After a 12-month pause, Way Out West will return in 2021 to Winton in regional Queensland.
The music festival's 2020 event was rested by Winston Shire Council late last year after a review of the 2019 festival and factoring in a tough period for the local area dealing with drought and a declining population.Slated for the 2021 Easter school holidays, 8-11 April, Way Out West will also offer a number of new events in the lead up to the main weekend of celebrations.
The 2019 event featured a slew of country artists including US stars Brett Eldredge and Jon Pardi as well as the likes of Amy Shark, Lime Cordiale, San Cisco and Missy Higgins. Jessica Mauboy and The Living End headlined the inaugural event in 2018.
The first artist line-up is expected 12 October, with event tickets on sale the same day.
Way Out West also sees new event producers come onboard, with experienced Chandler Shaw Events (music industry veterans Jeff Chandler and Greg Shaw) now handling the event.
The pair have extensive experience having worked with or represented artists such as Keith Urban, Tommy Emmanuel, Lee Kernaghan and Troy Cassar-Daley. They've also worked on or been involved in numerous music events including Gympie Music Muster, Tamworth Country Music Festival, and recently The Concert For Joy – a tribute to legendary performer and songwriter, Joy McKean.
"Greg and I are delighted to be chosen by Winton Shire Council as producers of the Winton's Way Out West Fest," Jeff Chandler says.
"While the COVID-19 crisis has certainly presented some challenges to the festival and tourism industries, the silver lining is that Australians will be eager to explore the parts of their own country they are yet to visit, and the legendary Outback town of Winton will no doubt be high on their wish list."
Winton is already known as a unique location for a number of films and television series including 'Goldstone' (Jacki Weaver, David Wenham and David Gulpilil), 'The Proposition' (screenplay by Nick Cave and a cast that included Guy Pearce and Emily Watson) and recently, 'Total Control', an ABC TV series directed and starring Rachel Griffiths along with Deborah Mailman.
