The Bend Classic 2026

Performers

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  James Johnston

  'BLAME' out now everywhere - listen here - https://jamesjohnston.lnk.to/BlamePR

  STREAM | DOWNLOAD | BUY - https://bio.to/JamesJohnston

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  James Blundell

  Singer | Songwriter | Storyteller | Hemp Farmer

  
  

  James Blundell is arguably the most influential Australian male country artist of his generation. He stands alongside John Farnham and Jimmy Barnes as artists who occupy a perennial place in the Australian cultural psyche.

  In a glittering career now spanning 34 years, 14 studio albums, multiple CMAA Golden Guitar Awards, and inductions to the CMAA Roll of Reknown and the CMC Hall of Fame and the QMusic Lifetime Achievement Award. James has experienced the highs and the lows, the acclaim and the infamy, the beer and the bankruptcy, the jigsaw puzzle of love found, lost, and rediscovered.

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  Jo Page

  Soul-country-rock storyteller from South Australia with powerhouse vocals and desert grit. Blending rebellion & redemption through raw, heartfelt soundscapes.

  'She's a Bird' Out Now 🕊️

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  Lee Kernaghan

  Lee Kernaghan reinvigorated Australian Country Music in the 1990’s, synthesising traditional country themes with his own brand of rural rock and images of an evolving regional culture. Songs like The Outback Club, Boys from The Bush, Hat Town, She’s My Ute and Australian Boy are now modern day anthems for a generation of Australians living and working on the land.

  In 2015 Lee released the epic work, “Spirit of The Anzacs”, based on a collection of letters and diary records from Australian servicemen and women, some dating back to the landings at Gallipoli. On its release the album struck a chord with the Australian people holding the number 1 position on the Australian ARIA Album Chart for four consecutive weeks and was the highest selling album by an Australian artist (all genres) for 2015. All proceeds from the “Spirit Of The Anzacs” song and music video featuring music greats Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Shepherd, Shannon Noll, Jon Stevens and Megan Washington are donated in perpetuity to veteran support groups – Legacy Australia and Soldier On.

  Lee has sold over two and a half million albums in Australia with releases including Outback Club, Three Chain Road, 1959, Hat Town, Rules Of The Road, Electric Rodeo, New Bush, Ultimate Hits, Spirit Of The Bush, Planet Country, Beautiful Noise and Spirit Of The Anzacs all achieving platinum or multi-platinum status. Lee is a four-time ARIA award winning artist and in 2015 he was presented with the Australian Record Industry Award for Outstanding Achievement.

  Lee has achieved a staggering 38 #1 chart hit songs over his career and has been awarded 37 Golden Guitars. He has been named Hit Maker of the Decade, twice, in 2001 and 2011. This accolade is in recognition of Lee having more chart hits in Australia than any other country music artist in the world.

  Kernaghan is long-time and passionate supporter of rural and regional Australia. His Pass the Hat Around Australia Tours, Spirit of The Bush and Farmhand concerts have raised millions of dollars for drought, flood and bushfire relief, hospitals, schools, ambulance and volunteer organisations nation-wide. In 2004 Kernaghan was the recipient of an Order of Australia Medal and was named 2008 Australian of the Year.

  Lee Kernaghan’s 2017 Boys from The Bush 25th Anniversary Tour launched in Tamworth on Australia Day and sold out 29 of the 32 shows on the 2017 tour. The tour was a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Lee’s amazing career and of the release of his first single and album, the legendary Boys From The Bush, and the album it came from – Outback Club. By popular demand this record breaking tour was extended through 2018 and again the tour achieved sell out concerts throughout the year.

  At the end of the 25th Anniversary Tour Lee began the writing process for a new album called “Backroad Nation”.

  “Backroad Nation” is a collection of stories and themes that caught Lee’s attention from the places he travelled to, and the people he met, whilst on tour. It is a celebration of all things Australian and a tip of the hat to our regional and rural communities who have faced some of their most severe challenges ever in recent years. The first single from the album “Wheels” was released early March and the album will be launched on 10th May.

  In 2019 Lee will undertake his most extensive tour for many years travelling to every state and territory on the Backroad Nation Tour. The Tour begins in May and concludes at the end of November.

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  Robbie Mortimer

  Robbie Mortimer is an Australian singer/songwriter and touring artist with 2x studio albums. Robbie is a captivating performer, a talented songwriter with an infectious outlook on life. Fast on the rise, he is wildly unique and authentic.

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  Tori Darke

  Tori Darke is one of the most compelling and dynamic female voices in the Australian country music scene today. Known for her powerhouse vocals, fearless lyrics, magnetic and energetic stage presence, Tori has carved out a space as both a hitmaker and a fan favourite. With a string of chart-topping singles and a reputation for electrifying live performances, she brings both grit and heart to everything she does. In 2024, Tori joined country music royalty Lee Kernaghan on a national tour, further solidifying her place among the genre’s elite performers. That same year, she stepped onto the national stage on Channel 7’s The Voice Australia, turning chairs and joining Team LeAnn Rimes. Her time on the show led to a standout duet partnership with Brad Butcher, where their unique chemistry and heartfelt delivery earned praise for their reimagined take on a Fleetwood Mac classic. Tori’s collaboration with Jay Santilli, Trouble, is currently gaining momentum on multiple radio charts and has earned editorial playlisting across Apple Music and Spotify a testament to her growing influence in the digital and streaming space. With an ever-growing fanbase, a fearless approach to storytelling, and a career that’s accelerating with every release, Tori Darke is not just making her mark she’s redefining what it means to be a modern Australian country artist.
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  Andrew Swift

  With 3 ARIA #1 albums and 3 CMAA Golden Guitar Awards to his name – most recently Male Artist of the Year 2023 – Andrew Swift is one of Australia’s most discerning storytellers.

  His debut album, ‘Call Out For The Cavalry’, earned him a whopping 4 Golden Guitar nominations in 2019 – not bad for an upstart – from which he took home gongs for Alt Country Album of the Year and New Talent of the Year.

  His sophomore effort, ‘The Art of Letting Go’, came three years later, after a signing with ABC and a whirlwind of touring alongside some of the genre’s biggest names - The Wolfe Brothers, Catherine Britt and Shannon Noll, to name a few.

  The new record became the 5th highest selling Australian Country Music album in 2021. Hits like ‘Head Full of Honey’ and ‘Say The Word’ spun light-hearted stories of courtship and calamity through a sonic lens that pushed the boundaries of the genre.

  Swift’s forthcoming album, ‘Lightning Strikes and Neon Nights’ - slated for release on April 28, 2023 - is his most daring yet. Produced by the incomparable Matt Fell (Troy Cassar-Daley, Fanny Lumsden), it mixes Swift’s signature grit with retro soundscapes and contemporary rhythms.

  Despite his meteoric ascent he’s immensely passionate about helping those following in his footsteps. It’s this same compassion that earned him the mantle of official ambassador for Gundagai’s Dog on the Tuckerbox.

  Both a wayward vagabond and a sweetheart, his songs brood on gut-wrenching heartache and revel in limitless joy. He’s a master performer and one hell of a guy.