Pete Denahy

Pete Denahy knew when he was 11 years old he wanted to be a country singer. At age

12 he taught himself guitar, started writing songs and at 13 years old saw Australia’s King of Country Music Slim Dusty in concert for the first time. Twelve years later he was in Slim’s band playing fiddle and doing a comedy spot on the show. While he has written some ridiculous comedy songs, he is no stranger to writing a heart wrencher, but he is fully aware that his “silly songs” are the ones that are closest to the hearts of his fans. He cut his teeth in the mid nineties playing fiddle in Melbourne band Ploughboys before joining Slim Dusty on the road in 1998. As his songwriting began to mature, he turned his pen more often to the less serious side. As a result, his most requested songs are comedy, one of them being “Sort Of Dunno Nothin’”, a tuneless, storyless number that presents a teenager talking to an adult in the most boring manner possible. This song became something of a hit in 2008 when it was released in Australia.

His solo show has evolved into a blend of straight and comedy material interspersed with some solid fiddle playing. His onstage persona is a guy who is an enthusiastic money saver and is proud of the fact he is Yackandandah’s “multi award losing country singer” even though he has won five Golden Guitars at Australia’s Country Music Awards. However, he seldom mentions this because as he says, “There’s nothing funny about winning awards.”

2025 saw Pete do his first USA tour which included the Martha Basset Show in Elkin NC, The 100th Mountain City Fiddlers’ Convention in Tennessee and his own show at

the world famous Station Inn, Nashville TN.

Michelle Little

Michelle Little is an artist who captivates audiences wherever she goes with her heartfelt brand of country music.

Influenced by legends like Patsy Cline and Reba McEntire, she has graced renowned stages from the Sydney Opera House to Nashville's Bluebird Cafe.

Michelle's discography includes the EP That's What I Like (1999) and two studio albums, Hear Me Now (2008) and Invincible (2021). She also released a live album, Michelle Little Sings the Songs of Patsy Cline (2016), showcasing her tribute during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Her most recent releases include the self-penned Time To Sing (2024) and the Lyn Bowtell co-write, I'm Ready (2026).

Both of these singles were recorded and produced by Michael Carpenter of The House Studio.

After graduating from The Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Michelle quickly made Sydney's vibrant Inner West her home. However, 2025 saw the singing-songwriter and school teacher return to her roots in the Central West of NSW, where she continues to spread her love of music to audiences of all ages.

Vanessa Sanger

Vanessa Sanger is a respected Australian country music entertainer, event director, and the founder of the Macksville Music Muster. Known for her rich, warm vocals and genuine connection with audiences, Vanessa has built a reputation as both a captivating performer and a passionate advocate for live music and regional communities.

With a lifelong love of country music, Vanessa's performances celebrate the songs and stories that have shaped generations. Her repertoire spans timeless country classics through to contemporary favourites, delivered with authenticity, heart, and an engaging stage presence. She is also the creator and presenter of the acclaimed Women of Country show, which honours the legendary female artists who helped define country music, including Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, Reba McEntire, Linda Ronstadt, Trisha Yearwood and many more.

Beyond the stage, Vanessa is the driving force behind the Macksville Music Muster, one of regional Australia's fastest-growing country music festivals. Since founding the event in 2019, she has overseen every aspect of its development, creating an experience that brings together artists, travellers, volunteers, local businesses and music lovers from across the country.

A passionate supporter of emerging talent, Vanessa is committed to providing opportunities for artists to showcase their music while fostering strong community connections through live entertainment. Her dedication to country music, tourism, and regional events has helped establish the Macksville Music Muster as a must-attend destination for caravaners, grey nomads, and country music fans alike.

Whether performing on stage, coordinating major events, or championing Australian country music, Vanessa brings energy, professionalism, and a genuine love of people to everything she does.

Melinda Schneider

Melinda Schneider is one of Australia’s most cherished musical treasures. A multi-award-winning singer-songwriter, captivating live performer, accomplished storyteller, keynote speaker, and the founder and CEO of Mpower Records, Melinda has been a powerful voice in Australian entertainment for over four decades. Her career spans music, theatre, television, and public speaking – all underscored by her unwavering commitment to authenticity and empowerment.

Melinda's love affair with the stage began early from the age of three. By eight, she had recorded her first track, and by thirteen, she’d made her acting debut on the beloved TV drama A Country Practice. But it was through songwriting that Melinda truly discovered her voice, and that voice has since touched hearts across generations.

With 14 albums under her belt, including the chart-topping Melinda Does Doris, and six CMAA Golden Guitars to her name, Melinda is a rare artist who has continued to evolve while staying true to her roots. Her songs, known for their honesty and emotional depth, have been recorded by the likes of John Farnham, Olivia Newton-John, Paul Kelly, Billy Thorpe and Jimmy Little. She’s also a two-time ARIA Award nominee and the recipient of awards including Top Selling Album (Stronger), Album of the Year (Family Tree), APRA Song of the Year (Real People), and Female Vocalist of the Year.

Melinda is a live performance powerhouse. Her tribute show DORIS – So Much More Than the Girl Next Door, a heartfelt homage to Doris Day, wowed audiences across the country, selling out venues including the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. She has toured extensively across Australia, both as a solo artist and in collaborative projects like the acclaimed Great Women of Country with Beccy Cole.

Beyond the stage, Melinda continues to break boundaries. She has danced her way into the nation’s hearts on Dancing with the Stars, graced TV screens and radio waves, and expanded her creative footprint into fashion and public speaking. Her keynote talks on authenticity and empowerment have inspired audiences at major events like Business Chicks and Women in Media. Her 2018 single My Voice, inspired by the #MeToo movement, became a rallying cry for women’s rights, with proceeds supporting safe workplace programs.

In recent years, Melinda has also become a passionate mental health advocate. Drawing from her own journey with depression and anxiety, she joined forces with the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP), delivering free concerts and wellbeing talks across regional Australia. Her EP Be Gentle on Yourself shares powerful messages of healing, resilience, and self-compassion.

2022 marked another personal milestone with her marriage to longtime partner, Choirboys frontman Mark Gable. The pair released the heartfelt duet Together We Belong. Melinda also starred in the sold-out tribute Both Sides Now, celebrating the music of Joni Mitchell at the Sydney Opera House.

Now, as she celebrates 40 years since her first professional recording, Melinda is preparing to launch a bold new chapter. With the creation of her independent label, Mpower Records, she is stepping further into her role as a leader and advocate for women in the music industry. Melinda’s first original studio album in over a decade, released in February 2026, is her most personal and powerful release yet – a true reflection of her journey, her voice, and her mission.  ‘Tender’ debuted at #1 on the ARIA Australian Country Album Chart and #1 on the AIR 100% Independent Albums Chart, reaffirming Melinda’s enduring connection with audiences and her place at the forefront of Australian music.

Schneiders’ fifteenth album titled ‘Tender’ has also garnered widespread critical acclaim, Country Music News International Magazine described the album as “the soul stirring strength of softness”:

“There is a specific kind of bravery required to stay soft in a world that often demands we harden. For Melinda Schneider, that softness isn’t just a personality trait — it’s a superpower. This isn’t merely a collection of eleven songs; it is a vivid, emotionally panoramic map of a woman who has navigated the peaks of fame and the valleys of personal growth, emerging with her most potent work to date”.

Melinda Schneider is a fearless force who continues to inspire, entertain, and empower. And if her past is anything to go by, the best is still to come.

Amber Joy Poulton

Amber Joy Poulton is one of Australia’s most beloved traditional country artists, known for her timeless voice, heartfelt storytelling & deep devotion to the golden era of country music.

With a career that continues to flourish across radio, stage & theatre, Amber has earned her place among Australia’s finest independent country musicians.

Her most recent album, Pretty Pennies, is a heartfelt collection of songs spanning over a decade-a musical reflection on life’s moments, both big & small. Like forgotten coins waiting to be found, each track tells a story that’s been polished & cherished, offering listeners a rich tapestry of classic country influences.

With collaborations from country stars Beccy Cole, Felicity Urquhart, Troy Cassar-Daley, Sam

Hawksley, Amber Lawrence & Doug Bruce, Amber Joy’s recording career has become a standout in her discography, following the success of her previous album How It Used To Be, which featured the

#1 single Trouble Looks Good On You & earned her three nominations at the Southern Stars Australian Independent Country Music Awards.

Amber's discography includes celebrated original albums such as Taking Goodbye, Foolish

Things, How It Used To Be & Pretty Pennies, as well as acclaimed tribute albums Honky Tonk Angels & Honky Tonk Queens, timeless homages that continue to resonate with fans of traditional country music.

With vocal warmth, lyrical honesty & a genuine love for storytelling, Amber has captivated audiences across the country, from intimate venues to sold-out theatres. Her portrayal of Loretta Lynn in the hit theatre show Coal Miner’s Daughter showcased her acting talents & further cemented her status as a powerful performer.

Amber Joy Poulton has spent 2026 touring Australia with her brand-new tribute show,

Man, I Feel Like A Woman, a celebration of the queens of country & pop, including Shania Twain, Linda Ronstadt, Tammy Wynette & Australia’s own Olivia Newton-John.

Whether on stage, in the studio, or across the airwaves, Amber Joy Poulton continues to honour the roots of real country music — where every note tells a story, and every penny counts.

John Lynch

John  was born in Tamworth and has always had a love for country music. Never as a singer but always wanted to have a crack at it. After leaving Tamworth and moving to Tweed Heads 1990 he saw an add for a group starting Smokehouse  Country Music Club and thought here is my chance to get involved. He was a member for a year or so before he took to the stage under the guidance of club members. He then started visiting other country music clubs most weekends.

 After sometime he started getting invitations to be guest artist at country music clubs from Brisbane to Yamba and then started entering festival talent quests from Gold Coast, Brisbane and as far out as Emerald. He had several place getting in those festival which led to invitations to Champion of Champions. In the year 2000 he won the Cedar Guitar award that was held in Lismore. When the festivals and Champion of Champion ceased he decided to go Music Festivals and participate in the walk ups. (He just loves  the walk ups.) In 2023 he recorded his C-D AFTER ALL THESE YEARS at Beaten Track Studios Tamworth.  

 And John aways says KEEP IT COUNTRY.

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Those Folk

Charismatic, authentic and thoroughly entertaining, Lawrence Menard (USA) and Clare Quinn (AUS) are the transpacific-troubadours known as ‘Those Folk.’ Having met in Scotland in 2012, they have since travelled extensively and lived in the pine forest mountains of California. They now hang their travelling hats in Pomona, Queensland. 

A partnership forged in the fires of folk music, Those Folk explore sounds from the 1960’s folk revival and contemporary Americana music. Breathtaking vocal harmonies are featured alongside rich instrumental work performed on guitars, mandolin, banjo and accordion. Lawrence & Clare are storytellers who make audience members feel like fast friends. As songwriters they delve into love, hope, belonging, and the human condition. As performers they enthral, enchant, and leave a lasting impression.

2024 saw the band release their ‘Life Inside a Box’ album, tour the UK, and perform headline town hall concerts across the East Coast of Australia. Recent performance highlights include the Woodford Folk Festival, Blue Mountains Music Festival, Yackandandah Folk Festival, Cobargo Folk Festival, Townsville Folk Festival, and The Gympie Music Muster. 

Lawrence & Clare have been compared to the likes of Simon & Garfunkel and Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings. Those Folk make not just folk music, but music for all sorts of folk.

Lucy Beveridge

Lucy Beveridge is an award-winning Australian singer-songwriter known for her soulful vocals and captivating storytelling. Named winner of the Gympie Mothertone Talent Quest at Gympie Muster 2025, Young Folk Artist of the Year (2025) by the Folk Federation of NSW, and APRA AMCOS ACMF Young Songwriter of the Year, the Lake Macquarie artist is captivating audiences across Australia with her depth of soul.

In 2024 she was featured on the re-release of the iconic song I Am Australian with The Bushwackers, performing on the main stage at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. She was awarded the John P. Toomey Commemorative Award for Youth Songwriting at the TSA Salute Songwriting Awards in both 2025 and 2026 and received the Junior Songwriter of the Year award at the Country Music Association of Australia awards during the 2025 Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Lucy performs regularly both as a solo artist and as part of a duo with her brother, Josh Beveridge. Together they form a compelling sibling partnership, blending exceptional instrumental ability with a warm, engaging stage presence. The duo has become a favourite across the NSW Upper Hunter and Central Coast regions, appearing at venues and festivals throughout the area.