To be headlined by Australia's Queen of Country, Kasey Chambers, the Slim Dusty Kempsey Festival features a new date and location in 2020.
The festival will now take place on the beautiful grounds in front of the Slim Dusty Centre in Slim's home town of Kempsey (NSW) on 3-6 Septyember. "I am thrilled to be part of the Slim Dusty [Kempsey] Festival in September," Chambers says."Of course, my roots are in country and Slim and Joy [McKean] have been a true inspiration since I was a kid. So to be performing on the festival, and at the iconic Slim Dusty Centre, is a real honour."
A cultural icon of Australia who has amassed an unequalled 37 Golden Guitar awards and won the hearts of generations of Aussies with his bush ballad 'A Pub With No Beer' (not to mention 105 album releases; yes, 105 – that is not a typo), Slim Dusty is a certified dead-set legend of Oz.
Slim Dusty in Tamworth circa 1970s - image via Facebook
Singer-songwriter (as well as TV and radio presenter), Felicity Urquhart – who has opened for Willie Nelson and toured with Kenny Rogers – also joins the bill. As does five-time Golden Guitar finalist and one of the leading forces of today's crop of balladeers Tom Maxwell, as well as triple Golden Guitar winners The Bushwackers.
Then there is Luke O'Shea, the only Australian artist (aside from Slim himself) to win three consecutive Golden Guitar Awards for Heritage Song Of The Year. Adding to the home-grown talent is Brad Butcher, who has been crafting a large fan base since winning New Talent Of The Year at the 2018 Golden Guitar Awards.
"We are delighted that the festival, which is now in its 15th year, is returning with a format and line-up that is sure to appeal to music fans far and wide," Chairman of the Slim Dusty Centre, Dr. David Kirkpatrick says.
"We are also mindful that the event will not be moving away from the ethos of the original festival or ignoring its roots – a celebration of the music of one of our quintessential and most loved Australians, Slim Dusty."
2020 Slim Dusty Kempsey Festival takes place at Slim Dusty Centre (Kempsey, NSW) 3-6 September. Tickets go on sale in March. Click here for more information.
2020 Slim Dusty Kempsey Festival Line-up
Kasey ChambersFelicity Urquhart
Tom Maxwell
Luke O'Shea
Pete Denahy
Anne Kirkpatrick
Brad Butcher
The Bushwackers
David Kirkpatrick
Travelling Still
The Songs Of Slim Dusty
Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters
Brian Letton
Anita Ree
Plus songwriter workshops
