After winning 'Australian Idol' earlier this month, Kesha Nevé will make her Gympie Music Muster debut this year.
The singer-songwriter from Jindabyne is excited to get amongst the trees and action at the Muster, and savour some of that "open-air, storytelling side of country music".
"I'm so excited, I'm telling everyone who has ears," Kesha says. "I've never actually been to Muster before, but I've heard nothing but good things. That open-air, storytelling side of country music, that's where I feel most at home. I honestly can't wait."
Kesha's Gympie Music Muster set will feature a mix of songs audiences already know, alongside new material as she begins to release original music.
"The show gave me the chance to tell stories through other people's songs, but now I'm ready to tell my own," she says.
"I've been doing music since I could talk. Dad bought me my first guitar when I learned how to use my hands. I did my first competition at about eight years old called Jindy Idol, so it's been a full-circle moment in a lot of ways."
The Snowy Mountains singer-songwriter had already caught the eye of the Muster crew before she won the television competition.
"We had recently booked Kesha to play and were already looking forward to having her make her Muster debut," Gympie Music Muster programming director Bec Anderson says.
"To see her take out the Idol crown was incredible and definitely icing on the cake."
Kesha is equally excited to mingle with the crowds and check out all the stages and artists the festival has to offer. She's even hinted she might breakout some boot-scooting moves.
"Half of my love for music is being in the crowd and watching other artists. I'll be out there, front and centre."
Kesha's addition follows a swag of other (mostly) Australian artists (36 in total) joining the 2026 bill earlier this month.
The new arrivals include country music and blues veterans like Travis Collins, Sue Ray, Steph Strings, Robbie Mortimer, Josh Setterfield, Kevin Borich Express, Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes, Catherine Britt and Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham.
"I've heard so much about the Muster over the years, and I'm absolutely thrilled to finally be joining the line-up," Steph Strings says.
"Most of my excitement comes from the fact that I get to wear my cowgirl boots at a country festival! I'm also so excited to finally bring my band to Gympie."
Party favourites Furnace & The Fundamentals bring serious energy to the forest, while Peking Duk's Reuben Styles' solo project Y.O.G.A. also adds to the party vibes. "I'm extremely excited to be coming back to Gympie this year," Reuben says.
"Heading over there in 2024 was a huge eye-opener, not just for what festivals are, but what they can be. It was the most incredible experience walking around and taking it all in. . . Gympie really feels like a festival for the people.
"The way it's laid out, the natural amphitheatre leading into the main stage, with the sunset behind it, everything about Gympie felt like paradise in festival form. We're bringing the cowtech, which I guess is short for cowboy techno, so it's going to be a really, really fun time."
Gympie Music Muster takes place at Amamoor Creek State Forest 27-30 August.
Gympie Music Muster 2026 Tour Dates
Ally Row
The Barleyshakes
Briana Dinsdale
Catherine Britt
Collard Greens & Gravy
Dee Jaye Bux
Denvah
Dingo
Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham
Furnace & The Fundamentals
Gretta Ziller
Jack Botts
Jen Mize & Jeremy Edwards
Jenny Mitchell
Josh Setterfield
Kesha Nevé
Kevin Borich Express
Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes
Lecia Louise
Liam Brew's 90s Country Party
Linc Phelps
Lyn Bowtell
Mack Geiger
Mason Rack Band
The Mitchell Twins
Murphy's Pigs
The Pleasures
Robbie Mortimer
Rock 'n' Roll Boys
Ruby Shay & The Red Horse
Smoke Stack Rhino
Steph Strings
Sue Ray
Tate Cole
Travis Collins
Wes Carr
Y.O.G.A.
They join:
Adam Eckersley Band
Amber Lawrence
Beccy Cole
Bo'Ness Brothers
Brett Wood
Brewn
Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley
Brooke Schubert
Cass Eager
Chase the Sun
Claudia Tripp
Graeme Connors
Jake Whittaker
James Blundell
James Johnston
Lane Pittman
Larry Fleet
Lee Kernaghan
Luke Geiger
Marshall & The Fro
Max Jackson
Nathan Cavaleri
PETRIC
Pierce Brothers
Route 33
Sara Berki
Taylor Moss
The Pigs
The Vibrolators
The Wolfe Brothers
Tori Darke
Zac & George
