Great Southern Nights announced Live Fest – a brand new series of all-day music experiences bringing back-to-back line-ups to Dubbo and Tamworth, and inviting whole towns to come together under a shared love of live music. Australia’s most loved and best-known artists packed up the tour bus and hit the highway, taking live music beyond the city and into the heart of regional NSW.
On top of the incredible line-ups, Live Fest encouraged music lovers to grab their friends, plan a road trip and make a weekend of it. Attendees stayed a little longer, explored local food and drink, discovered nearby attractions and soaked up the unique character of each region.
There will be spectacular music and scenery at Dubbo’s Lazy River Estate on Saturday 2 May 2026, featuring multiple ARIA Hall of Fame inductees and some of Australia’s most revered acts;
PAUL KELLY / MISSY HIGGINS / THE CRUEL SEA / THE CAT EMPIRE / KASEY CHAMBERS / JESS HITCHCOCK
The beautifully manicured grounds and rolling vineyards leading down to the Macquarie River formed a stunning backdrop for this family-friendly, licensed all-ages event and created the perfect way to open the 2026 iteration of Great Southern Nights.
Few line-ups captured the depth and breadth of Australian music quite like this one. Representing Australian music royalty, these artists shared a combined 60+ studio albums, a truckload of ARIA awards and nominations, and multiple ARIA Hall of Fame inductions.
From Paul Kelly’s timeless storytelling to Missy Higgins’ deeply personal, emotionally rich songwriting, these artists helped shape the sound of generations. Kasey Chambers brought her unmistakable voice and raw honesty, while Jess Hitchcock delivered powerful, soul-stirring performances that felt both expansive and intimate.
Balancing this were the laid-back swagger of The Cruel Sea and the joyful, genre-blending energy of The Cat Empire - two acts built for the live stage. Together, the line-up moved effortlessly between reflection and celebration, quiet moments and full-body joy, creating a shared experience that felt uniquely Australian and unforgettable in a live setting.
The following weekend, Tamworth Entertainment Centre hosted Live Fest on Saturday 9 May, delivering a celebration of some of Australia’s finest dance, rock and indie-pop acts, featuring;
LIME CORDIALE / JET / THE LIVING END / THELMA PLUM / KITA ALEXANDER
Lime Cordiale’s infectious grooves and high-energy showmanship set the tone, joined by Jet’s riff-driven anthems and The Living End’s unstoppable punk-rock fire — a trio built for big singalongs and hands-in-the-air moments.
Rounding out the night, Thelma Plum and Kita Alexander delivered contemporary indie-pop at its finest, blending emotional depth with soaring melodies and undeniable hooks. From dancefloor moments to guitar-fuelled nostalgia, Live Fest Tamworth brought an unforgettable evening of movement, memories and live music.
Thank you to everyone who came along, supported artists on the road and helped celebrate live music in Dubbo and Tamworth as part of Great Southern Nights.