Over forty artists took the stage at the Kerribee Park Rodeo Grounds in Mareeba with a mix of country, rock, roots and pop.

With the likes of John Butler, Sheppard, Brad Butcher and Sneaky Sound System, to name a few.

Headliner John Butler rocked the main stage on Saturday night with a mix of brilliant celtic, bluegrass, funk rock tunes.

After being in his relaxed, genuine presence, coupled with his breathtaking musicianship, it would have been hard not to feel happy and whole by the end of his performance. Seeing visitors leave with massive grins on their faces. 

While the main stage boasted big names, it was at the smaller stages that the intimacy between the artists and crowd was most noticeable.

A standout performance for me was Hussy Hicks on Sunday afternoon. I was on my way to another stage, when a beautiful soul voice immediately caught my attention.

The abundant energy of the Gold Coast-based, all-female band, Hussy Hicks made the small Bull Bar stage shake its grounds. The band seemed to be having a lot of fun and that was definitely felt among the audience. 

To top it all off, cowgirls Beccy Cole and Libby O’Donovan performed on the main stage accompanied by Hussy Hicks.

With songs such as My wife’s got balls and Wine Time, paired with Beccy’s down-to-earth storytelling and dry humour she got the audience in full party mood.

Being satisfied and tired, my plus one and I agreed it was time to go home. And as if our weekend wasn’t perfect enough yet, we saw the sky behind us turning into red and purple while the sun set down behind Mareeba’s mountains. Our hearts were filled with happiness.