Project Description

CMC Rocks QLD

Day 2

@ Willowbank Raceway

16/03/19

(Live Review)

Reviewer: Tammy Whitelaw

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Day 2 rolls around, thankfully a lot drier, albeit a little muddy.  After surviving yesterday’s wild weather, I feel prepared for anything.

First up today is Jillian Jacqueline – the act I’m most excited to see on the line-up.  It may be her first time in Australia, but Jillian already has a connection to our fine country.  Her latest single If I Were You features our very own country superstar, Keith UrbanJillian absolutely dazzles with some of the catchiest tunes I’ve heard in a long time.  The song Hate Me is a heartbreaking tale of being in a loveless relationship, wishing for it to end.  After today’s set, I find it impossible to hate Jillian.  In fact, I’ve fallen in love with her.

One of the major highlights of the festival is the Songwriters Sessions at the Jack Daniel’s White Rabbit Saloon.  Each day, 4 different artists on the line-up get together in an intimate “in the round” setting to share the stories behind some of their songs, followed by an acoustic performance.  Today, the crowd is treated to Jim Lauderdale, Cam, Brandy Clark and Jillian Jacqueline.  Hearing some of these songs stripped back is a real treat. Brandy performing her song Mama’s Broken Heart (which was recorded by Miranda Lambert) had every woman in the crowd singing every word at the top of their lungs. Also hearing Cam talk about the very personal experience Burning House was written about was really something special.

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Jillian Jacqueline, Brandy Clark, Jim Lauderdale, Cam

Jillian Jacqueline, Brandy Clark, Jim Lauderdale and Cam // Photo – Tam Schilling

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The signing tent is another thing that stands out about the festival.  Most acts nowadays charge an exorbitant amount for meet and greets or “VIP” experiences.  Today, I watched many artists spend over an hour working through the line of fans waiting for a photo/autograph.  Not many festivals offer this, and I think its one of the many things that make CMC Rocks such a loved event.  The on-site retail team do an amazing job co-ordinating the crowds.  When you offer experiences like these, you create fans for life – for the artists and the festival itself.

Back over at the main stage, I finally get to catch Lindsay Ell and let me just say… woah!  Her performance leaves me speechless. This girl can shred!  There are definite hints of Keith Urban in her performance style.  Discovering artists like this, is why I love festivals.

With a very American heavy line-up, its nice to hear a familiar voice in the form of the nicest guy in Australian music, Mr Troy Cassar-DaleyTroy performs an energetic set of some of his biggest hits – V8 Town, River Boy and Born to Survive.  Towards the end of his set, Troy invites his beautiful wife Laurel out for a duet of the Johnny and June classic Jackson. Those classic country covers always go down a treat with the crowd.

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Lindsay Ell

Lindsay Ell // Photo – Tam Schilling

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Cam graces the Rebel Stage next.  She arrives like a big ray of sunshine on this overcast day.  The crowd immediately joins her in song for her new track DianeCam’s set is one of my favourites of the whole festival.  No One Gets to Heaven If Anyone Is Left Behind almost leaves me in tears.  Minutes later, I’m dancing to her mash-up of Miley Cyrus’ Nothing Breaks Like a Heart and Dolly Parton’s Jolene.

At the signing tent earlier in the day, I watched every girl walk away from Frankie Ballard with the biggest grin on their face.  Whatever he said to them made them feel like the most important person at the festival.  As he swaggers onto the stage like some modern-day Elvis Presley, his stage presence has the same effect on the crowd.  In his sexy, husky voice he performs Young and Crazy, Helluva Time and Sunshine and Whiskey.

Frankie recounts the request of a female fan from earlier in the day – “Frankie, please, oh please play Cigarette” to which he replied, “Anything for you, Baby”Frankie jumps down off the stage to interact with the fans at the front of the crowd.

“Someone grabbed my left butt cheek harder than it’s ever been grabbed before”.  “Australia you’ve left a mark on me and I loved every second of it”. 

It’s clear Frankie has left his mark on many Australian girls today too.

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Frankie Ballard

Frankie Ballard // Photo – Tam Schilling

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Tonight’s headliner Thomas Rhett takes to the stage in a ZZ Top t-shirt and a backwards cap. He’s so impressed by the Australian crowd, exclaiming “This is the coolest festival I’ve ever played. You guys are the most fun, rowdy crowd”. No surprise really, everyone is so excited to hear so many of these songs live for the first time including T-Shirt, Star of the Show and Life Changes. As the crowd starts to chant “Shoey! Shoey!” Thomas replies “Luke warned me about the Shoey” before removing his boot and downing his beer.

Thomas invites Cam back out for Craving You to sing the part of Maren Morris.  The band breaks into the Garth Brooks classic Low Places and the crowd goes crazy.  Thomas invites a fan up from the crowd to sing with him, who sadly flops – sorry Tim from Brisbane.  As the set draws to a close, Thomas asks the crowd to turn their phone lights on and delivers a magical performance of Die a Happy Man.

I’m sure there are many in the crowd who feel they could die happy after tonight’s performance.

 

Check out Tam Schilling’s Gallery of Day 1 HERE

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Check out Tam Schilling’s Gallery of Day 2 HERE

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Check out Tam Schilling’s Gallery of Day 3 HERE

 

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Thomas Rhett

Thomas Rhett // Photo – Tam Schilling

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