Nundle Rocks returns for three days of music in the mountains

About 40 minutes east of Tamworth, tucked into the mountains of Kamilaroi Country, the little village of Nundle is preparing for another weekend of good music and good company.

From 22–24 January 2027, Nundle Rocks returns with more than 25 alt-country, folk and roots acts, bringing together established performers, emerging songwriters and music lovers looking for something a little different from the usual summer festival experience.
Now heading into its fifth year under the guidance of the Dashville crew, Nundle Rocks has become something of an unofficial summer holiday for the musicians and audiences who make the annual trip into the hills.

The appeal is straightforward: three days of live music in a country town with a good pub, cafés, a caravan park, a swimming pool and plenty of history. At the centre of it all is the Memorial Arts Hall, a charming old country venue with one particularly welcome feature in the middle of January — air conditioning.

The original Nundle Rocks concept emerged more than a decade ago as an alternative for country music fans wanting to escape the crowds along Tamworth's Peel Street. Dashville has since revived the event, retaining its intimate atmosphere while building a program that reflects the more independent side of Australian country, folk and roots music. Anyone familiar with Dashville Skyline will recognise the approach: good songwriting, genuine musicianship and a relaxed environment where the artists and audience are very much part of the same gathering.

Leading the 2027 lineup is ARIA Award-winning singer-songwriter William Crighton, whose powerful performances and distinctive storytelling have established him as one of Australia's most compelling roots artists. His music draws heavily on the Australian landscape, its history and its people, often exploring the darker and more complicated corners of the human experience.

Emily Lubitz also joins the bill, bringing her beautifully expressive voice and thoughtful songwriting to the weekend. Known for her work with Tinpan Orange and her subsequent solo career, Emily has developed a sound that moves comfortably between folk, country and contemporary songwriting.

Travelling from the UK is Beans On Toast, the performing name of British singer-songwriter Jay McAllister. His songs combine humour, honesty and observations about everyday life, delivered with a stripped-back folk approach that should find a welcoming audience in Nundle.

Victorian troubadour Watty Thompson returns with The Total Fire Band, bringing the kind of energetic, heartfelt performance that has made him a favourite on the independent touring circuit. Watty has a natural ability to draw an audience into his music, shifting between reflective songwriting and wonderfully spirited live moments.

The lineup also features a strong collection of Dashville regulars and emerging artists, including Magpie Diaries, Johnston City, Joey Leigh Wagtail, Georgie Winchester, Kingsley James & The Forest Keepers and CJ Stranger. They'll be joined by Hana & Jessie-Lee's Bad Habits, Max Marvell, Jono B-Smith, Col Ray Price, Big Wheels, Charley Castle & The Boys In The Well, T.C. Jones, Charlotte Le Lievre, Loretta Miller, J. Taylor Bell, Angie Who, Misty Harlowe and Luke Prout & The Dreamboat Armada.

It's the sort of program that rewards a little curiosity. You might arrive knowing a handful of names, but there's every chance you'll head home talking about somebody you've never heard of before. That's one of the pleasures of a smaller festival, where you can settle in and give an unfamiliar artist your attention rather than spending half the day rushing between stages.

There's also something special about seeing musicians perform in a room where the audience is close enough to appreciate the detail in a song. Nundle Rocks has developed a reputation for those intimate performances, and at the previous event, organisers experimented with recording live sets on a modest budget. The results apparently captured some memorable moments, with plans to share the recordings ahead of the 2027 gathering.

Another addition this year is the Supper Super Round, a variation on the popular Sunset Super Round from Dashville Skyline. The idea brings musicians together to perform their own interpretations of favourite cover songs, creating opportunities for unexpected collaborations and performances that might never happen anywhere else. It's a simple concept, but one that can produce some of the most enjoyable moments of a festival weekend.

The Nundle Nugget Hunters will once again bring proceedings to a close on Sunday night. The popular local supergroup has become something of a festival tradition, finishing the weekend with a suitably raucous performance and sending everyone home on a high.
Beyond the music, Nundle itself is an important part of the experience. With its gold-mining history, historic wool store, country hospitality and mountain setting, the village offers plenty of reasons to make a weekend of it. As the festival continues to grow, there's an expectation that more activities will develop around town, giving visitors an opportunity to explore the local businesses and attractions between performances.

It's also a reminder of the important role smaller music events can play in regional communities. Festivals like Nundle Rocks bring visitors into towns they might otherwise drive straight past, supporting local accommodation, hospitality and businesses while giving audiences a reason to explore another part of the country.

And that's really what makes Nundle Rocks appealing. It's not trying to compete with the enormous festival productions, and it doesn't need to. The attraction is the music, the setting and the opportunity to spend a few days among people who appreciate both. There's time to discover new artists, catch up with friends, enjoy a meal at the pub and take in a little of the surrounding countryside.

For anyone heading to Tamworth in January, it's worth allowing a few extra days and taking the road east into the mountains. Pack a bag, find somewhere to stay and settle in for a weekend of music in one of regional New South Wales' most interesting little towns.
Nundle Rocks 2027 takes place from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 January in Nundle, NSW, approximately 40 minutes east of Tamworth. 

Nundle Rocks 2027 lineup

William Crighton
Emily Lubitz
Beans On Toast (UK)
Watty Thompson & The Total Fire Band
Magpie Diaries
Johnston City
CJ Stranger
Georgie Winchester
Hana & Jessie-Lee's Bad Habits
Max Marvell, Jono B-Smith
Col Ray Price
Big Wheels
Charley Castle & The Boys In The Well
T.C. Jones
Charlotte Le Lievre
Kingsley James & The Forest Keepers
Loretta Miller
Joey Leigh Wagtail
J. Taylor Bell
Angie Who
Misty Harlowe
Luke Prout & The Dreamboat Armada 
The Nundle Nugget Hunters
Supper Super Round

Head here for more info www.dashville.com.au/nundle-rocks