FIRST LINE-UP ANNOUNCEMENT – GROUNDWATER 2022

Kirsty Lee Akers

Sensational award-winning artists and a whole lot more announced today in the release of the first lineup of BIG country music names from near and far in the celebrated 2022 Groundwater Country Music Festival (CMF).

The Gold Coast will come alive with these country music favourites set to descend on Broadbeach 28-30 October. With the iconic Gold Coast skyline as the festival backdrop, music lovers will be treated to three epic days of FREE live music. The bill features an incredible lineup of home-grown and international talent plus an exciting selection of up-and-coming artists who are thrilled to be taking part in the renowned career-launching-pad that is Groundwater CMF.

A taste of who to expect includes headliners FANNY LUMSDEN and TRAVIS COLLINS who will be joined by BROOKE MCCLYMONT & ADAM ECKERSLEY, CATHERINE BRITT, GINA JEFFREYS, KIRSTY LEE AKERS along with international artists KAYLEE BELL (NZ), who is currently the most streamed female country artist in Australasia, and #1 selling Canadian artist DAN DAVIDSON (CAN) who has racked up an enviable array of awards – for more big names, see lineup poster below.

Festival Director Mark Duckworth said: “This year’s Groundwater CMF is shaping up to be one of our best country music parties yet!

“2022 will see our festival fans treated to some incredible acts from across the country as well as some international flavours along the way.

“Three days of country music vibes will swell the spirit and welcome the Queensland sun this October, over 40 country artists will take to Groundwater CMF’s various stages to entertain and connect with fans from all over Australia.”

ARIA Award and eight times Golden Guitar-winning artist Fanny Lumsden has had a huge 12 months. Her album Fallow debuted at #10 on the all-genre ARIA charts as well as going to #1 on the Country ARIA charts for two weeks running.

The artist also appeared on Play School Showtime, ABC’s The Set with You Am I, was one of 12 Aussies in Global Music Match, became a Support Act advocate, and a volunteer firefighter. Lumsden also wrote and produced a documentary telling the story of Fallow through the summer of bushfires and recording her album in a stone hut.

On top of that, she managed to pull off a sold-out theatre tour across Australia in the wake of the pandemic here in Australia.

Leading light in Australian song, Travis Collins has long led the charge in Australian country music with his soulful voice, earthy sound, and unique gift for piloting both sophisticated, heartfelt ballads and supercharged country-rock floor-fillers. From Start the Car in 2005, now with nine studio albums, Collins is a regular mainstage fixture at Australia’s peak country music festivals from Tamworth Country Music Festival to CMC Rocks, playing to sold-out crowds across the country.

Six albums and seven Golden Guitar Awards later, 2020’s Wreck Me, marked a personal milestone for Collins, taking out the #1 spot on the ARIA Country Albums Chart, debuting in the Top 10 of the ARIA Albums Chart, and landing at #4 on the iTunes Australian Albums Chart. Recent years have seen Collins expanding his sound, songs, and live shows, still further promising even bigger, better, and brighter things ahead‚ both onstage and in the studio.

“There is finally light at the end of the tunnel - live music is back! I can’t wait to step onto the stage at the Groundwater Country Music Festival, my favourite festival of the year in beautiful QLD. It’s going to be one hell of a party for us all.”

One of Australia's most talented and authentic artists Kirsty Lee Akers is a proud First Nations woman of the Wonnarua Nation. Just last week her new album Wild debuted at #1 on the ARIA charts ahead of The Kid Laroi and Lee Kernaghan – a huge achievement! The album re-wrote the record books for Akers, achieving #1 Australian Album on the ARIA charts, across all genres (ARIA #1 Australian, #1 Country, #11 All-genres).

Described as a fusion of modern country and Americana, with pop stylings, the only way is up for this pint-sized powerhouse. Akers has embraced a global musical culture spending her time between Australia and a hard-earned international touring schedule in North America and Europe.

While COVID-19 certainly challenged us all, Kirsty managed to write and record new music with some of the world's best, while also taking a leap into the TV arena, starring with her husband Jesse on the 2021 edition of Channel 9's The Block where they won hearts across Australia.

See Kirsty Lee’s shout out – she’s excited!

Last October Canada's Dan Davidson and Australia's Hayley Jensen teamed up to release catchy country-pop single Really Shouldn’t Drink Around You a fun, cheeky song about trying to figure out the answer to the question: “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” And we’re thinking how great it would be if the duo performed their chart-topping single at Groundwater CMF – fingers crossed!