After a boiling day, the night is perfectly balmy at CMC Rocks in Ipswich (17 March).
CAM is heating up the crowd with her heartbreaking storytelling mixed with a good time. Her guitarist starts the show with a furious solo."My friend's therapist said having a dream about a burning house means there's something in your life you can't control. Whatever this songs means to you, you hold onto it," CAM shares.
She sings 'Burning House' and stops mid-song: "You're gunna make me cry," she says. "This means so much."
CAM - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Bailey Zimmerman comes out via an intense guitar solo and crashing drums. The man who was fixing up utes fewer than two years ago looks right at home on the big stage.
"Don't be crazy baby," he sings as the crowd goes wild. "This was my first #1 in the US, so thank y'all so much for that," he then shares before 'Fall In Love'.
Zimmerman petitions the audience for a beer with his shoe aloft. It's the most excited we've ever seen an artist to do a shoey. He finally receives one and downs the shoey in one, swift gulp.
It's time for fresh Grammy winner Ashley McBryde to take the stage. 'El Dorado' features some impressive guitar and a catchy melody. This party is heating up.
McBryde rocks a black glittery shirt and pants. "Nothing takes the edge off like whiskey and country music," she sings and the crowd agrees. "Put your bra on," she sings as the crowd starts line dancing, then 'Martha Devine' draws "I love this one," from one patron.
Ashley McBryde - image supplied
McBryde plays a new song and the mandolin is played fluidly, before 'A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega' has the crowd swaying and singing loudly, as McBryde touches her heart. The night is turning out beautiful.
"This song was written in a Kentucky hotel room. It's not about cheating, but if you were about to cheat, it's probably the song to listen to," she says. She mixes 'Midnight Rider' with Stevie Wonder's 'Superstitious' and the result is ridiculously dancey.
Next up, Jordan Davis commences with a bass heavy rock riff. His voice is full and slick. "We're having a damn good time," he sings and we sure are. Somebody near the front gets engaged before Davis aptly sings 'Next Thing You Know'. He walks the line between upbeat and sentimental graciously.
Then, the showpiece comes out beginning with 'Homegrown'. Zac Brown Band are warm, infectious and inviting. 'Knee Deep' showcases Brown's clean guitar picking, while 'Keep Me In Mind' has the huge crowd singing.
They cover 'Devil Went Down To Georgia', which begins with an insane fiddle solo. The band unite together and stare angrily out at the audience. It's theatrical and memorable.
Zac Brown Band - image supplied
'Wild Palomino' taps into the depths of your heart before 'Toes' brings it right back up. 'As She's Walkin Away' is simultaneously joyous and sad, and you are taken by Brown's captivating storytelling.
They cover 'Paint It Black' with the fiddle taking the riff. The screen turns to white and black, it's ominous and punchy. The song features choral vocals and a telephone effect for the bridge.
Brown shares the story of climbing Mount Morning and the first thing the sun touched being his head, his inspiration for the song 'Free'. They cover 'Master Of Puppets' to rapturous applause, before 'Colder Weather' is deeply touching. A significant moment in time.
'Chicken Fried' crowns a wonderful set, and closes a day of laughs, heat and country heart. Thank God we have two more.
DAY TWO
It's another gloriously sweltering day for day two (18 March).Home Free belt out their a cappella country tunes, with their viral version of 'Ring Of Fire' aligning with the temperatures. The beat boxer takes a solo beginning with "in the Australian outback" before making a didgeridoo sound. He is very impressive, especially his bass which literally makes your body shake.
They end ceremoniously with a shoey, obviously from a cowboy boot.
Home Free - image © Clea-marie Thorne
The Grammy-nominated Hailey Whitters comes out raring to go, and the sluggish crowd is waking up.
"We got any rowdy country boys here today?" she asks. "I love rowdy country boys. They're the ones who taught me how to drink, how to fight, how to stick up for myself, how to kiss. Ain't no boys like the boys you grew up with."
"I should have more to show than a suitcase that smells like smoke," Whitters sings, encapsulating the tireless experience of the touring artist. Her 'Country Road' is well received accompanied by warm fiddle tones, before she signs a patron's cowgirl hat.
Corey Kent comes out in full force, his slick tone carrying over the crowd. "Every day above ground is a good day," he sings poignantly. "I see how it's gunna be Australia," he says as he crashes into 'Highways'. "Let's get rowdy!"
"I should quit smoking and drinking, but there's always next year," he sings, as the guitarist shreds. He plays 'Wild As Her'. Kent is energetic and charismatic, his songs instantly likeable. "Wild!" the audience screams, the most excited they've been all day.
Immediately, The Wolfe Brothers take to the adjoining stage entering to John Farnham's 'The Voice' which transitions into old news broadcast music. The Tasmanians launch into 'That Kinda Night' and the crowd is ready. Storm-cloud graphics flood the screen.
The Wolfe Brothers - image © Clea-marie Thorne
It's a perfect time to sample the copious food available. The smoked meats prove a treat, while over at the Tailgate Stage, karaoke backed by a full band is in full swing with a range of vocal abilities on display.
At the mainstage, CAM returns for her second night, and her lyrics and delivery are spellbinding. "I know there is a crowd of angels watching over each and every one of us. Some only in spirit," she says to introduce 'Village'. She also hops on the shoey train. 'Burning House' crowns the set, and it's beautiful.
The temperature is finally perfect, as Mitchell Tenpenny takes an Australian stage for the first time. The way his guitarist shreds you would think you were at a metal concert.
He mashes 'Stand By Me' with 'Every Breath You Take' and the result is lovely. "I know we don't have a future anymore, but damn we got history," he sings, and you suddenly remember all the festivals you've been to.
The obligatory shoey is performed prior to 'Alcohol You Later'. "Here's the deal with this last song," Tenpenny commences. "I know it's 2023 and everyone gets offended by everything. If my next song offends you, I want you to know from the bottom of my heart, I don't give a f...!" The crowd cheers. He ends with 'Bitches'.
Mitchell Tenpenny - image © Clea-marie Thorne
HARDY was pulled from the day and replaced by Bailey Zimmerman, who energetically rocks his moody country. His set has the crowd going off.
Randy Houser is furious and fast, before belting long, passionate notes. 'We Went' has the crowd belting right back. He dons a glistening red guitar and thrashes it, before taking a shoey from a boot with the tag still on it.
'Home Amongst The Gum Trees' is the sing-along of the night. The stage floods golden for 'Note To Self', and the atmosphere is warm and loving.
Kip Moore's signature voice rings out and time is lost. "Let's go crazy one more time," he sings and the crowd leaps up and down. He downs his shoey and hits The Angels' 'Am I Ever Gunna See Your Face Again' in stride.
He takes a swig from a large bottle of straight Jack Daniels and cheers the audience. 'Running For You' is touching, before the crowd goes crazy for 'Somethin Bout A Truck'. A perfect day, a perfect life, CMC Rocks is passing far too quickly.
DAY THREE
It's the final day of CMC Rocks, and we’re in for a big evening (19 March).ERNEST stokes the crowd aggressively, removing his shirt and setting the tone for a firecracker.
ERNEST - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Ashley McBryde is seamless and professional. She plays a rock-vibe track, even providing some scream vocals. 'The Boys Of Summer' cover wins over the massive crowd. "I don't care that I'm out of breath, this is the fitness level I'm working with," she jokes. "It's all spandex. Gotta keep the biscuits in the can."
The band are super tight and the songs are anthemic. Their 'Superstitious/Midnight Rider' cover gets the crowd moving, and we aren't ready for her to leave.
HARDY makes his debut appearance and it starts more like a hardcore set than a country one. He sings like a southern Nirvana. "I know you're tired, but I came here to get f...ed up. This is Australia, y'all!"
"I'm country as hell," he sings, raising his middle finger to the crowd, who seem to enjoy being flipped off. 'One Beer' brings up the party vibes, and it's feel-good all 'round.
'Wait In The Truck' features a video duet with Lainey Wilson, a song about defending a domestic violence victim.
HARDY - image © Clea-marie Thorne
"I bet you feel as passionate about being Australian, as I feel about being American," he says. "That's what makes the world go 'round. And I bet you got a place you call God's country,” he introduces the song of that name.
'The Mockingbird And The Crow' closes the set on a lower vibe, before erupting aggressively. Say what you want about HARDY, he is certainly memorable.
"We have some bad news," the MC says. "The bad news is. . . there is no bad news. We got Morgan Wallen coming up!"
'Broadway Girl' intros the set over the speakers, before Wallen makes his grand entrance via a drum solo and searing guitars. The stage has been rearranged to feature multiple screens, a visual highlight of the festival. The drums are set high above the stage and ramps run up and down. At the end of the first verse, fireworks and flames go off shocking the crowd.
'Up Down' is fun, and the crowd goes insane, the craziest of the whole festival. 'I Wrote The Book' has them singing to every word. "It's about to be a good damn night," he says.
Morgan Wallen - image © Clea-marie Thorne
'One Thing At A Time' is almost poppy and very danceable, as the stage streams green and gold. "I was going to write a song, and a real pretty girl in a truck pulled out in front of me," he shares. "I said, 'who is that' and my buddy said 'looks like somebody's problem to me'."
'7 Summers' is romantic and touching, before 'Silverado For Sale' drops to just voice and acoustic under the amber glow. Wallen takes to a piano bearing his name for 'Sand In My Boots'. "That sky looks perfect," he sings and the starry night looks pretty amazing right now.
"Please get your flashlights out and set the mood for this one," Wallen asks for 'Cover Me Up'. Tony on the slide guitar hits you right in the heart under a sea of blue.
HARDY joins the stage for 'He Went To Jared', and the rock vibe is back. It's riotous, as they drink shoeys together before HARDY departs. Wallen brings the vibe down to medium to close, and the crowd are satisfied, sunburnt and smiling.
HARDY and Morgan Wallen - image supplied
As CMC Rocks QLD dusts off another one, it contends for the most fun we'll have all year.
More photos from the festival.
