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Grab your guitar and your best pair of cowboy boots; Groundwater Country Music Festival’s KIX-Start competition is back for 2023 with entries now open.

Entry details here

Groundwater Country Music Festival (CMF) in association with KIX Country is excited to announce the highly anticipated return of its popular KIX-Start competition for 2023. 

With an expanded prize pool and Australian country music royalty on the judging panel, the annual competition is bigger and better than ever.  KIX-Start offers a unique opportunity for emerging country artists to showcase their talent, kick-start their careers and gain experience within an ever-evolving music industry.

“Every year we are blown away with the calibre of new country music talent who enter KIX-Start, and I have no doubt this year will be no exception,” said Groundwater Country Music Festival Director and KIX-Start judge Mark Duckworth.

“Country music has firmly taken hold across Australia and with it a host of emerging male and female artists. This competition provides the perfect launchpad for those artists to kick-start a bright future and we are proud to provide that platform.”

The talented 2023 KIX-Start winner will not only get a chance to perform on the Groundwater CMF stage this October along with some of Australia’s most celebrated country music stars and international artists but will also take home plenty of money-can’t-buy experiences, including over $30,000 worth of music industry expert tools. 

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The 2023 winner will:

· Perform at the 2023 Groundwater Country Music Festival

· Be the support act for Lee Kernaghan as part of his huge national tour (date TBC)

· Receive an exclusive, one-on-one song writing masterclass with award-winning, number one hitmaker Phil Barton

· Record a single at The Music Cellar studios with award-winning music producer Rod McCormack

· Receive a PR package from Varrasso PR – Radio and Video Promotion, Song Appraisal

· Receive one-on-one mentoring experience with Casey Barnes, with the opportunity to pick the brain of one of the most successful and current Aussie artists

· Receive a promotion & distribution package from Play MPE

· Receive radio support from KIX Country plus other KIX opportunities on air and online, as well as the opportunity to be involved at other KIX initiatives and events across the year

· Receive a live touring workshop with Dan Biddle and Wheelhouse Agency

· Receive a 12-month strategic marketing plan from Market the Music

· Receive a one-on-one mentor program with Gina Jeffreys

· Receive a 12-month scholarship with Gina Jeffreys National Songwriters, led by Max Jackson

The addition of country music legends Lee Kernaghan and Casey Barnes to the already star-studded judging panel this year is set to take KIX-Start to new heights.

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Lee Kernaghan is one of the most influential and successful artists in Australian country music history; with 38 Golden Guitars, four ARIA Awards and three APRA Awards, as well as winning Australian of the Year in 2008. Casey Barnes is one of the hottest acts on the Australian country scene right now, with his hugely successful 2022 album ‘Light it Up’ garnering an ARIA award, a Golden Guitar win, and multiple chart-topping singles. Both Groundwater CMF favourites, Lee and Casey will be returning to the Broadbeach stage this October and will share their experience and knowledge with the KIX-Start winner.

“KIX Start 2023 is our biggest search for new talent yet,” said KIX Content Director and KIX-Start judge Justin Thomson, “I’m really excited to be working with Lee Kernaghan, Casey Barnes and our expert judging panel to find Australia’s next rising star of country. It’s incredibly inspiring to see the amount of new country artists coming through. Country music is booming and it’s an important time for new country talent to show us what they’ve got! We’ll be searching the whole country for someone we think is ready to take the next step in their career.”

Celebrating 10 years of country music on the Gold Coast, Groundwater CMF 2023 will be a party like no other with three days of FREE live music by the beach featuring an incredible lineup of Australia’s best country music stars plus international guests. Already announced in the 2023 program is Lee Kernaghan, Jackson Dean (USA), Casey Barnes, Amber Lawrence, Asleep at the Wheel (USA) and many more.. Keep an eye out for the second lineup announcement coming soon and get your entries in for KIX-Start 2023.

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Groundwater Country Music Festival is supported by the Queensland Government via Tourism and Events Queensland and is a feature on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

The multi-award-winning Groundwater Country Music Festival is one of Australia’s fastest-growing country music festivals, which is indicative of the growing appeal of country music in Australia.

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Follow GOUNDWATER CMF
Website – Facebook

Social media handles:
Facebook: @GroundwaterCMF
Instagram: @GroundwaterCMF
Twitter: @GroundwaterCMF
Hashtags #groundwatercmf #thisisqueensland #visitgoldcoast #ourgoldcoast  #WeAreGoldCoast

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ABOUT KIX COUNTRY

·     KIX Country is a radio network broadcasting across Australia to over 50 stations.

·     KIX Country is part of the Australian Radio Network.

·     Its target demographic is all people who love country music

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AMNPLIFY – DB