Kingswood, Troy Cassar-Daley and Pete Murray lead QLD Music Trails' Outback adventure for 2027

Written by: Emily Gorecki
Category: Music
Published: October 14, 2026

The open road is calling, with QLD Music Trails: The Outback returning from 8 to 22 May 2027, bringing Kingswood, Troy Cassar-Daley, Pete Murray and a host of Australian artists to seven towns across Outback Queensland for a music-filled road trip.

There's something about a long stretch of outback highway, a good playlist and the promise of live music waiting at the next stop.

Throw in a few country towns, some spectacular landscapes and a line-up of Australian artists, and you've got the makings of a road trip worth clearing the calendar for.

QLD Music Trails: The Outback is returning for its fifth consecutive year in May 2027, inviting travellers to hit the road for a self-drive musical adventure stretching 1,400 kilometres from Charleville to Mount Isa.

Presented by Queensland Music Festival (QMF), the experience combines live performances with regional culture, local stories and the freedom to explore at your own pace.

And with Kingswood, Troy Cassar-Daley, Pete Murray, Pierce Brothers, Tori Darke and more confirmed, there's plenty of music worth travelling for.

The journey begins on 8 May at Charleville Racecourse, where Australian rockers Kingswood will headline *Saddle Up*, an opening-night celebration of country rock, dancing and good old-fashioned outback hospitality.

Joining them are emerging country artists Dear Tommie and Jess Holbrok, setting the tone for a journey that moves between contemporary country, rock, folk and traditional Australian music.

From there, the Trail heads west through a series of communities, each offering its own take on the travelling music festival experience.

Blackall will host a bush dance at its historic Woolscour, with bluegrass and bush band The Smashing Bumpkins providing the soundtrack, while Barcaldine's Outback Exchange will bring people together through conversations and performances exploring the theme of legacy.

One of the most significant stops comes in Longreach on 14 May, where Australian country music legend Slim Dusty will be celebrated during what would have been his 100th birthday year.

Held inside the QANTAS Founders Museum, Dusty Days will feature Troy Cassar-Daley, Kingswood and Tori Darke performing among the aircraft in a setting that brings together two enduring parts of Australian history: country music and aviation.

Presented in association with Opera Queensland's Festival of Outback Opera, the event promises a fitting tribute to an artist whose songs have long been associated with the people and places of regional Australia.

Further along the road, Winton will swap the traditional concert format for something a little different.

Diamonds in the Dust will transform the town into a one-night pop-up piano bar, inviting travellers to request their favourite songs and sing along with local performers and special guests.

Julia Creek will follow with Dinner Under the Stars, a relaxed long-table gathering combining food, music and conversation beneath the outback sky.

The evening will also feature the 2027 Toyota Star Maker winner, who will be announced at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January.

The journey wraps up in Mount Isa on 22 May with *Outback Sounds*, the Trail's signature finale at Buchanan Park.

Pete Murray will headline the event, joined by Melbourne folk-rock duo Pierce Brothers, Y.O.G.A with their distinctive Cowboy Techno sound, and country vocalist Tori Darke.

Darke will also return as the official Outback Trail Ambassador, performing and accompanying travellers throughout the journey.

While the music is a major drawcard, the Trail has also become an important event for the communities along its route. The 2026 edition attracted more than 7,650 attendees across 16 days, representing a 95 per cent increase in attendance on the previous year.

Among those visitors, 2,339 travelled from outside the region, generating 21,684 accommodation nights and contributing an estimated $2.6 million in visitor expenditure across Queensland. The event also supported employment for 82 Queenslanders, including 41 First Nations artists and arts workers.

QMF CEO Daryl Raven says the growing popularity of the Trail demonstrates the value of bringing cultural experiences directly into regional communities. ‘The Outback 2026 was our biggest Trail yet, with more than 7,000 locals and travellers joining us across eight communities and 1,400 kilometres of regional Queensland,’ Raven says.

‘The scale of that engagement shows the incredible appetite for shared cultural tourism experiences in Outback Queensland, and the role music events can play in connecting communities, industry and visitors.’

For 2027, organisers are expecting hundreds of dedicated travellers to complete the full route, with thousands more joining individual events along the way. And that's part of what makes the format appealing.

Unlike a traditional festival where everything happens in one location, the Outback Trail gives audiences the chance to discover new places between performances, support local businesses and experience the character of each town along the way.

For some, it might mean packing the caravan and following the entire route. For others, it could be a weekend away built around a favourite artist or an event they've never experienced before. Either way, the journey is as much a part of the experience as the music itself.

With seven towns, a diverse line-up and some of Australia's most recognisable artists taking the stage, the 2027 Outback Trail is shaping up as another compelling reason to head west.

And really, what better excuse is there for a road trip than chasing good music across the Queensland outback?

The Outback Trail 2027 – dates and highlights

8 May – Charleville: Saddle Up, featuring Kingswood, Dear Tommie and Jess Holbrok at Charleville Racecourse.
11 May – Blackall: Blackall Bush Dance, featuring The Smashing Bumpkins at the historic Blackall Woolscour.
12 May – Barcaldine: Outback Exchange, exploring the theme of legacy through performance and conversation.
14 May – Longreach: Dusty Days, celebrating Slim Dusty's centenary year with Troy Cassar-Daley, Kingswood and Tori Darke at QANTAS Founders Museum.
17 May – Winton: Diamonds in the Dust, a one-night pop-up piano bar with local talent and special guests.
19 May – Julia Creek: Dinner Under the Stars, featuring the 2027 Toyota Star Maker winner.
22 May – Mount Isa: Outback Sounds, featuring Pete Murray, Pierce Brothers, Y.O.G.A and Tori Darke at Buchanan Park.