Stephanie Brownlee

8pm to 10pm – Friday 6 August (Mardi Gras Precinct) FREE
Up-and-coming talent Stephanie Brownlee promises to be an important new voice in Australian music. Taking equal influence from her country laced roots growing up in Tamworth as well as her insatiable passion for music from a range of genres Stephanie’s talent is only outweighed by her fervent determination and will to succeed. With her debut album “Keep It Real” due for release in 2010, Stephanie is at the cusp of seeing her years of toiling away at developing her voice and song writing nous comes to fruition.

Stephanie garnered her first recognition from the wider music community taking out first place in the junior section of the 2006 Maton Talent Search at Gympie Muster at the tender age of 14. She went on to score five awards in the 2007 Martin Fallon Cavalier Homes Junior Country Festival and made the final cut in the Aristocrat Entertainer of the Year Awards at Tamworth's Country Music Festival.

Website - www.stephaniebrownlee.com.au

Luke Austen

12 noon – Saturday 7 August (Rodeo Forecourt)
2010 Toyota Star Maker winner, Luke Austen, has a wealth of experience for a 28-year-old. This Brisbane based singer/songwriter released his debut five track EP at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in 2009 and recently had a final cut on Troy Cassar-Daley's Aria Award winning album “I love this place” with a co-written song with Troy on “This town is me”.

Travelling Australia extensively for the last six years with country music super-star Troy Cassar-Daley's Touring Band, Luke has played major events like Tamworth Country Music Festival, Gympie Muster, Caboolture Urban Music Festival, Aboriginal Dreaming Festivals, A Day on the Green vineyard concerts, Perth City Muster, Darwin City Muster to name a few and had performances on Sunrise, The Morning Show, The Today Show, Mornings with Kerri-Anne and the Golden Guitar Awards.

Victoria Baillie

1.30pm – Saturday 7 August (Rodeo Forecourt)
Having first caught the attention of country music fans in 2006 with the release of her self-titled EP, country pop sensation Victoria Baillie has now established herself as one of country music’s hottest talents. Since the release of her album, Start Brand New in early 2009, Victoria Baillie has toured nationally, had significant chart success and been honoured with an endorsement from international clothing giant, RM Williams.

Victoria recently received one of country music’s highest accolades - a Golden Guitar for Maton New Talent of the Year at the 2010 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia. Her music is fresh, innovative and undeniably contemporary, and she has a voice that transcends musical boundaries to touch the heart and the mind.

Website - www.victoriabaillie.com

Luke Dickens

3pm – Saturday 7 August (Rodeo Forecourt)
There is clearly something about Luke Dickens' story that resonates deeply within the Australian psyche. A country kid with a yin for the outback, Luke left school at 16 and plied his trade shearing sheep in the dusty outcrop of Young for the next nine years – a life he would have been quite happy continuing to lead – however, a dare to audition for Australian Idol soon changed everything.

Dazzling the judges with a rousing rendition of Billy Joel's classic Piano Man, Luke found himself selected for the esteemed top 24 and as it so turned that was only the start of Luke's journey. His honest spirit, soaring voice and natural charisma saw the Australian public take Luke into their hearts and in return took Luke to the vaulted top two of that year's competition – not bad for someone who had never set foot in the music industry.

Website - www.lukedickens.com.au

Amber Lawrence

7.15pm - Saturday 7 August (Rodeo Forecourt)
When it all comes down to it, Amber Lawrence, the award-winning singer-songwriter has much to be proud of – having just been announced as the inaugural winner of the “Telstra Horizon Award” at the 2010 Tamworth Golden Guitar Awards. The award is to commend a young artist for their success in touring, recording, song writing and performing and whilst being young themselves, are excellent mentors.

This comes off the back of the release of Amber’s second album “When It All Comes Down” which received 3 prestigious Golden Guitar nominations for the 2010 awards, and is described as “country gold” (Herald Sun) and “one of the must have albums of 2009” (Capital News).

Website - www.amberlawrence.com

Catherine Britt

8.45pm - Saturday 7 August (Rodeo Forecourt)
In 2009 Catherine Britt declared, “To make an album that I believe truly represents me as an artist, songwriter and individual means the world to me”. That mantra has resulted in a self-titled album, the Newcastle born and raised singer songwriter’s fourth, comprised of songs that are either written or co-written by Catherine that fully resonates her declaration. One listen will prove Catherine was right to follow her instincts. Recorded in Australia “Catherine Britt” may prove to be her best and most consistent album yet. It is certainly her most personal, diverse and mature.

Catherine was forged in the afterglow of winning the 2009 Female Artist of the Year at the CMAA Awards. Winning the award is what she’s been working towards since she first began singing at age 10, but by the time the CMAA Award for her confessional “What I Did Last Night” was in her hand she knew that she wanted to make changes.

Website - www.catherinebritt.com

Shea Fisher

12 noon – Sunday 8 August (Rodeo Forecourt)
Following a trip to the United States at the age of 10 with her father, a champion bull rider, American country music caught Shea Fisher's imagination. A champion barrel racer herself, Shea had become a huge fan of Reba McEntire while in Australia, but her world changed when she first heard Shania Twain's music while performing in a school play in tiny Elida, New Mexico.

Ten years later, just 21 years old, Shea is fulfilling that dream introducing her own brand of cutting-edge country music. Shea was named Queensland Country Music Awards “Best New Talent” and has just returned from US. She will be singing the national anthem inside the Rodeo Arena on Friday Night and Saturday as part of the Grand Entry Parade.

Website - www.sheafisher.com