Country Fest Downsizes

Past headliners Alan Jackson and Tim McGraw drew 12,000 to the CMC Rocks North Queensland festival in Townsville. But this year’s bill, topped by Gary Allan, shifted just 1,100 tickets in two months.

Last year 6,000 tickets sold in a week. Promoter Rob Potts of Sydney-based Rob Potts Entertainment Edge called the response “disappointing” in the Townsville Bulletin.

The Sept. 27 event was moved from Reid Park to the 5,257-capacity Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre. Six Australian acts, including major drawcards Lee Kernaghan, Kasey Chambers and Troy Cassar-Daley, were dropped. U.S. acts The Mavericks and Blackjack Billy and Australia’s Morgan Evans remain.

Potts is negotiating with a U.S. “megastar” for the 2015 event.

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