2024 MFSR BUSH FESTIVAL LIVE PERFORMERS
ANDREW SWIFT
With 3 ARIA #1 albums and 3 CMAA Golden Guitar Awards to his name – most recently Male Artist of the Year 2023 – Andrew Swift is one of Australia’s most discerning storytellers.
His debut album, ‘Call Out For The Cavalry’, earned him a whopping 4 Golden Guitar nominations in 2019 – not bad for an upstart – from which he took home gongs for Alt Country Album of the Year and New Talent of the Year.
His sophomore effort, ‘The Art of Letting Go’, came three years later, after a signing with ABC and a whirlwind of touring alongside some of the genre’s biggest names – The Wolfe Brothers, Catherine Britt and Shannon Noll, to name a few.
The new record became the 5th highest selling Australian Country Music album in 2021. Hits like ‘Head Full of Honey’ and ‘Say The Word’ spun light-hearted stories of courtship and calamity through a sonic lens that pushed the boundaries of the genre.
Swift’s latest album, ‘Lightning Strikes and Neon Nights’ – released on April 28, 2023 – is his most daring yet. Produced by the incomparable Matt Fell (Troy Cassar-Daley, Fanny Lumsden), it mixes Swift’s signature grit with retro soundscapes and contemporary rhythms.
Despite his meteoric ascent he’s immensely passionate about helping those following in his footsteps. It’s this same compassion that earned him the mantle of official ambassador for Gundagai’s Dog on the Tuckerbox.
Both a wayward vagabond and a sweetheart, his songs brood on gut-wrenching heartache and revel in limitless joy. He’s a master performer and one hell of a guy.
TAYLOR MOSS
Taylor Moss is a 27 year old proudly self funded independent Australian country pop artist.She was born in Ulladulla NSW, raised in Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and currently resides in Melbourne. Taylor has been passionate about Country music since her teens, frequently driving interstate to Country Music events and often sleeping in her car in order to follow her passion. The past two years has seen Taylor develop into one of the top female Australian Country performers, her most recent singles have all Charted in the country Radio Top 50 at #1,(Get It Girl) #5 (What Am I Gonna Do?) and #3 (Both) and she is currently one of the most streamed Artists in Australian Country, and her latest single ‘Country Proud’ currently has Taylor’s Monthly Spotify Listeners over 120,000 (Kasey Chambers is the only AustralianCountry Female performer currently beating Taylor in this crucial metric). Taylor’s production and song writing collaboration with M2 (Michael Paynter and Michael De Lorenzis) has spawned a fresh country pop sound that has started to crossover Taylor Moss songs into Main stream Top 40 Radio. She has put together a kick ass live show and her full band performances have been turning heads from Groundwater to Gympie to BIG SOUND. 2023 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for Taylor Moss with a nomination for Golden Guitars (Best New Talent), A nomination for Queensland Music Awards and anomination for an APRA AWARD. Taylor also graced Prime Time’ TV this year performing as featured Country Artist on Channel 7`s Farmer Wants A Wife TV show in April 2023.
ZAC & GEORGE
Meet Zac & George, two best mates from school who are on a mission to bring their country-inspired harmonies to the world stage. The Boys offer a blend of down-to-earth charm and a mischievous sense of humour, bringing energy and excitement to every stage they perform on.
Their journey towards stardom has been nothing short of remarkable. Straight out of school The Boys began writing music, before packing up their bags and heading to Nashville to link up with some of the industries best.
Since their first single release in 2022, they have had three top 10 Australian singles, millions of online streams and performed to tens of thousands of people. Their hit single ‘Call It A Day’ sat at the top of the Australian country music charts for 4 consecutive weeks.
With each hit being written to capture life’s experiences and heartfelt emotions, wrapped up in their unique harmonies, The Boys are bringing a new perspective to Australian country music.
Zac & George are here to stay, and their artistic journey promises to be an unforgettable adventure. So, come along, embrace the magic of their music, and embark on this exhilarating ride with them!
THE VIPER CREEK BAND
Introducing one of Australia’s favourite country-rock acts The Viper Creek Band. Since 2011, the Newcastle band have been extensively touring bringing seamless live performances, complimented with an exciting and evolving sound to their loyal following both nationally and internationally. The band has had many accomplishments with every release. This includes ARIA top 5 for theiralbum ‘Just Press Play’ (2018) with 4 top 10 radio singles. This later followed by an ARIA #1 on thecountry charts with their follow up album ‘Beautiful Destruction’ (2019) featuring the #1 hit single‘Green Light and fan favourite ‘Australian Girls’. A strong catalogue of releases accompanied by nominations for ‘Group or Duo of the Year’ in 2015, 2017, 2018 and the coveted ‘Oz Artist of the Year’ in 2018 through the fan voted CMC Awards, leaves little doubt The Viper Creek Band have a well established, loyal following. The Viper Creek Band were also finalists in ‘Group or Duo of the Year’ at the 2020 Golden Guitars. ‘People Drinkin’ Beer’ and ‘The Power of Music’ are the first tracks to be released as the band celebrates 10 years of making music with more music on the way.
DANNY PHEGAN
Danny Phegan shot to National and International attention as a finalist on the 2022 season of television talent show, The Voice. He joined team Keith Urban after the Aussie ex-pat was blown away by Danny’stalents, warm personality and sense of humour. The genuine country bloke hit the ground running following his TV appearances, releasing The Halfway Hotel in June 22, hitting the top of the iTunes Country Songs Charts, radio charts and grabbing the attention of country and mainstream music and news media. Danny is a man of many talents. He is a farmer, a horseman, a publican, a published author, a singer/songwriter, recording artist and family man. Danny has been entertaining crowds for 30 years with his blend of modern country/rock; chart topping originals and classic covers that are hand picked for the lyrics he has lived. He and his band are a hard-working outfit that can either get the big stages rocking, or the marquees laughing. The year ahead sees him booked for appearances from the Riverina to Weipa, Great Keppel Islandto Darwin and everywhere in between.
PETE DENAHY
Pete Denahy knew when he was 11 years old he wanted to be a country singer. He taught himself guitar, started writing songs and at 13 years old saw Slim Dusty in concert for the first time. Twelve years later he was in Slim’s band playing fiddle and doing a comedy spot on the show. While he has written some ridiculous comedy songs, he is no stranger to writing a heart wrencher, but he is fully aware that his songs about insects and toilet paper hold special places in the hearts of his fans. His latest record “She Loves Me To The Moon” is not a comedy release but a traditional country album featuring his own fiddle playing, twangy guitars and wailing pedal steel. Produced by Simon Johnson at Hillbilly Hut Studio, it includes fine playing by some of Australia’s best and a collection of new tracks penned with help from the Wolfe Brothers, Mike Carr, Bill Whyte and Evan Murphy. Pete is a five time Golden Guitar winner and is very happy to have won three of those for his fiddle playing-an instrument that has kept him in work for many years. As well as working as aside man and guest artist for Slim, he has done the same for Sara Storer, Troy Cassar-Daley and Lee Kernaghan. Pete takes two trips a year to Japan with Australian music fans to explore the blue grass and country scene there.
GARETH LEACH
Raised on the muddy banks of Echuca’s Murray River, as a songwriter he draws inspiration from the introspective and reflective lyrical concepts of his outlaw heroes, tinged with guitar-riff driven hooks that have remained in his blood since he was a young child growing up with a background in punk-rock. In other words Gareth writes, performs and delivers country music with attitude. That should be attitude with a big arse capital A.. Gareth, has received a 2024 Golden Guitar nomination for Bluegrass Recording of the Year for his brilliant single, Big Ole Feelings (written about his young son), with the Davidson Brothers, released through indie country label, RTC Records. His new album combines beautifully nuanced melodies with the honesty and rawness that his fans have come to expect…And they won’t be disappointed!
ZARA LINDEMANN
Zara Lindeman, grew up on an alpaca farm in Deniliquin, NSW.
The up-and-coming countrymusician stepped into the original country music scene with the release of her debutalternative country song ‘A Pony I Can Trust’, in November 2022. Zara has drawn inspiration from musicians such as Carrie Underwood, Kasey Chambers and Missy Higgins. Her debut and second single topped the iTunes Country Charts. ‘A Pony I Can Trust’ hit #3 on the AIR 100% Independent Single Chart. ‘She’s Back’ co-written and produced by country outlaw Gareth Leach, sat at #2 on the AMRAP Regional Charts. Her third release ‘Fallin’ for a Cowboy’ is a duet with friend and fellow CMAA Senior Academy of Country Music graduate Eloise Rayner. Zara and her band played main stage at Deni Ute Muster in 2023. Her up-beat set at MFSRBF gets underway on Friday night after the Rodeo-don’t miss the show!
THE SULLI-VANS
Led by award-winning singer-songwriter Kevin Sullivan, The Sulli-Vans are a family of multi-generational country artists renowned for their soul and breathtaking three-part harmonies. They perform original music, characterised by great Australian story telling and humour, along with coversof iconic country and contemporary songs. They won hearts around the country when they appeared on The Voice Generations, with Keith Urban remarking, “Your beautiful Australian spirit was so present and gorgeous”. Since 2021, they have travelled over 170,000 km in their custom-made, Sunland Sulli-Van caravan, playing over 270 show in regional communities and at major festivals across Australia. The Sulli-Vans have crafted an enrapturing country music show, establishing them as a unique and crowd-entertaining addition to festival line-ups throughout Australia. Kevin Sullivan is acclaimed by audiences for his diverse sound, taking you on an unforgettable journey from traditional Ballad’s, to anthems and toe tapping line dancing. Sullivan writes and performs songs that relate to people, places and culture of Australia, particularly the outback. The Sulli-Vans set the stage alight during the 2024 Tamworth Country Music Festival launching songs from the new Album ‘Threeways’. Don’t miss Kevin on the Singer Song writer Session or their iconic family show at the pre-show reenactment as they continue on their Sulli-Van tour
RORY PHILLIPS
Rory Phillips is an aspiring young guitarist/singer/songwriter who is a two-time graduate and now intern of the CMAA Academy of Country Music, an officially endorsed artist of Achillies Amps, Cole Clark and Buzz Box Guitars and the 2023 NSW Folk Federation Young Folk Artist of the Year. In 2019, Rory became the youngest ever member of iconic Australian band, The Bushwackers, joining them on lead guitar and bass, a testament to his ability as an accomplished musician. In 2023 he joined Sara Storer’s touring band on lead guitar at just 16-years-old and has been playing on festival stages for a decade. In 2022 his single ‘The Truth’ was named a finalist in the inaugural Environmental Music Prize alongside industry heavyweights such as Paul Kelly, Lime Cordiale, Briggs + Tim Minchin and Holy Holy, to name a few. His follow-up single, ‘Because Boys’, took an insightful look into the mental health struggles of young men and was chosen by the NSW Department of Education as the repertoire piece for their 2023 Boys’ Vocal Program, and was featured in the 2023 NSW Schools Spectacular, with Rory performing as a featured artist.
