Icehouse and Don McLean to headline Savannah in the Round
Mareeba festival
Aussie rock band Icehouse and US singer-songwriter Don McLean have been revealed as headline acts for Mareeba’s Savannah in the Round festival this October following the first band announcement this week.
Other top-liners to be announced include Mental as Anything, San Cisco, Ganggajang, Lee Kernaghan, Busby Marou, and Ian Moss and Troy Cassar-Daley.
Other festival favourites returning to Far North Queensland include Max Jackson and The Wolfe Brothers.
Led by Iva Davies, Icehouse songs such as Great Southern Land, Electric Blue and Crazy are all Aussie favourites, while McLean is the name behind global hits such as American Pie, Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) and Castles in the Air.
Mental as Anything has produced hit songs such as Live It Up, The Nips Are Getting Bigger and If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too.
Festival director James Dein said the event continues to grow.
“These headline acts set the tone for the entire weekend,” Dein said.
“They are artists people will travel for, and they sit at the centre of a program that is designed to deliver four full days of live music and entertainment.”
Last year Savannah in the Round was believed to deliver more than $7.4m to Mareeba Shire, largely driven by visitors travelling from outside the region and staying multiple nights.
The festival attracted close to 12,000 visitors and more than 30,000 attendances across four days.
State Tourism Minister Andrew Powell said the festival is set to contribute about $12.7m into the state this year.
“Savannah in the Round continues to demonstrate the strength of Queensland’s regional events calendar, drawing more than 10,000 visitors to the region, and delivering strong economic benefits," he said.
Other acts announced this week are Bachelor Girl, Chocolate Starfish, Wade Forster, Taylor Moss, The Road Hammers, Dan Davidson, Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley, Rachael Fahim, Tom Busby, Tori Darke, Jayne Denham, Hindley Street Country Club, Robbie Mortimer, Catherine Britt, James Blundell, Slim Dusty’s Travelling Country Band - Pete Denahy, Hussy Hicks, The Pleasures, 19-Twenty, Hillbilly Goats, Billy Vincent, Mackenzie May, Bondi Cigars, Luke Geiger, Roadtrippers, Jeremy Fletcher Band, Three Fires Show, Saltheads and Jarrad Wrigley - Toyota Star Maker.
Savannah in the Round is on at Mareeba Rodeo Grounds from October 8-11.
Further artists will be announced in the coming months, with ticket and camping information available at www.savannahintheround.com.au.
