgirls
• Catherine Britt - Fanny Lumsden - Troy Kemp 
• Caitlyn Shadbolt - Dean Ray - Adam Eckersley Band 
• Reece Mastin - Davidson Brothers - Kirsty Lee Akers - Hillbilly Goats - Bondi Cigars
• Anne Kirkpatrick - Bushwackers - Mason Rack 
• Chad Morgan - Missy Lancaster - Travellin’ Still
• The Songs of Slim Dusty with Pete Denahy & the Travelling Country Band

Held in the Amamoor Creek State Forest in the beautiful Sunshine Coast Hinterland, the 2017 Muster will feature more than 100 artists in more than 300 performances across multiple stages. The artists cover a range of genres including country, bluegrass, folk, blues and rockabilly. An unmissable event for music lovers, one ticket price gives Muster goers free camping and multi-venue access to all performances to experience everything Australia’s biggest country music celebration has to offer.

Run by the community, for the Community, the Muster is a not-for-profit charity event which has raised in excess of $15 Million for charities Australia wide since its inception. Proceeds from this year’s Muster will again go to charity partner Mates4Mates to help Australian Defence Force personnel with mental and physical injuries as a result of their service.

From its humble beginnings in 1982, The Muster has grown from a small celebration to an iconic event that defines the region and has placed Queensland on top of the map for Country Music festivals. Muster co-founder and legendary country musician Berard Webb of The Webb Brothers says the event has always been about ‘mates, music and making a difference.’

The Muster runs from Thursday August 24 to Sunday August 27, 2017.

To book tickets visit www.muster.com.au or phone:
1300 GET TIX (1300 438 849).