Rain, hail or shine – country music fans won’t let a little rain get in the way of having a great time
This weekend some 20,000 fans have packed into Willowbank for the biggest country music festival in Australia. This comes after a 41 per cent increase in tickets sold for the 2018 event.
Again this year there are no tickets available for sale at the gate having been completely sold out in less than one day when they went on sale last October.
One of the younger generation of fans this weekend is Maddie Banks (pictured left) who travelled from Canberra to experience her first ever CMC Rocks with friend Meg Holding who also attended last year.
Top of their list of favourites to see was Thomas Rhett and both went on to say they were keen to see everyone.
“This is 100 per cent awesome,” Maddie Banks said.
Wayne Garner and partner Chelsea Mailman (above) made the journey from Goondiwindi to take in the event for the first time.
“We wanted to come to see all the artists especially Luke Combs,” Wayne Garner said.
Chelsea Mailman agreed that Luke was good and expected to have a great time.
“We got drenched last night in the camping area,” she said.
“But we’re ready to put our party hats on for the rest of the weekend.”
Kim Conquest, Greg Williams (centre), and Matt Williams from Grafton made this year the second time to attend CMC Rocks.
“The highlight for us is the music,” Greg Williams said.
“The atmosphere is good. We planned to come back again this year straight after coming last year.”
The family arrived on Wednesday night and chose the camping option with their caravan so they could be close to the action all weekend.
He said it was a better idea to get the campers in a day earlier than in previous years.
Kim Conquest said for her it was about seeing new acts.
“I’m here to see Luke Combs, he’s top of my list along with Thomas Rhett,” she said.
Early lineup at the merchandise tent lunchtime Friday (above) and music fans enjoying cooling mist fans at the Discover Ipswich tent.
CMC Rocks is promoted nationally and in North America by the festival partners.
The festival is recorded and broadcast via Foxtel’s Country Music Channel and affiliates.
CMC Rocks continues to grow with record crowds and delivers a benefit of more than $11 million to the Ipswich economy.
