Some great musicians perform their work with an inspiring level of skill and creativity, while others engage with the crowd, fostering a powerfully intimate environment. Australian country superstar and P&O Cruises 2022 People’s Choice Award winner Travis Collins belongs to a rarer breed of artists who can do both, his electric stage presence is complemented by a world-class band who expertly stop and start their instruments involving the chants of adoring fans in a sonic spectacle.
Bringing his infectiously bright energy and winning the hearts of fans at Groundwater Country Music Festival (CMF), Travis Collins now follows in the footsteps of country music elites Casey Barnes and The Wolf Brothers who have also been honoured as P&O People’s Choice Award winners.
From October 28-30, Broadbeach on the Gold Coast erupted into a country music party like no other with 50 international and homegrown country artists performing on the Groundwater CMF stages. The festival produced by Major Events Gold Coast, along with its Support Partner P&O Cruises Australia, invited the massive crowd of country music lovers who attended Groundwater CMF to vote and share their love for their favourite artist across the festival. With a stellar lineup including the likes of SEAFORTH, ANDREW FARRISS, GINA JEFFREYS, KAYLEE BELL (NZ), TAMI NEILSON (NZ), JAYNE DENHAM, DAN DAVIDSON (CAN) and FANNY LUMSDEN, it was anyone’s guess who would win the P&O People’s Choice Award.
“The P&O People’s Choice Award has become a really popular part of the Groundwater CMF experience and this year we had thousands of entries, which was terrific,” said Festival Director Mark Duckworth.
“Travis Collins is a deserving winner and was an absolute highlight of this year’s program plus one of Australia’s most loved country music artists with eight Golden Guitar Awards to his name,” said Mark. “We had so many incredible artists at Groundwater CMF this year so it would have been a tough call to choose a favourite!”
Eight-time Golden Guitar winner Travis Collins has become one of Australia’s most cherished country music artists. Last year Travis won the coveted Golden Guitar for Male Artist of the Year. His uncanny ability to nail both heartfelt ballads and up-tempo tunes has earned him mainstay status in the global music scene and now the P&O 2022 People’s Choice Award. One very lucky voter has also won themselves a three-night cruise for two, in an Oceanview room on board a P&O Country Music Cruise in 2023 (departing Sydney or Brisbane).
Partnerships Manager, Chris Rich said P&O was proud to partner with Groundwater CMF to present the People’s Choice Award to Travis Collins.
“Travis is an incredible performer and his stellar set on the Friday night of the festival must have really hit the right chord with the fans,” said Chris. “Congratulations Travis from everyone at P&O Cruises.”
“It’s wonderful for festival fans to be able to have a say on their most-loved act. We are sure the lucky winning voter will have a fantastic time aboard our Country Cruise.’
