Rex Baldwin, from Gunnedah, was just one of the many country music artists who took to the stage across the four-day festival
September 13, 2023
A wild hailstorm – and a blackout – on Friday night may have tossed things around a bit at the 2023 Heritage Nanango Country Muster but it couldn’t stop the music for long at the four-day festival.
The Nanango Showgrounds were packed out again for the annual event – which is now in its 20th year – with almost 690 campervans and caravans in the grounds.
Travellers started filling the camping areas as early as the previous Sunday when walk-up acts also began taking to the stage.
But the musical action really took off on Thursday night when veteran muso Jade Hurley – he’s now 80! – hit the stage.
Jade’s been rocking the music scene since his first appearance on TV in the early 1960s on “Six O’Clock Rock”.
His performance on Thursday night showed he still has what it takes to get a crowd going.
Other artists to appear across the weekend included the South Burnett’s own Dean Perrett as well as bluegrass player (and comedian) Pete Denahy.
There was also bush poetry plus a touch of Gospel music on Sunday morning.
The warm weather encouraged most of the Muster crowd to gather under the shaded area in front of the bar and canteenDebbie Lawrence, a wildlife carer from Roma, brought along a joey she was caring for … the young roo seemed to be enjoying the Aussie country music!Gina Timms travelled from Tasmania to sing at her first Nanango Muster … she had a good time but “shame about the rain”Trish Wilton, from Hervey Bay, and Dean’s wife Camille were being kept busy selling Dean Perrett CDsVal Williamson, from Gunnedah, was selling CDs for her partner, Rex BaldwinWorking hard in the canteen were Carly Smith, Manumbar; Jenny Seears, Nanango, and a duo from the Sunshine Coast who volunteer every year at the Muster, Sally Gillies and Rebecca Kiss, with Darius Kiss, 7Carol Sharpe. from Gold Coast, and Claire Clough, from Logan City, with their shopper docket prize, a bottle of wineWhile most Muster-goers sheltered in the shade, there were still many soaking up the sunshine in front of the stage
