Strummingbird Festival Confirms 2027 Return Following Successful Second Year

Kicks Entertainment's Strummingbird Festival will return in 2027, following a second edition that attracted tens of thousands of country music fans across Ballarat, Newcastle and the Sunshine Coast.

While dates, locations and a lineup for 2027 have yet to be announced, organisers have confirmed the festival will be back for a third year, with further details expected in the coming months.

The festival wrapped up its 2026 run over the weekend, bringing some of country music's biggest international names and homegrown favourites to Ballarat, Newcastle and the Sunshine Coast.

This year's lineup was led Tyler Childers and Sam Barber, alongside Bailey Zimmerman, Cooper Alan, Stella Lefty, Dexter & The Moonrocks, Kaitlin Butts, James Johnston and more than 20 other acts. The festival kicked off in Ballarat, making its debut at Victoria Park with a weekend of live performances, line-dancing and country-themed festivities.

Among the highlights, Zimmerman and Lefty gave fans a first taste of their unreleased collaboration, "My Kinda Love", while Johnston made a surprise appearance during Madison Glover's line-dancing session to join in on his own track, "ONE MORE". Cooper Alan also delivered a crowd-pleasing cover of Kylie Minogue.

The following weekend, Strummingbird returned to Newcastle's Foreshore Park, where Brad Cox, Briana Dinsdale, Loren Ryan and Cigarettes @ Sunset were among the performers. Johnston also helped one couple mark a special moment, inviting them onstage for a proposal during his set.

The festival's final stop on the Sunshine Coast brought another round of standout performances, including Lefty's cover of Miley Cyrus' "The Climb", a set from Oklahoma singer-songwriter Kaitlin Butts, and appearances from Sydney's Sons Of The East and Dexter & The Moonrocks.

Zimmerman also delivered a high-energy performance before Childers and his band The Food Stamps closed out the festival with a set spanning Appalachian country, bluegrass and gospel influences. The Kentucky singer finished with fan favourite "All Your'n", which was performed exclusively at the Sunshine Coast event.

Beyond the live music, Strummingbird continued to build on its festival experience with line-dancing, karaoke, pop-up bars and other activities across the three locations.

Further announcements regarding Strummingbird 2027, including its lineup and ticketing details, are expected to be shared through the festival's official channels.

From Rolling Stone AU/NZ