Music News
Modern Country Festival Strummingbird Announces Huge 2026 Lineup
Australia’s largest touring country festival Strummingbird returns with another crackin’ lineup for 2026, and Grammy-nominated, genre-defying megastar Post Malone is leading the charge. Rolling into Victoria Park Ballarat, Newcastle Foreshore and Sunshine Coast’s Kawana Sports Precinct this October, the stacked lineup spans international heavyweights, alt-country stars, country legends and homegrown favourites worth road-tripping for. If Post Malone’s last visit down under is anything to go by, these tickets won’t last long. Fans wanting to experience Strummingbird 2026 should act now and sign up for the presale for the best chance at tickets.
Three years on from his sold-out Spilt Milk run, Post Malone returns to Australia, and this time, he’s bringing country with him. Malone has spent over a decade racking up record-breaking hits, five American Music Awards and a fanbase that spans every corner of the globe. His star-studded Nashville-style record F-1 Trillion earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album and united legends like Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson and Strummingbird’s alumni Jelly Roll on a single project. That’s without mentioning a back catalogue packed with undeniable solo hits like “Sunflower”, “Rockstar” and “Circles”.
Joining Post Malone is multi-platinum American country artist Bailey Zimmerman – one of the genre’s fastest rising stars. Known for his chart-topping hits and gritty sound, his breakout debut Religiously. The Album. went viral on the back of hits like “Fall In Love”, “Rock and a Hard Place”, “Religiously” and “Where It Ends” before 2025’s Different Night Same Rodeo – featuring a standout collaboration with Luke Combs – cemented his place at the top table. Most recently, his cover of Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb” at Stagecoach stopped the internet in its tracks.
Strummo fans can rev up for rowdy sing-alongs, fearless showmanship and all the unfiltered authenticity of North Carolina musician Cooper Alan. Since his beginnings in cover bands and Nashville honky-tonks, Alan has soared in popularity with his balance of reflective lyrics, witty humour and unique genre blends on anthems like “Plead The Fifth” and “Take Forever (Hally’s Song)”. Two acts currently climbing the Billboard Top 100 make the bill even harder to ignore. LA-based country superstar Stella Lefty is set to deliver a blissed-out performance with feel-good hits like “Boston” and “Thinking ‘bout You” in tow, while Texan outfit Dexter & The Moonrocks bring their self-coined Western Space Grunge to the bill, all DIY grit and rock-driven firepower.
Homegrown hero Brad Cox needs little introduction – from fan-favourite “Lake House”, to acclaimed single “Give Me Tonight” and his heartland rock pivot on Endemic Intelligence in Multiple Dimensions. Highly sought-after, Beyoncé’s COWBOY CARTER songwriter Cam brings her beautiful vocals and introspective blend of folk, country and pop, including Grammy-nominated album All Things Light, while US outfit Cigarettes @ Sunset are set to serve up their signature ‘Possum Rock’ – raw, soulful Americana with an Appalachian edge. CMT’s Next Women of Country Class of 2025 alumna Kaitlin Butts is ready to sling her soulful voice and theatrical storytelling and rising Californian Noah Rinker arrives with intimate, dusky acoustic anthems. Fresh off 750 million streams and global stages, Sydney’s Sons of the East will bring their beloved blend of blues, classic country, soul and folk back where it belongs. Brisbane native and 2026 Countrytown Breakthrough Artist of the Year nominee Briana Dinsdale joins the lineup, along with Central Queensland cattle station turned global sensation Mack Geiger. Back-to-back CMAA Female Artist of the Year Max Jackson is primed and ready to prove exactly why she’s taken the title twice, running with her electrifying live performance. The earthy presence of Sara Berki will transport crowds to serene outback plains, and bootscootin’ will be guaranteed when country DJ Willie Pake takes the stage.
Each stop on the Strummingbird run brings a local artist along for the ride – repping the country flavours of their own backyard. Ballarat scores the rising folk-country and modern pop infusions of Lewis Love, Newcastle is treated to Gamilaraay artist Loren Ryan and her powerful blend of traditional language and modern acoustic songwriting, while the Sunshine Coast rounds out the tour with Sammy White, whose voice is fast becoming one of the most talked-about in modern Australian country. Keeping boots moving between sets across all three stops, Strummo legend, renowned performer and instructor Maddison Glover is back to lead the line dancing sessions that had crowds kicking up dust last year.
Keen for the full Strummingbird experience? Camping at Sunshine Coast and Ballarat is your best bet. Prefer to leave the driving to someone else? Buses from Melbourne to Ballarat have you covered. Keep your eyes peeled – camping and bus tickets go on sale later in May.
Sign up at strummingbird.com.au to access presale for a shot at lowest-priced tickets, payment plans available. Or you can skip the stress and guarantee yourself a ticket from 12pm AEST Wednesday 6 May with Moshtix Ticket Request, find out more here.
STRUMMINGBIRD FESTIVAL 2026
Presented by Kicks Entertainment
Saturday 10 October – Victoria Park, Ballarat, VIC / Wadawurrung
Saturday 17 October – Newcastle Foreshore, Newcastle, NSW / Awabakal
Sunday 18 October – Kawana Sports Precinct – Sunshine Coast, QLD / Kabi Kabi
LINEUP
POST MALONE
BAILEY ZIMMERMAN
COOPER ALAN
STELLA LEFTY, DEXTER & THE MOONROCKS
(A-Z) BRAD COX, CAM, CIGARETTES @ SUNSET, KAITLIN BUTTS, NOAH RINKER, SONS OF THE EAST
(A-Z) BRIANA DINSDALE, MACK GEIGER, MAX JACKSON
SARA BERKI, LATE NIGHT RIOT WITH WILLIE PAKE
LEWIS LOVE*, LOREN RYAN^, SAMMY WHITE+
& LINE DANCING WITH MADDISON GLOVER
*Ballarat, ^Newcastle +Sunshine Coast
Strummingbird is an all-ages event.
TICKETS
Wednesday 13 May 2026
10am: Sunshine Coast
11am: Newcastle
12pm: Ballarat
Thursday 14 May 2026
10am: All locations
Or lock in your ticket from 12pm Wednesday 6 May with Moshtix Ticket Request
Payment plans available from Wednesday 13 May through PayPal and Afterpay
Sign up for presale & ticket info at strummingbird.com.au
Music News
Kehlani Announces the Kehlani World Tour: North America
Today, 2x GRAMMY® Award winning R&B powerhouse Kehlani announced THE KEHLANI WORLD TOUR: North America. The 33-date tour, presented by Live Nation, is set to take over stages across North America.
THE KEHLANI WORLD TOUR kicks off in North America on August 6th in Minneapolis, MN at The Armory hitting major cities including Los Angeles, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Dallas, Atlanta, and more, before wrapping up on October 3rd in San Francisco, CA at Shoreline Amphitheatre. Special guests Durand Bernarr, Isaia Huron, TheARTI$t, and WASEEL will join as support on select North America dates.
Kehlani continues her standout 2026 as her self-titled album, Kehlani, released last month, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 with 69,000 equivalent album units earned – securing the biggest debut for an R&B album by a woman this year.
The project marks Kehlani’s fourth top 10 entry on the Billboard 200 and her third to land within the top 5. Across the charts, the album launches at #1 on the R&B Albums, #2 on Top Albums, #2 on Vinyl Albums, #5 on the Top Streaming Albums chart, and #5 on the Indie Stores Chart.
The album is powered by the massive success of “Folded,” which also earned Kehlani two GRAMMY® Awards this year for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song. “Folded” is also notably the longest-running #1 song in Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart history, topping the respectable chart for over 17 weeks and counting. The track continues to resonate globally, now cemented as one of her most impactful records with its 2x Platinum certification.
Kehlani marks her first full-length release since her 2024 mixtape, While We Wait 2, ushering in a new era for the artist. With continued chart dominance and cultural impact, Kehlani solidifies her position as one of the defining voices in modern R&B.
TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with an artist presale beginning on Wednesday, May 27, at 10 am local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale beginning on Friday, May 29 at 10 am local time at kehlaniworldtour.com.
Kehlani has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 per ticket will be contributed towards The Kehlani Fund by Live Nation. No portion of the purchase price is tax‑deductible. https://www.plus1.org/
KEHLANI WORLD TOUR DATES:
Thu Aug 6 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
Fri Aug 7 – Milwaukee, WI – Landmark Credit Union Live *
Sun Aug 9 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Mon Aug 10 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
Thu Aug 13 – Detroit, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
Fri Aug 14 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Sun Aug 16 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
Mon Aug 17 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
Wed Aug 19 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Fri Aug 21 – New York, NY – Barclays Center
Sun Aug 23 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
Wed Aug 26 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Thu Aug 27 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
Sat Aug 29 – Richmond, VA – Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront
Mon Aug 31 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Tue Sep 1 – Charlotte, NC – Trullant Amphitheater
Thu Sep 3 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre
Fri Sep 4 – Birmingham, AL – Coca-Cola Amphitheater
Tue Sep 8 – Nashville, TN – Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Thu Sep 10 – Miami, FL – iThink Financial Amphitheatre
Fri Sep 11 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sun Sep 13 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Tue Sep 15 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Wed Sep 16 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
Fri Sep 18 – Oklahoma City, OK – Zoo Amphitheatre
Sun Sep 20 – Albuquerque, NM – First Financial Credit Union Amphitheater
Mon Sep 21 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Wed Sep 23 – San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena
Thu Sep 24 – Inglewood, CA – Intuit Dome
Sat Sep 26 – Portland, OR – Theater of the Clouds
Sun Sep 27 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Tue Sep 29 – Vancouver, BC – Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre
Sat Oct 3 – San Francisco, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
*Without Durand Bernarr
Music News
The Chicks Announce Taking the Long Way 20th Anniversary Tour
Thirteen-time Grammy® Award winners The Chicks have announced their return to the road with the Taking the Long Way 20th Anniversary Tour in celebration of their record-breaking studio album Taking the Long Way. Kicking off at the Fox Theatre in Detroit on September 30, The Chicks will bring their powerhouse vocals and electrifying stage presence to intimate theatres across the U.S., honoring the enduring impact of the album that defined a generation, and celebrating the deep connection with their fans. The tour will make stops at major cities such as Chicago, New York City, Nashville, San Antonio, Austin, Seattle, and San Francisco, before wrapping with two nights in Hollywood, CA at Dolby Theatre on November 1 and 2.
Tickets will be available starting with an artist presale beginning on Wednesday, June 3 at 10 am local time. The general on sale begins on Thursday, June 4 at 10 am local time on Thechicks.com/tour.
To participate in The Chicks Artist Presale on Wednesday, June 3 at 10 am local time you must sign up at https://signup.livenation.com/thechicks by Sunday, May 31 at 11:59pm PT. No codes are needed – access is tied to your account, and anyone who signs up can join the sale.
The ‘Taking the Long Way Tour’ will serve as a triumphant victory lap to commemorate two decades of the critically acclaimed album that topped the Billboard 200 chart and earned The Chicks five Grammy® Awards, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. Long regarded as the Chicks’ defiant masterpiece, Taking the Long Way, originally released in 2006, solidified the band’s legacy as courageous disruptors. Widely regarded as one of the most influential albums of its era, the project showcased The Chicks at their most fearless and vulnerable, and lead single “Not Ready to Make Nice” remains an anthem of artistic freedom and personal autonomy 20 years later. It is the album we needed then, and the album we need even more so now. Throughout this run, the iconic trio will perform the groundbreaking album in its entirety for the first time, before closing each night with fan-favorite hits spanning their award-winning catalog.
The Chicks—Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, and Emily Strayer— continue to connect with audiences across generations with their tight harmonies, masterful musicianship, and powerful live performances. After a nearly 14-year hiatus, The Chicks released their fifth studio album Gaslighter in July 2020 via Columbia Records. The 12-track record was co-produced by award-winning singer-songwriter and producer Jack Antonoff and has been hailed as some of the band’s most uninhibited, modern, progressive, and original work to date, reaffirming their place as one of the most influential groups in music.
THE CHICKS – TAKING THE LONG WAY 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR DATES:
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
Saturday, October 3, 2026 Chicago, IL The Auditorium
Sunday, October 4, 2026 Chicago, IL The Auditorium
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 Washington, DC The Anthem
Monday, October 12, 2026 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
Thursday, October 15, 2026 Nashville, TN The Truth
Saturday, October 17, 2026 San Antonio, TX Majestic Theatre
Sunday, October 18, 2026 San Antonio, TX Majestic Theatre
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 Austin, TX Bass Concert Hall
Sunday, October 25, 2026 Seattle, WA Benaroya Hall
Monday, October 26,2026 Seattle, WA Benaroya Hall
Thursday, October 29, 2026 San Francisco, CA The Masonic
Friday, October 30, 2026 San Francisco, CA The Masonic
Sunday, November 1, 2026 Hollywood, CA Dolby Theatre
Monday, November 2, 2026 Hollywood, CA Dolby Theatre