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After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, thousands of country music lovers flocked to Broadbeach on the Gold Coast and were blessed with blue skies and a golden line-up of country stars in the long-awaited return of Groundwater Country Music Festival (CMF).
Over three unforgettable action-packed days, Groundwater CMF brought country back to the coast with a vengeance! With an overload of creative energy, more than 45 home-grown Aussie artists wowed festival-goers and filled the parks and streets of Broadbeach with their infectious charm and country music virtuosity.
See the Groundwater CMF 2021 video here: youtu.be
And check out the festival images here: majoreventsgc.egnyte.com
From the perfect weather and sensational line-up to the smiles on the faces of country music lovers of all ages, Groundwater CMF was undeniably a raging success. Festival Director, Mark Duckworth, was thrilled with the outcome, particularly considering the myriad of challenges that festivals face to get off the ground in the first place.
“It was great to see Groundwater return to the Gold Coast and to be able to welcome back our country music family. For many artists, Groundwater is an opportunity to celebrate and share new music releases and chart successes from the year. Groundwater 2021 has been more important than ever for Australian country music as it’s been one of the few festivals remaining on the calendar,” he declared.
“We are hopeful to have seen over 35,000 visitors throughout Broadbeach over the weekend, with many loyal fans returning, plus many new fans who have come to experience a weekend of incredible live country music. We’re thrilled to announce that Groundwater CMF will be returning 28-30 October 2022!”
Groundwater CMF was a festival of firsts, with many artists who had been locked inside due to COVID finally afforded the opportunity to showcase their creative works to the outside world.
“I feel like a champion sportsman that’s had to sit on the side-line and wait for the past two years,” country legend Graeme Connors expressed. “Groundwater is the event to finally get me back out there doing what I love. There was so much pent-up energy, and it was emotional to come face to face with an audience again. Just incredible!”
Troy Cassar-Daly feeling it at Groundwater CMF 2021
Rising country-pop star Melanie Dyer shared a similar sentiment:
“While it’s been hard not being able to gig much over the last 18 months, I’ve really thrown myself back into writing for my next album. It was so awesome to sing my new single ‘Run Out Of Road’ for the first time with my band at Groundwater…and also play a few other unreleased songs that will be coming in the new year.”
With album releases, debut singles, and newly formed duets, excitement and love permeated Broadbeach, creating a terrific atmosphere. Highlights included awe-inspiring sets from Australian country superstars, Tassie duo The Wolfe Brothers (pictured below), and local legend Casey Barnes.
The Wolfe Brothers rockin’ out
“We bloody love this festival!” Tom from the Wolfe Brothers proclaimed. “We’ve had some of our best gigs at Groundwater. I love the fact that it’s free for the punters and I love that the city invests in live music and knows it’s going to bring people.”
Country and Americana artist Matt Ward played his new music for the first time to a delighted crowd, just as his new album hit #1 on the Australian Country Charts and # 11 on the Australian charts.
Vocal powerhouse Natalie Pearson showcased her contemporary country sound for the first time with her new band, declaring:
“I’m just so thrilled to be back, and this is the first time I’m playing Groundwater as an individual artist with my band. I have so many memories and so much love for this festival so this is a dream come true.”
Country singer-songwriter icons James Blundell and Sara Storer (pictured below) performed on stage for the time as a duo, with a world premiere of their incredible new song ‘Sweet Dreams Way Out West,’ which is due to be released in January 2022.
Surprise duo James Blundell and Sara Storer
Groundwater CMF has been a platform for many artists and continues to celebrate the rapidly growing popularity of the Country genre as it merges into mainstream.
“I love what Groundwater does for the country industry as a whole by introducing a younger new generation of fans. Every time I play here I walk away with lifelong fans that had never heard of my music before. They’ve just got the model right.” Graeme Connors explained.
The whole Broadbeach precinct was abuzz with positive vibes, delighting festival-goers and local stakeholders alike. Major Events Gold Coast proudly produce and support a diverse portfolio of events, such as Groundwater CMF to help drive visitation and stimulate the Gold Coast economy and provide a significant economic injection to local businesses. Lincoln Testa who owns Madison’s Café in The Oasis said the weekend felt like the good old pre-covid days.
“It was such a great feeling to have our staff run off their feet for the three days. We were not quite sure what to expect but believe we’ll be close to reaching 2019 numbers which is fantastic. Hopefully this is a pre cursor to Christmas when borders open back up,” he said.
Chelsea Steber, the manager of Oracle Boulevard, agrees:
“Oracle Boulevard traders are impressed with this year’s event. Despite the absence of interstate visitors, Queenslander’s have turned out to soak up the atmosphere of Broadbeach, experience the world class live music and stage program, and enjoy great cuisine from some of the Gold Coast’s best restaurant’s offering Dine & Watch. Groundwater CMF provides the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the best Broadbeach has to offer.”
Country music will be coming back to the Gold Coast, 28-30th of October 2022.