Savannah in the Round Special Feature

Music and Camping festival OCTOBER 1-3 Mareeba Rodeo Grounds

COUNTRY MUSIC DREAMS

Four-day festival to rock Mareeba

BY MICHAEL WARREN Nipper Brown and Shane Srhoj played key roles in making Savannah in the Round become a reality this long weekend.

WHAT started as a simple conversation about a lofty dream and ambition to potentially stage a country music festival in Mareeba is about to come full circle.

In under 24 hours and on the eve of Australia’s country music event of the year, the eyes and ears of country fans across the nation are set to focus on Mareeba as it prepares to host Savannah in the Round at Kerribee Park Rodeo Grounds.

The brainchild of locals Edward “Nipper” Brown, Shane Srhoj and Brisbane based festival director James Dein the four-day country music spectacular will provide many wide-ranging benefits including a major cash injection into the local economy, endless promotional and tourism opportunities, and the facilitation of strong community spirit.

“I’m pumped, it’s been a long time coming but it’s finally here – it’s time to enjoy some country music,” Srhoj said.

“It’s been a pretty tough time for everyone because of COVID so it’s great Savannah is here for everyone to enjoy themselves,” Brown said.

“Music and festivals are about celebration – it promises to be a wonderful couple of days,” Dein said.

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PAGE 24 The Express, Wednesday, September 29, 2021

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Music and Camping festival OCTOBER 1-3 Mareeba Rodeo Grounds

Performances not to miss Top picks of the festival Thursday, September 30, 9.30pm, Big Top Music Hall – CASEY BARNES He’s one of Australia’s most renowned country music performers and for good reason.

Fans won’t want to miss Barnes as he brings his electric energy to the Big Top music Hall straight off the bat on the unofficial first night of the festival.

Barnes is no stranger to FNQ having performed at last year’s reduced Savannah event at Salthouse in Cairns.

Friday, October 1, 7.45pm, Main stage – BRAD COX If there’s one act you don’t want to miss over the duration of the festival it’s this one.

Brad Cox is a man going places and you’ll want to tell your friends you saw him perform in Mareeba before you see him make it big time in Nashville.

Kick back and watch the highly talented vocalist belt out “Give me Tonight” and an array of his other hits. You won’t want to miss this one on the main stage at Savannah In The Round this Friday night.

Saturday, October 2, 8.30pm, Main stage – LEE KERNAGHAN It wouldn’t be a country music festival without the most notable country music performer over the past decade and longer in Australia, Lee Kernaghan.

The “Boys from the bush” singer, always rocks the crowd, and his performance at Savannah will be no different. A strong supporter of the festival crowds will be treated to a catalogue of hits from the country star, so sit back under the stars and enjoy the man with the black cowboy hat put on a show.

Sunday, October 3, 5.15pm, Main stage – JOHN WILLIAMSON It doesn’t come anymore Australian than John Williamson. Whether he’s belting out “Raining on the Rock”, or his iconic hit “True Blue”, the legendary singer is loved wherever he performs. Savannah will be no different.

For the program visit www.savannahintheround.com.au or see page 31 of this special edition liftout.

Country music sensation Brad Cox will be performing live at Savannah In The Round this Friday night.

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Music and Camping festival OCTOBER 1-3 Mareeba Rodeo Grounds

Region to benefit from Savannah flow-on effects Mareeba is ready to shine with Savannah in the Round set to unofficially get underway tomorrow evening.

BY MICHAEL WARREN IN under 24 hours country music fans across the country will turn their attention to Mareeba as the town hosts the country music event of the year, Savannah in the Round.

With that comes the tremendous opportunity and prime chance to promote Mareeba and the region as a key tourism destination.

In addition the four day festival will provide endless economic benefits and the chance for the town to enjoy the spoils well after it wraps up.

In this special piece Express journalist Michael Warren sat down for an interview with Mareeba Chamber of Commerce president Joe Moro who explained why the ongoing hosting of the event will continue to provide many benefits for Mareeba in the years to come.

LONG TERM AND FLOW ON BENEFITS An event like Savannah in the Round offers many long term economic, tourism and promotional benefits.

“The Mareeba Chamber of Commerce has been actively promoting Mareeba as a tourist destination for several

years,” Mr Moro noted.

“Our region is blessed with an abundant variety of manmade and natural attractions, accommodation providers and an event calendar that offers something for everyone.

“With international travel on hold and ongoing state border closures, many tourists are turning to rural and regional communities such as Mareeba where they can holiday safely and for the most, freely.

“Hosting events such as Savannah in the Round enables Mareeba to offer tourists a reason to visit and we hope, a reason to stay for an extended period, leaving tourist dollars at many of our businesses.”

VENUE AND HOSTING CREDENTIALS Mareeba is the right venue for such a large-scale regional event.

“Our ability to host Savannah in the Round proves that major events, headlined by national artists, can be held outside metropolitan cities provided the right venue is available,” he said.

“There is no better venue on the Atherton Tablelands than Kerribee Park, which offers the infrastructure and space needed to host hun-

Mareeba Chamber of Commerce president Joe Moro believes this event will provide many ongoing benefits for the region.

dreds of people in a COVIDsafe way.”

COVID SAFE AND READY TO ROLL Community united and ready to welcome visitors.

“Mareeba and Far North Queensland generally, has been fortunate to have escaped the government-directed lockdowns and restrictions that our counterparts in other states are currently experiencing,” he said.

“We have and continue to enjoy a relatively uninhibited lifestyle, thanks to Queensland’s good work.

“This event allows the Mareeba community to celebrate the region’s good work and enjoy some of Australia’s best country music stars in our backyard.

“The Mareeba Chamber of Commerce welcomes event guests and visitors to Mareeba for Savannah in the Round and encourages them to take the time to explore our region.”

Crowds set to flock to Kerribee Park “It’s very exciting that Mareeba has a country music event of this size in its own backyard,” local artist Jeremy Fletcher said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity and personally, I can’t wait to get on the stage and perform.”

Savannah in the Round 2021 A warm w rm wa r welcome w lcome to all we l performers ll perf rfo rf form r ers r rs i itors is r to the rs t e Mareeba Shire th Shir i e ir & visitors

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PAGE 26 The Express, Wednesday, September 29, 2021

THE first attendees of this year’s Savannah in the Round country music festival are expected to roll into town tomorrow morning ahead of the unofficial start to this year’s country music event of the year.

Modelled on USA country music festivals an early concert or ‘tailgate’ party as it’s known in the States will be held tomorrow evening for three-day ticket holders only with Julian James to get things underway from 6pm at the Big Top music hall.

Murphy’s Pigs will follow James from 7pm,

with Caitlyn Shadbolt to take the stage from 8.15pm.

Headliner Casey Barnes will take things up a notch from 9.30pm, while Johnny Ringo’s favourites, Tony Q Band, will perform from 10.45pm.

Swarms of arrivals are expected to converge on Kerribee Rodeo Grounds all throughout Friday.

Ticket holders from right across the State will see James Johnston hit the main stage on Friday from 4.30pm, while a host of artists will play the Big Top mu-

sic hall from 8am.

Meanwhile, Talitha Jae will kick things off at the Bull Bar on Friday from 10am, with Mareeba’s own Jeremy Fletcher following on the same stage at 10.45am.

The event will also host an indigenous cultural program, community entertainment, local produce and goods and paddock to plate.

“We’re beyond excited to get into things,” delighted festival director James Dein said.

“It’s been a long time coming and now it’s time for a celebration.”

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Music and Camping festival OCTOBER 1-3 Mareeba Rodeo Grounds

Dein to deliver a truly memorable event

Savannah in the Round festival director James Dein says everything is in readiness for an amazing festival.

At first glance, he has a job few would envy.

Afterall, who would want the responsibility and pressure to ensure an event like a four-day country music festival goes off without a hitch?

Enter the unflappable James Dein.

For as long as he can remember the Brisbane based festival director has overseen and been tasked with delivering an array of country music festivals around the country, and for him, Savannah is just another day at the office.

COVID imposed lockdowns and border closures haven’t made it easy but try and stop Dein from putting on a truly memorable and unforgettable event.

In this exclusive in-depth interview, Express journalist Michael Warren spoke to Dein about this year’s Savannah in the Round.

Let’s start with the event’s major challenges. We continue to live in unprecedented times; how has the ongoing COVID pandemic affected the planning phase of the festival?

The varying border closures have proved a major challenge – they’ve certainly kept us on our toes in terms of being agile.

I won’t use the word pivot, but as such you just adjust your course and trajectory in what you’re trying to plan based on the circumstances and cards you’re dealt.

So because of COVID and the ensuing closures we’ve just had to adjust; it’s not just about getting artists in, but it’s managing the expectation of patrons, it’s also (about) working with your site crew.

We’ve got very valuable site managers along with safety and camping managers who have enormous knowledge built up over the past 20 years of being involved in previous music festivals across the country - living in the bubble south of the border - that’s challenging.

You’ve overseen and been responsible for executing some of the biggest country music events across Australia – including CMC

Rocks and the Gympie Music Muster. What have been your biggest learnings as director of those festivals that you plan to implement at this year’s Savannah in the Round?

Those two festivals you have mentioned, both Gympie and CMC Rocks, have got unique attributes and programming and a unique approach which involves seriously engaging their respective local communities. What we’ve tried to do with this festival is use the best bits of CMC Rocks and the best bits of Gympie and incorporate them into Savannah in the Round.

Such as?

Specifically community engagement and involvement.

Gympie does it better than any other festival, they are absolutely the best at it. A total of 55 community groups engage with the Gympie festival.

It’s a major fundraiser for the community, it unites the community and makes them proud; and what it does above all else, is unify people, it gets them on the same page, and that’s a great thing for a community.

Little communities can be divided, little communities are little communities, but when you get them focused

on one thing, the good comes out in people, and that’s what music does and that’s what music festivals do.

The community thing has been great. The big thing that was a real game changer was the introduction of the high-end level of production at festivals like CMC Rocks.

I’m referring to big stages, big sound, big lighting production. CMC Rocks is like a rock festival, with country music programming and really prior to CMC, there’s been no festival in Australia that’s applied those big production values into music, that’s what we do.

At Savannah that’s what we’re doing. We don’t scrimp on the delivery of staging, video and production and so on - it’s important these days. Fans have an expectation, country music was left behind for many years and now it isn’t.

From previous experience what do you consider to be the three most important elements to run a successful large-scale country music festival?

Invariably it’s getting your lineup right. It’s all about the artists. It has to be all about the artists. Having the right artists, again having the curveball of COVID and not

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being able to get any internationals (artists)… we’re in partnership with several international touring companies, they’re trying to secure acts for us at the moment, but it’s impossible (currently) to get US touring artists into the country, however that will change in time.

Programming is the key to getting your country music festival working. It’s got to hit the sweet spot of your patrons, and you’ve got to program and deliver it in a way that’s seamless and people are having a good time.

It’s a festival – it’s about celebration. Music unites people – getting your program right and getting your mix of music right is critical.

Further to my previous questions; what’s your message to Savannah in the Round festival goers crying out to see international acts like a Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen or Eric Church? Is it realistic we’ll see artists like that attend and perform at Savannah in the Round in the coming 12-18 months?

Just hang in there – it will happen. There are already many positive discussions happening about Savannah in the Round for 2022 in regards to international artists who are looking to come and

tour Australia.

I’ve personally spoken to agents in Nashville in recent times. Just recently I had an agent reach out to me from one of the largest American music agencies who specifically wanted to talk to me about Savannah in the Round.

They know about Savannah in the Round, it’s on their radar, they’re talking about it in the halls and offices in Nashville.

So it’s definitely feasible for fans to expect to see a Luke Combs or a Luke Bryan perform here in Mareeba in the coming years at Savannah in the Round?

No Question. No doubt about it.

As Savannah’s festival director do you feel the weight of expectation and pressure to deliver an exceptional festival or is it just business as usual and not something that crosses your mind?

Every promoter does. It’s funny, you worry about the same things all the time and you look back and have a moment of clarity and say ‘hang on a second, I’ve run a 150 of these why am I worry-

ing about the same things’?

It is really about having the right people around you.

We’ve got an amazing team of very talented people, who work on major festivals in this country. We share those people.

We’ve got a terrific team of people, there is a weight and there is an expectation, when you remind yourself of the depth of people that are around you, it takes away that pressure and stress.

It’s all about having the right people on your team.

Three or four years of discussion and planning is now just a day away – how will you feel when that first act takes to the stage tomorrow afternoon?

It will be wonderful. This is going to be an amazing festival. We’ve learnt a lot even from the littler events we had last year. I think I’ll feel a sheer sense of relief, exhilaration and I’ll be getting around with the biggest smile of anyone around the event.

We’re very proud of what we’re delivering with this event and I think there will be a great sense of relief. As soon as that first band starts playing the pressure starts to come off your shoulders.

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The Express, Wednesday, September 29, 2021 PAGE 29

TNQ'S OWN COUNTRY MUSIC & CAMPING FESTIVAL

mareeba, cairns hinterland1-3 october 2021

JOHN WILLIAMSON JOHN BUTLER LEE KERNAGHAN SHEPPARD IAN MOSS SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM ADAM BRAND SARA STORER TROY CASSAR-DALEY GRAEME CONNORS CASEY BARNES RUSSELL MORRIS & BRIAN CADD GLENN SHORROCK BUSBY MAROU THE WOLFE BROTHERS BRAD COX BECCY COLE JAMES BLUNDELL CAITLYN SHADBOLT LITTLE STEELY BROTHERS BRAD BUTCHER HINTERLAND JAMES JOHNSTON JOSH SETTERFIELD JULIAN JAMES HUSSY HICKS HILLBILLY GOATS COL FINLEY & WILL DAY AL BOULTON BAND - DAVID HUDSON - MURPHY’S PIGS - ROUTE 33 - TONY Q BAND SAMMY WHITE - CAMILLE TRAIL - FELICITY KIRCHER - CAMERON CUSACK ROZ PAPPALARDO - JEREMY FLETCHER - AURELLE BRUNJES - ROBERT CINI - TALITHA JAE LARRY CANN - PAMAGIRRI DANCERS - DEE JAYE BUX

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Lineup subject to change in response to state border closures. Please refer to event T&Cs: www.savannahintheround.com.au

PAGE 30 The Express, Wednesday, September 29, 2021

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mareeba, cairns hinterland1-3 october 2021

MAIN STAGE Thu, 30 September 2021

Fri, 1 October 2021

Sat, 2 October 2021

Sun, 3 October 2021

4.00pm Dee Jaye Bux

3.00pm Murphy’s Pigs

4.00pm Beccy Cole

4.45pm Welcome to Country Pamagirri Dancers

4.15pm Busby Marou

5.15pm John Williamson

5.15pm James Johnston

5.30pm Troy Cassar-Daley

6.45pm Glenn Shorrock

6.30pm Caitlyn Shadbolt

7.00pm Sheppard

8.15pm Graeme Connors

7.45pm Brad Cox

8.30pm Lee Kernaghan

9.45pm Adam Brand

9.00pm Casey Barnes

10.05pm John Butler

11.00pm James Blundell

10.15pm Wolfe Brothers *Break tunes with Dee Jaye Bux BIG TOP MUSIC HALL 6.00pm Julian James

8.00am Breakfast Jams: Aurelle Brunjes & Robert Cini

8.00am Breakfast Jams: Talitha Jae & Robert Cini

8.00am Walkamin Country Music Club Presents…

7.00pm Murphy’s Pigs

9.30am Roz Pappalardo

9.30am Felicity Kircher

9.30am Larry Cann Album Launch

8.15pm Caitlyn Shadbolt

10.45am Julian James

10.15am Camille Trail

10.30am Brad Butcher

9.30pm Casey Barnes

12.00pm Tony Q Band

11.15am James Johnston

11.45am Little Steely Brothers

10.45pm Tony Q Band

1.30pm Hussy Hicks 2.45pm Col Finley & Will Day

12.15pm Hillbilly Goats

1.30pm Sara Storer

1.30pm Hinterland

2.45pm Russell Morris & Brian Cadd

2.45pm Ian Moss 11.30pm Sneaky Sound System

11.30pm

Caitlyn Shadbolt

12.00 AM Route 33

12.45am Al Boulton Band

12.45am

Route 33

1.00 AM

Col Finley & Will Day

THE BULL BAR 10.00am Talitha Jae

10.00am Aurelle Brunjes

10.00am Jeremy Fletcher

10.45am Jeremy Fletcher

10.45am Toyota Star Maker Winner: Sammy White

10.45am Felicity Kircher

11.30am Felicity Kircher

12.00pm James Blundell

11.30am David Hudson & the Didgeralia Band

12.30pm Cameron Cusack 1.30pm Camille Trail 2.45pm Route 33

1.30pm David Hudson & the Didgeralia Band 2.45pm Col Finley & Will Day

12.45pm Hussy Hicks 1.45pm Hillbilly Goats 3.00pm Josh Setterfield

Lineup subject to change in response to state border closures. Please refer to event T&Cs: www.savannahintheround.com.au

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The Express, Wednesday, September 29, 2021 PAGE 31

Music and Camping festival OCTOBER 1-3 Mareeba Rodeo Grounds

From dreams to reality

BY MICHAEL WARREN

WHEN the first act takes to the stage tomorrow afternoon to signal the unofficial start of the country music event of the year one man who has every right to feel proud as punch is Shane Srhoj.

Afterall, along with another local identity in Edward “Nipper” Brown, Srhoj played a leading hand in Savannah in the Round eventually becoming a reality.

“Jasmine and myself met James and Suzi (Dein) (festival directors) at Winton’s Way Out West Fest in 2018, it was our first year and it was very impressive to see this kind of event 2000km from the coast with limited resources at hand,” Srhoj explained to The Express.

“Everything was bought in for the event, straight away we felt James and Suzi knew their stuff.

“We become good friends quite quickly as they’re very down to earth people and easy to get along with.

“After the event I said to James ‘you need to come and check out our little town in Mareeba; it has everything you need facility wise and it’s only an hour from an international airport’.

“I then put him in touch with

Mareeba Rodeo president Peter Brown who then chatted with “Nipper” and they took it from there.

“Here we are three years down the track and it’s all about to come to life with years of planning and sacrifice.”

Srhoj said the well-known promoter and festival director could quickly see the benefits of staging a large-scale event in the Far North.

“Mareeba has everything on offer and everything you need to put on a great festival,” the passionate country music fan said.

“Mareeba has great shops, supermarkets and farming that grows just about anything we need.

“There’s great local tradesmen that can build and repair anything and geographically it’s a good central point for most people in Far North Queensland.

“Combine that with having one of the best sporting facilities in the region in the Mareeba Rodeo grounds with its 6000-person seating, camping areas and suitable power outlets and James quickly concluded we were on to a winner.”

As country music tunes begin to ring loudly from Kerribee Rodeo Grounds tomorrow afternoon the humble fan said it’s sure to prove a memorable and emotional moment.

Shane Srhoj helped initiate discussions around Savannah in the Round becoming a reality.

“It’s going to feel amazing to see everyone coming from wide and far to witness what everyone has

worked so hard for over the past few years,” Mr Srhoj said.

“It’s an honour to be part of Sa-

vannah in The Round and also to be working with such a great team from Sound Australia.”

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Music and Camping festival OCTOBER 1-3 Mareeba Rodeo Grounds

Time to celebrate COMMENT BY MICHAEL WARREN

Savannah in the Round site manager Dave Mullen and site foreman Mark Arch visited the rodeo grounds ahead of the start of tomorrow’s event.

Community groups to make big impact WHEN you wander around Mareeba’s Kerribee Park Rodeo Grounds over the next few days take a moment to notice those that are the very heartbeat of an event like this – the volunteers.

Behind the glamour of all festivals, and in this instance Mareeba’s own Savannah in the Round, will be an array of selfless, hardworking folk, simply going about their business without any fanfare but making a vital overall contribution to the success of the event.

Following in the footsteps of the highly successful Gympie Muster, Savannah in the Round festival director James Dein knows volunteers are the absolute fabric which hold events of this size together.

Over the next few days a multitude of local community groups – Paddy’s Green rural firies, Mareeba Men’s shed, Crimestoppers, The country music club, SES, Mareeba Heritage Centre and others will give up their time to help make Savannah a success.

“Without doubt volunteers and community groups are paramount to the success of any musical festival,” Dein said.

“Festivals are community events, and as such it’s crucial to engage the community and get as many volunteers and local groups involved with the festival as possible.

“We are extremely grateful we’ve got a number of groups that

are so generously contributing their time to help Savannah be the event it should be.”

Well-known local resident Edward “Nipper” Brown, an integral figure in Savannah becoming a reality, knows the importance of volunteer contributions.

“You only have to look at the sensational job volunteers do at local events like the annual Field Days here in Mareeba to really appreciate and recognise their importance,” Brown told The Express.

“Events like this unite the community – we’re delighted we’ve got a number of volunteer groups and individuals who are set to make really meaningful contributions to the event over the next few days.”

FOR most people the past year and a half has been pretty forgettable. Afterall, there’s not much to enjoy when a global pandemic sweeps the world and nearly everything we take for granted -our social lives, music, concerts, events, and most of all our freedom, is taken away in a heartbeat.

With every social activity nearly cancelled over the past 12 months there hasn’t been much to look forward to – until now.

To have a top line country music festival in Mareeba to attend is an absolute blessing. I’m not religious by any means, but to have four days of music, of festivities, of community spirit to enjoy, is just magnificent.

You only have to ask people in Victoria or NSW how much they’d love to attend this weekend’s festival to understand and fully comprehend how lucky we are in FNQ to be in a position to attend such an event.

That leads me to my next point. You’ll probably walk past him at the festival and not blink an

eyelid. And you know what, that’s probably just how he likes it.

But if you do see James Dein, and you know who he is, perhaps stop and offer a smile and a handshake, for it’s this man and his meticulous planning and foresight that are the reasons we have a country music festival to enjoy this weekend in Mareeba.

Against all odds the event’s festival director has fought every possible hurdle to put on a festival and celebration we can all enjoy.

When I’m wandering around the festival over the next few days, I’ll also stop and think about Shane Srhoj and Nipper Brown.

Ordinary, local folks to some, but to others, known to be the driving forces behind Savannah in the Round becoming a reality.

Afterall, it was two or three years ago, when both started having conversations with Dein about their desire for Mareeba to host a top line country music festival.

Well, now it’s a reality. Now, it’s here, and how good does it feel.

Make no mistake, Savannah in the Round is the country music event of the year – and I, for one, cannot wait to get amongst it.

Enjoy it everyone.

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