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CMC Rocks,
Days One, Two and Three
@ Willowbank, QLD,
21-23rd March 2025
(Live Review)

Review by June Carlile

Photos by Tam Schilling (@tamcamimages_)

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THOMAS RHETT / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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DAY ONE

Phew! Last week more than 23 000 would be festival attendees holding their breath that this year’s event would go ahead breathed a sigh of relief to rival the wind gusts of Cyclone Alfred.

Although he battered & flooded the South East he didn’t wash out our largest annual country party!

This is CMC Rocks 18th year bringing International country stars together, & 2025 marks a decade of being based at Willowbank Raceway.

Devoted music fans saw tickets sell out for the fourth consecutive year, & some have travelled nationwide to be here.

Campers have already enjoyed two nights of shows on the Tailgate stage. In clever planning by CMC, that includes the first two artists of each day, so campers can ease into their days after a late night without fear of missing anything.

For the rest of us this morning is just the beginning, & it kicks off with Denvah, Max Jackson, & Amy Sheppard breaking in each of the main stages.

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DENVAH / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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Denvah’s self described honky voice is a confident vibrato that almost slides into a yodel. We hear a handful of her songs including the #1 single Making Cups of Tea, reminiscing her time on Australian Idol, before her set closes out with her absolute favourite song, a cover of Landslide.  Her acoustic set leaves no mistake that this is a country music festival.

In case you were still in doubt, Max Jackson has a CMC exclusive EP featuring countrified covers inspired by her first #1 single Little More Country.  She gives us a taste with Kesha’s Tik Tok, & ABBA’s Dancing Queen.  Songs like Who You Did It With, Hold My Horses, & brand new single Grass make this a set list of country heart, values, & a bit of free spirited fun.

The Songwriters Sessions, where artists share the stories behind their songs,  is one of the highlights of each day of CMC.  Thanks to the big screens streaming the session, the crowd spills out from the Tailgate Stage & fills every available shady spot from there to the front of the main stages.

Today we’re lucky to hear unreleased songs from everyone on the panel.

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ALANA SPRINGSTEEN / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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Alana Springsteen’s Sad Hour, Carter Faith’s Grudge; & Thomas Rhett sings Chapter 10 for the first time in front of an audience!  But it’s Travis Collins that silences the crowd with Finding Jesus, inspired by a health scare when his son was 9 days old.

It’s a full circle moment for Amy Sheppard. She says she was born to be country, but Sheppard took her down the pop path – her passion was re-ignited after attending CMC 2019, & now she’s here on stage. Amy’s cheerful, seasoned performance includes the first country song she wrote, Blue Guitar, new release Mr Mistake, & her first country #1 Small Town Rumours,  co-written with her brother George.

The next set is delayed by technical problems, but day host Mike Carr keeps the crowd entertained performing song requests, even doing a shoey.

It’s only a short delay before best mates Zac & George are belting out boy band worthy harmonies heavy on an Aussie accent to the biggest crowd they’ve played. Their songs Bar Stool, & Red Wine & Roses have a beach boys vibe, & they do a few covers that keep the crowd singing along.

Although the Tailgate Stage has only been a short walk away, there’s no need to move for the rest of the day now, as all the action centres on the Stampede Stage & Rebel Stage.  Conveniently side by side, they host alternate sets, meaning it’s non-stop music all day every day – that’s what we’re here for!

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TRAVIS COLLINS / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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Travis Collins brings party energy country rock with fan favourites like Ain’t Nobody Weekend Like We Can, & brand new song Good Thing Comin’.  His 10th release, The Band Album, is out next week. He shares a toast with the crowd to friends that aren’t with us anymore before the emotional Rainy Day, & lifts the crowd up again with Happy. Travis is a force of positivity & gratitude, he hands a signed boot & a guitar into the crowd as they play with giant inflatable balls.

Kashus Kulpepper tells us exactly who he is with bluesy opener Southern Man.  His soulful blues voice is captivating in a set filled with lap steel guitar & harmonica, with clever, heartbreaking songs that play with words & metaphors, like Pour Me Out.

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KAYLEE BELL / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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Kaylee Bell has been hinting at a surprise on her socials, & she delivers with a guest appearance by James Johnston for their collaboration Same Song. Icing on the cake of a high energy, fast paced set. A cover of Natalie Imbruglia’s Torn shows the softer side of Kaylee’s voice, but there’s no holding back her vocal power on pop rock songs like Nights Like These, Cowboy Up, & Shot in the Dark. A Kaylee set wouldn’t be complete without her tribute song Keith, then she finishes up teaching the crowd a simple dance step to accompany her on Boots N All.

Alana Springsteen (no relation) makes a memorable entrance, drinking a shoey in the guitar solo between spoken word verses of Hold My Beer. It’s a bold, entertaining start to what becomes a vulnerable set. Her first big show of the year,  Alana says country music has brought us together all the way from across the world. Tonight is so much more special than you know.

She sings a couple of unreleased songs & half her debut album Twenty Something,  including a solo version of the haunting Chris Stapleton collaboration Ghost In My Guitar.

Alana takes to the Stampede Stage again on Saturday.

It’s been a long, hot first day. The couple beside me leaning on each other & snoring in my ear aren’t the only ones that have gone too hard before tonights’ headliners, though I’m guessing they must be on day 3 already!

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DYLAN MARLOWE / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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With songs like Hung Over In A Deer Stand, & Grew Up Country, Dylan Marlowe’s pop punk tunes are still genuinely country.  In a fun set full of crowd participation, Dylan & band mate John compete in a ‘pop punk off’.  After two rounds,  unfortunately for Dylan even All American Rejects Dirty Little Secret couldn’t beat John’s choice of the Killers’ Mr Brightside.

Dylan drinks TWO shoeys at the same time to the thunderous riff of Thunderstruck,  then reminds us he’s a winning songwriter though, doing Last Night Lonely, the #1 he wrote for Jon Pardi, & his own first ever radio #1 Boys Back Home.

We hear audio of waves lapping as Billy Currington makes his way onto the Stampede Stage & it’s a hint of the relaxed, laid back set to come. Billy’s smooth voice kicks off with the rocking Don’t It, then backs down a gear to the fiddle & slide guitar of Good Directions, staying in cruise mode for Pretty Good at Drinking Beer. The pace continues to roll up & down like waves.  There’s barely a break between songs as he effortlessly sings us every one of his 11 #1’s, & the crowd sings every word along with him. Somehow he even squeezes in a few more hits!

Billy is clearly enjoying himself, with a constant smile.  “Y’all having a good time out there? We’re having a great time. This is our first show for the year.”

When introducing Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right he recalls; “Someone called me up & said I had my first number one & it was a very special moment of my life.” The band leaves a chorus with no music & he’s quiet for the crowd to sing alone.  He ends with the summery Friday night anthem We Are Tonight.

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THOMAS RHETT / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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Thomas Rhett played CMC in 2019 & he’s back to headline the first night of the festival on the Rebel Stage. With a phenomenal 22 #1’s, it would’ve been a tough choice writing the set list, either way the audience wins ‘cause we hear over half of them tonight. The show also includes 6 songs from his latest album About A Woman.

When the first song What Could Go Right begins, I see blue lights circling but it takes a moment before the cameras zoom in & we see Thomas on the big screen in his double denim & backwards hat.

The first #1 of the show is Make Me Wanna, & there’s so much action up front, I spot a flare of fireworks, waving arms, & the giant inflatable balls from earlier today are bouncing around in the crowd again. “I’m embarrassed to say that it has taken me six years to come back since 2019. I am still so damn shocked that this many ppl showed up.”

We’re treated to a bunch of hit collaborations: the Cole Swindell track She Had Me At Heads Carolina, Mamaw’s House recorded with Morgan Wallen, & Craving You featuring Maren Morris, then Thomas brings Dylan Marlowe out to sing Jon Pardi’s part on Ain’t Nothin’ That A Beer Can’t Fix. New single Somethin’ ‘Bout A Woman features Teddy Swims, then it’s time for a sad song, & the crowd sways & sings along with Marry Me. It feels like the show could go on forever, Thomas is full of energy, there are still 4 songs to go before the long intro & bare notes introduce the lines Baby last night was one of the best nights…& the crowd sings along to Die A Happy Man as I make my way to the car.

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THOMAS RHETT / Photo – @tamcamimages_

Check out Tam Schilling’s (@tamcamimages_) full gallery of Day One HERE

JON PARDI / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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DAY TWO

The emerging artists filling CMC’s early stages have years of writing, performing, award nominations, & radio & streaming success behind them.

Playing CMC Rocks is a dream goal for young Australian artists, & the first time in Australia for many of the Americans.

Here they have an hour to celebrate their slot with their loyal fanbase & win over new ones, before the International superstars close out each night.

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THE BUCKLEYS / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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The Buckleys threw away their set list, & with so much freedom they can’t decide what to play, so start with their debut single Daydream. We’re treated to cruisy pop tunes from their debut album, a sneak peek of something they’ve written with recent tour buddies Kingswood, & talk about a new project coming soon that will take them back to where their hearts & roots lie. Brand new single See Your Folks Again is already a departure from the 70’s nostalgia, pop/rock they’re known for, proof that just like country music, this impressive family band isn’t confined by expectations.

Sinead Burgess has a big bluesy, 70’s rock band sound, & her flowing coat & round sunnies complete the look. She’s playing guitar, harmonica, & singing, & her band is rounded out with Blake O’Connor & fellow CMC performer Imogen Clark. They play a few of her past singles, including Reno, a rocking cover of Bryan Adams’ Run To You, a couple of songs from her upcoming album, including a fun number called Shut Up And Be Nice, & finish with a medley of Steve Miller Band’s Joker/Lynyrd Skynyrds’ Sweet Home Alabama/& The Beatles Little Help From My Friends sandwiched in the middle of her last song Ain’t Thinking About You.  What a great set!

Today’s Songwriters Session, with Ashley Cooke, Koe Wetzel, Zach Top, & Jon Pardi is a hint of what’s to come in their full sets later.

I’m thankful the predicted rain hasn’t hit, but the sun is brutal this afternoon & once again people are sheltering in any available shade, taking advantage of the misters around the outside of the Tailgate Stage, & the Yeti water refill stations provided around the grounds.

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MACKENZIE CARPENTER / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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Mackenzie Carpenter released her debut album Hey Country Queen this month & her single Dozen Red Flags is currently #12 on Australian country radio. The crowd wave little red flags during her set full of catchy, polished tracks.  Looking every part the country Queen in black leather skirt, vest, & tall boots, this bubbly songwriter’s voice is bound to become more familiar in the future. Highlights of her set are I’m Not Pretty, which she co-wrote with Megan Moroney,  her collaboration with Midland called I Wish You Would, & her version of Cyndi Lauper’s (Country) Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

Dalton Dover shows off his powerful, soulful voice with vocal runs & high notes on his track You Got A Small Town, & covers of Clarence Carters’ Drift Away, & Alicia Keys’ If I Ain’t Got You. When he sings Ain’t it Easy, a song he wrote for his fiance, & Here’s The Deal, his song about the land, this is what heartfelt means.  But that powerful voice also rocks hard on current US radio single Bury Me In This Bar.

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OLE 60 / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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Ole 60 are a young 5 piece that start their set with fuzzy rock guitar & screaming vocals reminiscent of the 90’s on Dust 2 Dust. Their set quickly changes gear with Brother Joe, a heartbreakingly sad song that swaps rock guitar for steel guitar. They stay in sad song territory for a while with some country folk, but it’s impossible to be sad watching the antics of one of the guitar players. He looks like Jack Black, & is having a great time dancing all over the stage & hyping up the crowd. The set soon picks up pace, with the crowd singing along to their cover of Coldplay’s Yellow, & ends with the southern rock energy of Smoke & a Light.

Ashley Cooke launches us into the night with her upbeat, radio friendly songs.

Highlights from the start of her set are the hit love song with Brett Young, Never ‘Til Now, flirty brand new song Put ‘Em Away, & It’s Been A Year.

There’s an epic medley of songs she grew up on that has the crowd singing along.

(Kelly Clarkson Since You’ve Been Gone / Ed Sheeran Castle On The Hill / Avril Lavigne Complicated / Rascal Flatts Life Is A Highway / & Stevie Wonders’ Signed Sealed Delivered)

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ASHLEY COOKE / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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Ashley gets the crowd to count down for her first shoey, & ends her set on a high note with All I Forgot featuring Joe Jonas, & her #1 single Your Place.

There’s a reason she’s playing twice this weekend.

Larry Fleet hits the stage with a toe tapping beat I was nodding along with before any singing started. In love with my problems is a fun song to start with. This set is unmistakably country, with a mix of bluesy guitar &  laid back acoustic guitar & piano.

He just released Hard Work & Holy Water a few weeks ago, & there’s no surprise it features a huge bass line. The bass player Crazy Legs is another scene stealer who dances around the stage with fancy footwork.

That’s Where I Find God is the song that changed his life,  his voice hits a beautiful vibrato on the last note, & the crowd is going crazy.

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WYATT FLORES / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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Wyatt Flores looks like a cowboy, in jeans, belt buckle & khaki shirt. He has two sets this weekend, & he’s made a clear choice to hold back the tempo tonight, giving emotional weight to the delivery of his vocals. There’s a pattern of the songs beginning soft & slow, building pace to make an impact on the lyrics. Many of the songs are about heartbreak & loss, even the cover of The Fray’s How To Save A Life continues the theme. Unfortunately it seems to be a lesson he’s learned, his song Running Out Of Time making it clear that we’re gonna die, so do what makes you feel alive. That doesn’t mean it’s a quiet, depressing set. There is hope & joy when the drums, fiddle, & electric acoustic raise the roof.  At the end of the set the crowd is screaming, & Wyatt is overwhelmed.  Realising he had 5 more minutes, he finishes on an acoustic version of Astronaut, smiling so big his voice catches.

When he hits the stage Sunday night he goes all in, high energy, full volume, showing CMC both sides of what he’s capable of.

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KOE WETZEL / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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Koe Wetzel introduces himself & says “we just came out of a garage back in Texas”, & I believe it. These songs are heavy on grungy rock guitar, if I wasn’t at a country show I’d be surprised Koe Wetzel is a country artist. He would be just as at home on the 90’s rock chart.

When latest album Nine Lives was released about 6 months ago it changed his life.

Koe apologises that jet lag has affected his voice, but from where I’m sitting it sounds like his vocals are buried by the drums. It’s still an incredible set, with the last 6 songs all Gold & Platinum hits. Sweet Dreams, Drunk Driving, February 28 2016, Damn Near Normal, & Something To Talk About have the crowd singing every word.

“Thank you so much for listening to our shitty Texas music it’s been an honour, it’s been a blessing, I want to live here!”

He begins High Road, the duet with Jessie Murph, then stops to let the crowd sing the first chorus alone. It’s a real moment to hear words carry through the night.

Jon Pardi

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JON PARDI / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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There is a wall of people trying to move to the front before tonight’s headliner Jon Pardi starts,  surely there’s no more room for them?!

Somehow they squeeze together, & the fireworks as Hard Knocks begins show why everyone was eager to be close to the stage.

There’s a longer break than expected while they deal with guitar issues but it’s only a moment before the show continues.

With just over a decade of releases to draw from, we hear singles from 5 albums, including the upcoming Honkytonk Hollywood released next month, & Jon gives a little introduction to each song.

Jon Pardi looks 90’s country in his big cowboy hat & long sleeve button up, his voice has a country twang, & though fiddle & banjo are expected Tequila Little Time even has some piano accordion.

What I Can’t Put Down is emphasised by bursts of fireballs & Jon takes a moment to say “Thankyou Australia it’s been a helluva week….Thanks for being rowdy and tough”, before a spray of fireworks accompanies Mr Saturday Night, immediately followed by MORE fireballs on Your Heart Or Mine. With so many stage theatrics already it’s hard to imagine what the finale will bring.

Friday Night Heartbreaker from the upcoming album is the rockiest guitar riff we’ve heard so far, an indicator of what’s to come on the rock album Jon’s always wanted to do.

6 songs later, as I walk to the car there are still more #1’s to come, surely delivered with fireballs.

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JON PARDI / Photo – @tamcamimages_

Check out Tam Schilling’s (@tamcamimages_) full gallery of Day Two HERE

CODY JOHNSON / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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DAY THREE

At last there’s relief from the unrelenting sun! The cloud cover & cool breeze mean people are here early to take their seats & fill the section in front of the stages.  By the time Zach Top is on tonight the site is the busiest it’s been all weekend. There’s no way of getting around except for sticking to the paths, & even those are crowded with 2 way traffic.

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KEZIA GILL / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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British singer songwriter Kezia Gill bursts onto the Stampede Stage with latest single Misfit.

Her big raspy voice delivers a set of bluesy rock with the kind of energy & confidence that comes with her talent & years of experience.

Thirties & Sweet Spot make me chuckle, they’re so relatable this weekend, with lines about being unable to recover as quickly as your twenties, & feelin’ the sweat dripping offa ya body!

Todays’ Songwriter Sessions see Amy Sheppard, Avery Anna & Wyatt Flores share intimate stories about losses in their lives that even leave the panel in tears, but I’m going to share Larry Fleets’ story.  He wrote Working Man after work one day. A buddy recorded it on the computer in his basement for $30. Another buddy said I’ve got a new camera if you want to shoot a music video? So they spent $30 on cinder blocks & fake smoke in a can, & all in all he’s got $60 bucks in this song that kick started his whole music career!

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LANE PITTMAN / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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This is Lane Pittman’s 3rd consecutive year performing at CMC.

With his mature voice, loud country rock, & gentle ballads, he’s going to have an enduring career in Australian country music. His sense of humour is on display with a cheesy pic of his face on the drum, & a cover of Wheatus’ Teenage Dirtbag.

He dedicates Who They Were to his family, who are in the crowd today, & Universe, to his partner.  We hear a couple of new songs Lane wrote in Nashville; Right Now, & Back To My Boots, which he’s nervous to play because it means a lot to him.  No doubt it will be something he’s singing for fans for years to come, just like the anthemic  Amen For The Weekend.

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CARTER FAITH / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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Carter Faith’s sweet feminine voice reminds me of Dolly, & her flowing brown chiffon top is glamorous. Her put together look & summery voice disguise a cheeky spirit,  revealed on first track Smoke Too Soon. This is a fun set full of songs venting about dating & being crazy, & her cover of Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain ties into those themes.

She makes a genuine connection with the crowd, dedicating a few songs to people she met in the signing line earlier, & making everyone cry when she jumps down to the barrier to perform Strong Stuff with young fan Toby.  Greener Pastures is the song that got her a songwriting deal, & we watch girls singing along to every word on the big screen, before finishing up on Grudge.

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AVERY ANNA / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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Avery Anna makes her entrance to the big guitar intro of Blame It On My Broken Heart, & her black leather dress adds to the pop/rock vibes.

Songs like Mr Predictable, Narcissist, & Vanilla have important lyrics about emotionally abusive relationships that she hopes make her listeners feel they’re not alone. Honey & I’m Just Blonde are about being underestimated, & the Sam Barber duet Indigo is about losing your spark,  but Avery’s not angry or sad, she’s confident!  These songs are wrapped up in beautiful melodies & powerful guitar riffs. There are covers scattered throughout her set too,  but she’s caught by surprise to see that people are singing along to her own songs already anyway.

Zach Top embodies classic 90’s country, with the Alan Jackson hat & moustache to match.

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ZACH TOP / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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If the name of his debut album Cold Beer & Country Music isn’t clear enough, the guitar, fiddles & twang in his voice leave no doubt where his passion lies. Zach proves there’s still a place for traditional country, & it’s a great sound to sink into the evening with.

He almost plays Cold Beer & Country Music in full!

Debut single Sounds Like The Radio, Justa Jonesin’ & a cover of Merle Haggards’ Ramblin’ Fever round out the set.

He says “I grew up wanting to play & sing to a handful of ppl in my hometown, that’s all I ever wanted to do, to think I can play half way across the world in a different hemisphere blows my mind!”   After he does a shoey Zach proves he’s traditional all the way, taking his hat off in salute to leave the stage.

The lights over the Stampede stage flash in time to a beat designed to build anticipation.. Just as it seems it couldn’t get any faster Cole Swindell takes the stage with Flatliner & the crowd roars.

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COLE SWINDELL / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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It’s the first of 8 #1 singles in this 12 song show. The pace stays high for the first 3 songs, then slows to a couple of ballads, & Cole says “This is the very definition of being in the middle of a memory!”

He takes us down memory lane with a medley of songs he wrote for other artists: Luke Bryan’s – Roller Coaster /his first #1 as a songwriter, Thomas Rhett’s – Gotta Get This / This is how we roll – Florida Georgia Line

He’s lit up like a rock star in a silhouette on the big screen to sing his first ever single, Chillin It.

The crowd light up their phones for You Should Be Here, & Cole says “This could be one of the biggest moments of our career….Thank you for that moment, I will never forget that”

The big screen lets Lainey Wilson take part in their duet Never Say Never, before a medley of 90’s hits to warm the crowd up for Cody Johnson.

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CODY JOHNSON / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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He saves Heads Carolina, Tails California for last & the crowd is still screaming. They cheer him on when he pours 2 boots for shoeys, says this is gonna be bad, drinks them anyway, signs the boots & throws them into the audience.

Our 2 headline artists are currently touring Australia on Cody Johnsons’ Leather Tour.

There’s audio of a radio dial spinning through songs about Texas. When it tunes into the intro to That’s Texas Cody Johnson comes out swinging t-shirts into the crowd, & the show takes off into almost 20 songs. This guy is a country superstar. He plays with the twang in his voice to hit high notes & performs theatrical shoulder shakes to emphasise his words.

He pauses before Dear Rodeo to say “ I spent the last 2 days team ropin’ in Singleton, so today I slept all day preparing for the show – I had NO IDEA that when I showed up tonight there was gonna be 30 000 country fans waiting on us!”

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CODY JOHNSON / Photo – @tamcamimages_

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The show moves through a few more singles, then the pace swings like whiplash from the moody Human, to the speedy banjo picking bluegrass song Georgia Peaches.

It was a lead up to this moment;  The big screen shows him wreathed in smoke & white light, looking down so his hat covers his face, as a lone guitar plays the intro to The Fall.

A couple of songs later & the backdrop reveals Carrie Underwood to take part in their duet I’m Gonna Love You.

After introducing the band they play the #1 hits Dirt Cheap, The Painter, & ‘Til You Can’t.

The crowd explodes as Cody holds his hat in his hand & his guitar over his head to leave the stage. The crowd chants for more, & the lights flicker, & flicker…& the band return for an encore of The Chicks’ Travellin’ Soldier, & Diamond In My Pocket.

The traditional closing fireworks of CMC Rocks light the sky the moment Cody Johnson leaves the stage.

Dates for next years’ event were announced Sunday, so hold the dates for March 20 – 22, 2026

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CODY JOHNSON / Photo – @tamcamimages_

Check out Tam Schilling’s (@tamcamimages_) full gallery of Day Three HERE

Follow CMC ROCKS
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Tiktok

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Press Release 16th September 2024 (below) HERE

CMC ROCKS QLD
sells out yet again! ​

18th Anniversary Event
headlined by
CODY JOHNSON (USA),
JON PARDI (USA) &
THOMAS RHETT (USA)

FRIDAY 21 – SUNDAY 23 MARCH 2025 AT WILLOWBANK

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AMNPLIFY – DB