Muster on Mary Brings Live Music, Energy and Entertainment to Town

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Gympie is getting a taste of the Muster before the first note is played in the forest, with Muster on Mary bringing live country music, emerging talent and the spirit of the Gympie Music Muster into the heart of the city.

Muster on Mary will take over Mary Street and Nelson Reserve on Friday, August 21.

Running from 12pm to 9pm, the free community event will feature buskers and Australian Institute of Country Music and The Campfire artists performing throughout Mary Street from midday, followed by a free concert at the Nelson Reserve Stage from 5pm featuring Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley, Those Folk, Linc Phelps and Jack Wilde.

The event is a collaboration between the Gympie Music Muster, Queensland Music Festivals, the Academy of Country Music, the Institute of Country Music and Gympie Regional Council, bringing the Muster experience into the city while creating opportunities for the community and local businesses to benefit from the influx of visitors.

Gympie Music Muster CEO Greg Cavanagh said Muster on Mary was an opportunity for the Muster to give back to Gympie while showcasing the next generation of country music talent.

“The Gympie Music Muster is part of Gympie and it’s important to us that we continue to give back to the community that has supported the Muster for so many years,” Greg said.

“Muster on Mary is a really good example of what can happen when a lot of different parties come together with the same goal.

“We’ve got Queensland Music Festivals, the Institute of Country Music, the Academy of Country Music, Gympie Regional Council and the Muster all working together, and we’re able to showcase some really good young talent as part of that.

“The Muster is one big family, and this is about bringing that family into Gympie and sharing it with the community.”

For local artist Linc Phelps, Muster on Mary also represents a return to the days when the Muster was embraced throughout the city.

“It’s basically a tradition that we’ve reignited,” Linc said.

Linc said businesses throughout Mary St used to decorate their shops with country themed displays and there would be entertainment in the street and shopping centres in the lead-up to the Muster.

“It’s a bloody great excuse to bring people to town,” Linc said.

“I just hope people get into the community, go and see some things and appreciate what Gympie has to offer outside of the Muster.”

Gympie Regional Council Mayor Glen Hartwig said Muster on Mary was an opportunity to encourage visitors to experience Gympie itself.

“Gympie is the heart of the region and having that sort of pre-Muster build-up in the heart of Gympie, where people can come and enjoy the music, enjoy the atmosphere and also support the local businesses, but be a part of a community event, is always a big thing to happen,” Glen said.

“Having people from the Muster coming into town and supporting the businesses just reaffirms the importance for our region, but also its value in what it delivers for the community,” he said.

Queensland Music Festivals CEO Daryl Raven said Muster on Mary had been created to bridge the gap between the Muster site and the Gympie community.

“We’re helping people discover the town of Gympie and also bringing people in those couple of days earlier who might get that bit of extra economic development and impact for the region,” Daryl said.

“The Muster gets more opportunities to promote what they’re doing out in the forest, the Musterers coming to town and the local community has something amazing on their calendar they can look forward to,” he said.

For those travelling to Gympie ahead of the Muster, camping is also available at Cooloola BMX on August 20 and 21, providing an opportunity to stay close to the city, enjoy Muster on Mary and explore Gympie before heading to the festival site. Camping is $30 per site and bookings are essential.