CMC Rocks QLD draws a record 20,000 crowd

In its 11th year, CMC Rocks QLD consolidated its claim as the southern hemisphere’s largest country and roots music festival by drawing a record audience last weekend.

In figures released this morning by promoters, crowd numbers reached 20,000 over Friday March 16, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18.

The festival expanded its capacity from 15,000 and the extra tickets sold out in record time.

Promoters commented, “What has become the most anticipated event on the country music calendar, CMC Rocks QLD is in a league of its own, providing the ultimate country music experience to music lovers from across the country and around the world.”

Festival first-timer Darius Rucker, former singer of Hootie & The Blowfish, fresh from selling out his Sydney and Melbourne sideshows, this week threw in a couple of Australian covers including Midnight Oil’s ‘Beds Are Burning’ and Men At Work’s ‘Overkill’.

America’s Kelsea Ballerini, Canada’s Dean Brody and Australia’s Travis Collins and Busby Marou drew capacity crowds at multiple festival sets.

Aussie Morgan Evans surprised fans on Saturday evening, joining his new wife Kelsea Ballerini on-stage during her headline set to perform ‘Dance With Me’, one of Evans’ as-yet unreleased tracks.

Brothers Osborne jumped up to jam with fellow American Randy Houser.

On Sunday evening, following a moving tribute to late CMC Rocks festival co-founder Rob Potts, US superstar Luke Bryan hit the stage to deliver the most anticipated performance of the weekend.

Along with his signature dance moves and catalogue-spanning set, he skilfully pulled out fan favourites ‘Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day’, ‘Country Girl’ and ‘Rain Is A Good Thing’ through to songs from his latest album What Makes You Country.

A spectacular fireworks display ended both his set and CMC Rocks.

“Four days of perfect weather, incredible performances and good vibes from beginning to end; what more could you ask for?” said festival director, Jeremy Dylan.

“Over the weekend, countless international stars said they were completely knocked out by the passion and love they felt from the CMC Rocks crowd.

“To bring the biggest stars in country music to the best festival crowd in Australia makes for a magical long weekend.

“We’re already hard at work to ensure that CMC Rocks 2019 is just as special”.

Festival co-founder Michael Chugg added “As a promoter, to be able to say I just went through a three-day festival without a single drama, without any stress, and with a three-day grin on my face sounds like total rubbish.

“But hey, it’s true!

“What an amazing weekend. We had sunshine, 20,000 happy people each day, and some of the best music in the world.

“International superstars were thanking us for asking them to play the festival, while Australian artists were blowing audiences away.

“Without a doubt, CMC Rocks QLD 2018 is the festival I will never forget. It’s a definite standout from the thousands of festivals I have promoted in my fifty-two years in the industry.”

CMC Rocks QLD is confirmed to remain at its current home at Willowbank for at least the next four years.

For the eleventh year running, CMC will televise CMC Rocks festival highlights, exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes action.

The action is on Foxtel’s Country Music Channel on Wednesday April 18 at 8pm.

The Queensland government supports CMC Rocks QLD through Tourism and Events Queensland as part of the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.