Country Gets a Little Wilder: Howlin’ Country Goes Rock N Rodeo

Country music, bucking bulls, barrel racing, line dancing and a Saturday on the Newcastle Foreshore.

Howlin’ Country is changing things up for 2027 — and going full Rock N Rodeo.

After two years of building a country music community in Newcastle, Howlin’ Country is coming back on Saturday February 13, 2027, but this time the festival is bringing a few horses along for the ride. For year three, Howlin’ will debut its new Rock N Rodeo format, combining a country music festival with live rodeo across two sessions — one during the day and another running into the night. And they've found two very different artists to lead each half of the day.

Australian country royalty Kasey Chambers takes care of the daytime session, while rising American singer-songwriter Max McNown takes over as the sun goes down. Two sides of country Splitting the event into two sessions is an interesting move.
From 10am to 4pm, Howlin’ is firmly in family territory.

Kasey Chambers headlines a bill that also includes The Wet Whistles, Tori Darke, Ellis Undercover and Cheap Whiskey DJs, with more international artists still to be announced. For anyone who needs reminding of Chambers' place in Australian music, there are 15 ARIA Awards, 28 Golden Guitars and 13 studio albums behind her. But numbers only tell part of it.

Chambers has spent the better part of three decades making Australian country music that sounds unmistakably like her own — and remains one of those artists capable of connecting with several generations standing in the same crowd. Then, at 4.30pm, Howlin’ changes gears. When the sun goes down The night session belongs to Max McNown.

The Oregon-born singer-songwriter represents a very different generation of country artist — one whose audience can grow from a phone screen to millions of listeners remarkably quickly. McNown has built a following of more than 2.6 million on TikTok while songs including “Better Me For You (Brown Eyes)” and “A Lot More Free” have gone Platinum.

His new album, Leave On A Light, arrives September 25, adding another chapter to a rise that's been moving at serious speed.
In Newcastle, he'll be joined by The Wet Whistles, Tori Darke and Cheap Whiskey DJs, along with international guests yet to be revealed. But this isn't simply two country concerts happening on the same patch of grass.

There's the small matter of the rodeo. Bring on the bulls, For 2027, Howlin’ is leaning into the wider culture that's increasingly travelling alongside country music in Australia. There'll be bulls, broncos and barrel racing, with PBR Australia bringing its production experience into the event. During the day, families will also find the Little Howlers play area, line dancing, a mechanical bull and other activities around the foreshore.

At night, another gear gets added with a full rodeo ring and the Silent Saloon keeping things moving between the live action.
It's part music festival, part rodeo and part big Saturday get-together. For Howlin’ Country's Moe Matthew, that's precisely the point.“

We’re excited to be bringing a new experience to Howlin’ with the Rock N Rodeo,” he says. “The idea behind the two sessions is to allow new country fans to experience the music and event with their families during the day session at what we believe is an affordable price.“

And then the nighttime session opens up for those who are also ready to take it up a notch into the night. It’s a different event, but with all the usual Howlin’ bells and whistles.”

There's something else happening here that's worth paying attention to. Country music in Australia isn't sitting quietly in its own corner anymore. Over its first two years, Howlin’ Country has brought artists including Morgan Evans, Lainey Wilson, Kaitlin Butts, Flatland Cavalry, Paul Dempsey and Tyla Rodrigues to Newcastle.

Now the festival is expanding the idea beyond who's standing on stage. The boots, hats, dancing, rodeo and social side of country are increasingly becoming part of the attraction — particularly for a new generation discovering the music through artists from Nashville, Texas, regional Australia and everywhere in between. Howlin’ seems happy to lean straight into it. And Newcastle isn't a bad place to do it.

A summer Saturday on the foreshore. Country music coming from the stage. Bulls in the arena. Kids running around during the day and the party carrying on after dark. Sounds like country music has found itself a pretty good weekend.

Howlin’ Country presents Rock N Rodeo - Saturday February 13, 2027
Newcastle Foreshore

Day session — 10am–4pm Kasey Chambers,
The Wet Whistles,
Tori Darke,
Ellis Undercover,
Cheap Whiskey DJs &
International artists TBA, All ages and family friendly.
Kids tickets from $49.
Adult tickets from $99.

Night session — 4.30pm–10.30pm Max McNown (USA),
The Wet Whistles,
Tori Darke,
Cheap Whiskey DJs &
International artists TBA, All ages.
Kids tickets from $99.
Adult tickets from $129.

Howlin’ Pass For those with enough fuel in the tank to go from the first song to the last buckle, the Howlin’ Pass covers both sessions. Adults from $165 + booking fee.
Kids from $129 + booking fee.