Andrew Farriss, Melanie Dyer, Allan Caswell, Dan Davidson, Tori Forsyth and The Pigs are among more than 30 artists added to the 2026 Groundwater Country Music Festival programme.
by Paul Cashmere
Groundwater Country Music Festival has expanded its 2026 programme with more than 30 additional artists, bringing Andrew Farriss, Melanie Dyer, Allan Caswell, Dan Davidson, Tori Forsyth and The Pigs into a three-day Gold Coast programme featuring more than 60 artists across Broadbeach from 16 to 18 October.
The latest additions broaden a festival already built around Australian country music, with Farriss providing one of the more unexpected connections. The INXS co-founder and songwriter will perform at The Star Gold Coast on Sunday 18 October, bringing a catalogue shaped by more than four decades of songwriting into the country festival setting.
“I’m really looking forward to being part of Groundwater Country Music Festival,” Farriss said.
“It’s wonderful to see an Australian festival continuing to support country music and bring artists and audiences together, and I’m looking forward to getting up there and sharing some of my songs with everyone.”
The new additions also strengthen Groundwater’s Australian country contingent. Eight-time Golden Guitar winner Allan Caswell joins the programme, alongside three-time Golden Guitar nominee Melanie Dyer, who will open the festival at the Kurrawa Big Top on Friday.
Canadian country artist Dan Davidson is among the international additions, while The Pigs will bring their bluegrass approach to Australian rock, pop and country material. Tori Forsyth, Hayley Jensen, Andrew Swift, Lane Pittman, Kingswood, Tyla Rodrigues and Henry Wagons are also included across the weekend.
The expanded programme gives Groundwater a wide spread of established performers, independent artists and emerging acts. Other additions include Bo’Ness Brothers, Beau Shearer, Beth Lucas, The Bures Band, Paper Daisies, Jake Penrod, Pete Denahy & The Surreal McCoys, Sterling Drake, Jarrad Wrigley, Jake Whittaker, Josh Stumpf, Dear Tommie, Midnight Chicken, Nathan Lamont and Josie.
Friday’s programme includes Midnight Chicken, Josh Stumpf, Henry Wagons, Lane Pittman and James Blundell at the Kurrawa Big Top, with Hayley Jensen, Dan Davidson and Beccy Cole appearing around Surf Parade.
Saturday brings Kaylee Bell, Tyla Rodrigues, Andrew Swift and Denvah to Surf Parade, while The Pigs and Austin Mackay feature at the Kurrawa Big Top before The Wolfe Brothers close the stage.
Sunday’s programme includes Kasey Chambers on Surf Parade, while The Bures Band, Tori Forsyth and Kingswood are among the performers at the Kurrawa Big Top. Farriss’ appearance at The Star adds another venue to the festival’s spread across Broadbeach.
Groundwater is structured less like a conventional single-site festival than a music precinct takeover, with performances extending through bars, restaurants and other local venues. The format allows audiences to move between larger stages and smaller performances throughout the Broadbeach area.
The 2026 programme also includes Country Calling, presented by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Office. Nathan Lamont, Joey Leigh Wagtail and Georgia Corowa will take part in the songwriter-round format, sharing songs and stories in a setting inspired by Nashville’s Bluebird Café.
Beachside Line Dancing with Chris Watson, DJ Colonel’s Country Music Cottage and Bluegrass Breakfast are also returning as part of the wider festival programme.
Now in its 13th year, Groundwater Country Music Festival will run from Friday 16 October to Sunday 18 October 2026. The festival is produced by Experience Gold Coast, with performances spread across Broadbeach and its surrounding venues.
With the additional names now announced, the 2026 programme brings together country performers, rock musicians, songwriters and artists from outside the traditional country circuit, with Farriss’ appearance providing one of the clearest examples of the festival’s broad musical reach.
Groundwater Country Music Festival 2026
Friday 16 October, Gold Coast, Broadbeach
Saturday 17 October, Gold Coast, Broadbeach
Sunday 18 October, Gold Coast, Broadbeach
Stay updated with your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here
Be the first to see NOISE11.com’s newest interviews and special features on YouTube. See things first-Subscribe to Noise11 on YouTube
Follow Noise11.com on social media:
Facebook – Comment on the news of the day
