A bucket-list of regional music festivals on the rise across Australia

From a big country music bash in a rodeo arena to a folk festival by the sea, regional music festivals are hitting all the right notes with crowds all over Australia.

In October last year a cavalcade of utes, vans and motorhomes carrying 8000 people descended upon Tropical North Queensland’s Mareeba Rodeo Arena. But the crowds wearing cowboy boots and Akubra hats didn’t travel from far and wide to see bucking broncos and bulls. Instead, they’ve come to kick up their heels at what has become the hottest ticket in town.

Savannah in the Round, Qld

Kip Moore performing at Savannah in the Round — Kip Moore at Savannah in the Round.

In its fifth year, Savannah in the Round saw 40 artists play for more than 90 hours on four stages. The three-day camping festival’s blend of rock and country music has proven to be a winning combination with rockers like Hoodoo Gurus and The Living End gracing the stages alongside a strong line-up of country musicians.

Last year, Nashville-based stars Kip Moore and Tyler Hubbard joined Australian country music legends like Troy Cassar-Daley and Lee Kernaghan on the bill, along with Queensland-based country duo Jock Barnes and Trent McArdle, of Route 33, who have played at the festival three times.

the Savannah in the Round from above at sunset — Savannah in the Round is the hottest ticket in Tropical North Queensland.

“Having the mix of country and rock artists, the festival attracts a wide array of people. Every year with the outside stages and camping growing, it’s getting more of a camping festival feel which seems to create a larger party atmosphere as the event gets bigger," says McArdle.

As a fan of New Zealand singer Jon Stevens from way back, McArdle had a ‘pinch-me’ moment playing on stage right after the rock icon, who is best known for fronting Noiseworks.

the crowd at Savannah in the Round Festival — The country and rock festival is in its fifth year.

“Aussie pub rock has had a revival in the past five years and country music is on the doorstep of being the biggest genre in the world. Bringing these two [genres] together on the line-up really sets the festival apart from other Aussie festivals and almost guarantees its success," McArdle says.

Sound Australia CEO James Dein explains he founded Savannah in the Round “to create a space where country music lovers from all walks of life can come together, share stories and celebrate the heart and soul of the outback".

As Australia’s largest avocado-growing region and a significant producer of tropical fruits such as mangoes and pineapples, Mareeba’s economy is underpinned by agriculture, with mining and renewable energy also significant.

But tourism is increasingly growing in the region, with visitor numbers climbing steadily thanks to events such as Savannah in the Round.

the palm-tree-laden Tropical North Queensland — Head to Tropical North Queensland for the epic Savannah in the Round.

“We chose Mareeba as the home of Savannah in the Round because it’s the beating heart of Tropical North Queensland, a place where the rugged beauty of the outback meets the warmth of a close-knit community with a deep connection to country culture," Dein explains.

Home to a population of around 23,000 people, Mareeba is also conveniently located for those interested in snorkelling, diving, cruising the reef, or exploring the world’s oldest (and Australia’s largest) tropical rainforest.

an aerial view of a rainforest and beach at Tropical North Queensland — Tropical North Queensland is where the rainforest meets the reef.

“It’s a stone’s throw from the spoils of the Cairns region like the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, making it the perfect backdrop for a festival that celebrates the spirit of the tropical north," says Dein.

The popularity of Savannah in the Round bucks the trend of festival cancellations, which has seen the likes of Groovin the Moo and Splendour in the Grass flounder due to lacklustre ticket sales and rising insurance costs.

Australian Festival of Chamber Music

the Andromeda Sax Quartet — Andromeda Sax Quartet will perform at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music. (Image: Andrew Rankin)

Despite the challenges of putting on a large-scale event in a regional location, other festivals are also going from strength to strength up north. Held in Townsville, the Australian Festival of Chamber Music  enjoyed a record-breaking year in 2024 – albeit with a lot less dust and rowdiness than Savannah in the Round.

The annual celebration of classical music draws world-class performers from around Australia and the globe. Devoted classical music connoisseurs who return year after year (dubbed the ‘Balmy Army’) are integral to the festival’s ongoing success. But the festival also attracts newcomers each year thanks to its diverse program and free, family-friendly outdoor concerts.

an aerial view of Townsville — Townsville is the setting for the Australian Festival of Chamber Music. (Image: Megan MacKinnon)

Held in various indoor and outdoor venues including the Townsville Civic Theatre, Magnetic Island and St James’ Cathedral, the 2024 festival saw attendance rise to 22,106 across all events (up 31 per cent on 2023), with interstate or overseas visitors growing by 16 per cent.

This resulted in $19.9 million of spending in Queensland by attendees, representing an increase of 114 per cent on the previous year.

Port Fairy Folk Festival, Vic

the 2023 Port Fairy FolkFestival — The much-loved Port Fairy Folk Festival.

Starting way back in 1977 when 400 people paid the princely sum of $4 a ticket, the Port Fairy Folk Festival (‘the Folkie’) has had a hell of a run.

What started as a humble celebration of folk music with a truck acting as a makeshift stage is now a tourism juggernaut. Still going strong more than four decades later, the much-loved festival fuelled by community spirit sees the population of the Victorian seaside town of Port Fairy swell from 3000 to more than 30,000 every March.

a musician playing his instruments at the 2023 Port Fairy FolkFestival — The Folkie has been running since 1977.

Over the years, the festival held just beyond the end of the Great Ocean Road has welcomed a wider range of genres to the scene, attracting local performers as well as international drawcards like Cat Power, Glen Hansard, Loudon Wainwright III and the Blind Boys of Alabama.

Tasmanian musician Van Walker has performed at the Folkie about a dozen times over his long and storied career, both solo and with acts such as The Livingstone Daisies and Vandemonian Lags.

Now based in Victoria, the folk, blues, country and rock and roll singer shares what he believes is the special secret sauce that this free-spirited collective jam session by the sea possesses: “It was one of the first big festivals I ever played. Though it has international acts, it is distinctly Australian and distinctly Victorian, with its sunshine and ever-present sea breezes. There is a real camaraderie among the musicians, who are always on hand to help with equipment and play together," says Walker.

visitors sitting under The Folkie signage, Port Fairy Folk Festival — Port Fairy Folk Festival, aka ‘the Folkie. (Image: Jason Dobrowolski)

Like other performers who make the pilgrimage year after year, the Folkie occupies a special place in Walker’s heart.

“The Folkie’s prime location may have a lot to do with its continued appeal, plus the passion and perseverance of the people involved. It’s an enormous production involving the entire community and that labour of love permeates the entire festival," he explains.

With many attendees booking their accommodation 12 months in advance, the region’s hotels, motels, pub stays, holiday homes and caravan parks are solidly booked out each year of the festival, representing a strong economic uplift for the local economy.

the crowds at the Port Fairy Folk Festival — The small Victorian town welcomes some 30,000 visitors for the Folkie. (Image: Small General Photography)

Mayor of Moyne Shire Council Karen Foster shares that Port Fairy’s two council-run caravan parks welcome a whopping 3800 guests alone during the festival.

“It’s a huge economic boost for our entire shire. The funds from the caravan parks are dispersed through council’s coffers throughout the shire for the rest of the year," says Councillor Foster.

Around 89 per cent of ticket holders come from across Victoria, while 11 per cent travel from interstate to experience the convivial vibe of this gathering that celebrates creativity and togetherness via live performances, workshops, talks and even group singalongs.

the Port Fairy Beach — Usually sleepy Port Fairy. (Image: Rob Blackburn)

The festival also acts as an introduction to the region, with many people returning during the quieter months to experience Port Fairy’s historic charm, sans the crowds. “We know the Folkie has flow-on benefits. It’s a great showcase for the region and it attracts people back here at other times," says Councillor Foster.

Why regional festivals are on the rise

woman in crowd at BASSINTHEGRASS — Darwin’s BASSINTHEGRASS. (Image: Helen Orr)

A common theme uniting these successful festivals is a strong sense of small-town pride. A deep love for regional Queensland is evident at Savannah in the Round, which champions local food producers, distilleries and breweries. Volunteers from the Kuranda Visitor Information Centre and Mareeba Heritage Museum and Visitor Information Centre are on hand each day to share the best things to do in the region after the event.

surfers at Port Fairy Beach — Surfers at Port Fairy Beach. (Image: Belinda Vanzanen)

More than 800 volunteers help ensure Victoria’s Port Fairy Folk Festival is a success by pitching in to help with construction, ticketing, merchandise and stage management. In turn, the festival has invested more than $9.5 million in the community over the years, with the local hospital, surf lifesaving club, sporting clubs and many arts and community programs receiving funding.

“The Folkie is an absolute institution that’s not only economically important, but socially as well," Councillor Foster shares, adding: “Community faith in the Folkie and community love for the Folkie is what holds it together."

While some big-name music festivals have folded in recent years, Savannah in the Round, the Australian Festival of Chamber Music and Port Fairy Folk Festival have proven that regional music festivals with a strong sense of community are really striking a chord.

Annual regional music festivals to have on your radar

the Mundi Mundi Bash, Broken Hill, NSW — Mundi Mundi Bash attracts thousands of festivalgoers who claimed a world record title for the largest Nutbush City Limits dance in 2023. (Image: Matt Williams)

the crowd at Tamworth Country Music Festival — Don’t miss out on Australia’s biggest country music festival. (Image: Tamworth Country Music Festival)

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.

Victoria’s sweeping landscapes hold stories far older than any road map can trace – stories etched into stone, sung through generations and woven into every bend of river and rise of hill. From the lava flows of Budj Bim to the ancient middens of Moyjil/Point Ritchie and the volcanic crater of Tower Hill, the state is home to some of the most significant First Peoples cultural sites in Australia. These places, along with other immersive experiences, offer not only a window into a 60,000-year legacy, but a profound way of understanding Country itself. As more travellers seek connection over checklists, guided tours by Traditional Owners offer respectful, unforgettable insights into a living culture that continues to shape the land and the people who walk it.

Budj Bim cultural landscape

Venture beyond the surf and sand of the Great Ocean Road to discover a deeper story etched into the volcanic landscape. At Budj Bim , ancient aquaculture channels built by the Gunditjmara people to trap, store and harvest kooyang (short-finned eel) reveal one of the world’s oldest living cultures. While you’re in the area, head over to the state-of-the-art Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre, where you can observe the eels in a special tank, wander the shores of Tae Rak (Lake Condah), and enjoy a bite at the Bush Tucker Cafe. Also nearby is Tower Hill, a dormant volcano reborn as a wildlife reserve, offering trails through bushland teeming with emus and koalas.

eel tank — The kooyang (eel) tank at Tae Rak. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour

Dumawul walkingtour — Guests are guided through Kooyoora State Park on the Dumawul walking tour. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Step into a timeless landscape with Dumawul’s guided tour through Kooyoora State Park, around an hour’s drive west of Bendigo in north-central Victoria. Led by Djaara guides, this immersive half-day journey breathes life into Country, weaving together stories, bush tucker and ancient rock art. Known to the Dja Dja Wurrung people as Guyura – the ‘mountain of light’ – this dramatic granite range is rich with cultural and spiritual significance. The adventure begins with a meet-up at the Bridgewater Hotel on the banks of the Loddon River, before guests are welcomed onto Country with a traditional Smoking Ceremony – a powerful ritual that honours ancestors and cleanses those who walk the land. From there, it’s a gentle wander through rugged outcrops and open bushland, with sweeping vistas unfolding at every turn. Along the way, guides share their knowledge of how the Dja Dja Wurrung peoples have cared for and adapted with this land for generations, offering a rare and moving window into an ancient way of life that continues to thrive today.

Kooyoora walking tour — Knowledge of the Dja Dja Wurrung is shared on the trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Kingfisher Cruises

Glide quietly through the Barmah-Millewa forest – the nation’s largest river red gum ecosystem – on a scenic journey along the Murray River and into the Barmah Lakes with Kingfisher Cruises . Led by passionate guides who share stories of the cultural significance of this ancient landscape, these cruises reveal the stories, totems and traditional knowledge of the Yorta Yorta people. As you navigate narrow waterways and spot native birds, you’ll gain a richer understanding of how First Peoples have lived in harmony with this floodplain for tens of thousands of years. It’s a gentle, immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression – one where every bend in the river carries echoes of culture, connection and Country.

wawa biik

Exploring Nagambie with Taungurung leaders. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Translating to ‘hello, Country’ in the language of the First Nations People and Custodians of the rivers and mountains of Taungurung Country in Central Victoria, wawa biik guides a range of authentic and deeply immersive experiences. Leaving from either Nagambie or Euroa, the tours are woven with ancient stories of the Taungurung, telling how a sustained connection and responsibility ensures the continued health of biik – benefitting the people, animals and plants that live in and around the Goulburn River. During the wawa Nagambie experience, guests participate in a Welcome Smoking Ceremony, and enjoy lunch and conversation with two Taungurung leaders as they cruise through the wetlands of tabilk-tabilk (place of many waterholes). The 4.5-hour tour begins at Tahbilk Winery, which is set in the wetlands of Nagambie on Taungurung Country and collaborates with Taungurung Elders to share knowledge of biik.

Bataluk Cultural Trail

Cape Conran on the Bataluk Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

The Bataluk Cultural Trail winds through East Gippsland like a thread stitching past to present, tracing the deep connection between the Gunaikurnai people and their land. Starting at the Knob Reserve in Stratford, visitors walk among scarred trees and ancient stone tools once used for survival and ceremony. At the Den of Nargun near Mitchell River, the earth holds stories of women’s sacred spaces, cloaked in myth and legend. Further along, Legend Rock at Metung tells of greed and consequence, its surface etched with ancient lore. At Cape Conran, shell middens lie scattered like breadcrumbs of history – 10,000 years of gatherings, stories and saltwater songs still echoing in the wind.

Healesville Sanctuary

Set on the historic grounds of Coranderrk Aboriginal Station, Healesville Sanctuary honours the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation through immersive storytelling and connection to Country. Along Wurundjeri Walk, visitors are invited to reflect on the land’s rich First Peoples history, with native plants revealing their traditional uses. Wurundjeri Elder and educator Murrundindi shares culture in-person with the Wominjeka Aboriginal Cultural Experience every Sunday, and most days during Victorian school holidays. Murrundindi’s smoking ceremonies, storytelling and bush tucker knowledge reveal the sacred relationship between people, animals and the environment. Bird-lovers can’t miss the incredible Spirits of the Sky show featuring native birds daily at 12pm and 3pm.

The Grampians

Known as Gariwerd to Traditional Owners, the Grampians is a place of immense cultural and spiritual significance. This rugged landscape holds more than 80 per cent of Victoria’s known First Peoples rock art, offering a powerful window into the region’s deep heritage. Visitors can respectfully explore five remarkable rock art sites: Billimina and Ngamadjidj in the Wartook Valley, Manja Shelter near Hamilton, Gulgurn Manja shelter near Laharum, and the Bunjil Shelter near Stawell, where the creator spirit is depicted. Each site tells a unique story of connection to Country, shared through ancient handprints, dancing figures and Dreaming narratives etched into stone.

A bucket-list of regional music festivals on the rise across Australia

From a big country music bash in a rodeo arena to a folk festival by the sea, regional music festivals are hitting all the right notes with crowds all over Australia.

Savannah in the Round, Qld

Australian Festival of Chamber Music

Port Fairy Folk Festival, Vic

Why regional festivals are on the rise

Annual regional music festivals to have on your radar

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Unforgettable First Peoples tours and experiences in Victoria

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.

Budj Bim cultural landscape

Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour

Kingfisher Cruises

wawa biik

Bataluk Cultural Trail

Healesville Sanctuary

The Grampians

From a big country music bash in a rodeo arena to a folk festival by the sea, regional music festivals are hitting all the right notes with crowds all over Australia.

Savannah in the Round, Qld

Australian Festival of Chamber Music

Port Fairy Folk Festival, Vic

Why regional festivals are on the rise

Annual regional music festivals to have on your radar

A Snow Moon is rising over Australia this weekend – here’s where to spot it

The ultimate guide to summer festivals around Australia

Australia’s most remote and unknown beaches have just been revealed

What’s on around Australia in February 2026

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.

Budj Bim cultural landscape

Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour

Kingfisher Cruises

wawa biik

Bataluk Cultural Trail

Healesville Sanctuary

The Grampians

Australian Festival of Chamber Music

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.