Kasey ChambersThe Groundwater Country Music Festival returns to the Gold Coast this spring, once again securing a line-up of phenomenal homegrown and international country music stars.
Taking place from Friday, 16 to Sunday, 18 October, country twang returns to Broadbeach for three days of live music, line dancing, delicious food, and Gold Coast sunshine. The annual festival is produced by Experience Gold Coast and supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland.
Australian country icon Kasey Chambers leads this year’s line-up, and she’s set to perform with her full band. Chambers is one of the most awarded and influential artists in Australian music, winning 13 ARIA Awards and 17 Golden Guitar Awards; she’s had multiple chart-topping albums, and her songs have become part of the fabric of Australian country music.
Joining Chambers at this year’s Groundwater is popular New Zealand country star Kaylee Bell, along with fellow international artists Ruth Moody – making her Groundwater CMF debut, Canadian Josh Stumpf, and Texas honky tonk musician Jake Penrod.
Homegrown country standouts such as The Wolfe Brothers, Hayley Jensen, Lane Pittman, Tyla Rodrigues, James Blundell, and Beccy Cole are also set to perform, while artists such as Austin Mackay, Kingswood, Dear Tommie, and this year’s Toyota Star Maker winner, Jarrad Wrigley, will make their Groundwater CMF debut.
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Other acts filling out the line-up include Henry Wagons, Midnight Chicken, and Pete Denahy, each artist bringing something different to this year’s festival. Check out the complete artist line-up below.
As with every other edition of the event, Groundwater CMF remains free for everyone in the Gold Coast area. As it’s a non-ticketed festival in an open area in Broadbeach, everyone can come and go. But, if you’re looking for a front row spot, Groundwater has a “first in, best-dressed” policy.
You can find out more about the festival on the Groundwater CMF website.
Festival Director Mark Duckworth commented on this year’s line-up, “We continue to be inspired by the rise of country music in Australia and to be able to present Groundwater Country Music Festival in such a uniquely Gold Coast setting is such a highlight.”
Duckworth continued, “The line-up brings together everything from current pop country and Americana to bluegrass, folk, and traditional honky tonk and even a little Outlaw.”
Gold Coast Acting Mayor Cr Mark Hammel added, “Thirteen years ago, the Gold Coast dared to be different, launching the first Groundwater festival for our city.”
“Bringing country music to the beach was ambitious, but it has paid big dividends, and Groundwater is now one of Australia’s premier country music festivals.
“Our city has always promoted a ‘yes’ mentality. Yes to great events, yes to having-a-crack and yes to securing the best country stars for a three-day spectacular, set against the iconic Broadbeach foreshore and skyline. I’ve dusted off the Akubra and will be there for Groundwater 2026. Make that a yes from me.”
GROUNDWATER COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL
16-18 October 2026 | Broadbeach, Gold Coast
2026 Line-up
KASEY CHAMBERS
KAYLEE BELL
THE WOLFE BROTHERS
BECCY COLE | JAMES BLUNDELL
LANE PITTMAN | KINGSWOOD
TYLA RODRIGUES | HENRY WAGONS
ANDREW SWIFT | HAYLEY JENSEN
PETE DENAHY & THE SURREAL MCCOYS
JAKE PENROD | SWEET TALK
RUTH MOODY | DENVAH
AUSTIN MACKAY | STERLING DRAKE | JOSH STUMPF
2026 STARMAKER JARRAD WRIGLEY
MIDNIGHT CHICKEN | DEAR TOMMIE | MICHAEL HONAN
TAUREAN THOMPSON’S OUTLAW COUNTRY SESSIONS
JOSIE | BREWN | RB BROTHERS
DJ COLONEL’S COUNTRY MUSIC COTTAGE
BLUEGRASS BREAKFAST WITH HUXLEY & FRIEL
COUNTRY CALLING SHOWCASE
BEACHSIDE LINE DANCING WITH CHRIS WATSON & MORE
