Ipswich City Council has extended its partnership with Australia’s largest international country and roots music festival, CMC Rocks, for a further year.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said CMC Rocks has been a runaway success since relocating to Ipswich in 2015, growing visitor numbers each year and injecting millions into the local economy.
The 2024 event attracted almost 24,000 visitors, 94 per cent of whom were from outside the Ipswich region.
“CMC Rocks is an iconic Queensland event with people travelling from all over Australia and the world to see the biggest country music stars, and to kick up the Willowbank dust with their mates,” Mayor Harding said.
“It brings significant benefits to Ipswich with the 2023 festival attracting 23,814 attendees, 94 per cent of whom were from outside the Ipswich Local Government Area, and delivering more than $14 million in direct and incremental spend to the Ipswich economy.
“CMC Rocks is one of our key festivals and with nearly 1.5 million people making day trips to the city annually you can see why we are one the fastest growing regions in the country.”
CMC Rocks has called Ipswich home since 2015 and council has been a partner for the entire time, celebrating a decade of support this year.
Economic and Cultural Development Committee Chairperson Councillor Pye Augustine said the extension aligns council’s support with Tourism and Events Queensland’s (TEQ) current contract.
“In March this year, TEQ announced a new two-year deal to retain CMC Rocks in Ipswich until 2026, and we were proud to extend our current sponsorship accordingly,” Cr Augustine said.
“We are continuing to supercharge our events calendar each year and Ipswich is truly becoming a place where people can live, work and play.
“Events like this are key to the growth of our visitor economy.”
CMC Rocks is locked into Willowbank until 2026, with the 2025 dates set for 21-23 March.
CMC Rocks attracts the hottest global superstars with the 2024 event delivering Grammy Award winner for Best Country Album Lainey Wilson performing alongside Tyler Hubbard, Chris Young, Chase Rice and many more.
