In less than three weeks the biggest buckle battle in the Southern Hemisphere will take place – the world famous Mount Isa Mines Rodeo. While a record number of riders are set to compete for Australia’s largest rodeo prize pool of over $300,000, on stage some of the country’s biggest names in music including Guy Sebastian and Baker Boy lead three nights of Rodeo Rock!
The addition of the first ever Mount Isa Indigenous Rodeo Championships into Rodeo Week on Thursday August 11, creates FOUR DAYS of non-stop rodeo action through until Sunday August 14.
The Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships Concert on Thursday evening August 11 will deliver big time – led by Baker Boy, the Sundowners Kalkutungu Dancers, the Desert Dust Dance Group and local DJ Deadly Jacob who opens for Baker Boy.
The Yolŋu superstar Baker Boy (Danzal Baker) relishes keeping people on their toes. He’s revelling in a nostalgic side with his first single since 2021’s acclaimed debut album Gela. The dancer, rapper and singer has reimagined Bernard Fanning’s acoustic folk ‘Wish You Well’ as a feel-good hip-hop anthem alongside the Powderfinger front man himself. In April the Fresh Prince Of Arnhem Land went viral with his high-energy rendition of Blur’s ‘Song 2’ for triple j’s Like A Version. Mashing up the Brit-pop classic with the Baha Men’s ‘Who Let The Dogs Out’ (shook!), Baker Boy flowed in his Yolŋu Matha tongue and played Yidaki.
Leading Rodeo Rock on the Friday evening and fresh off his 2022 sell-out and record breaking T.R.U.T.H. Arena tour, is one of Australia’s most well-loved artists, Guy Sebastian (AM). The only Australian male to boast six #1 singles and three #1 albums in ARIA chart history, he is undeniably one of this country’s most successful and enduring artists of all time. As the first-ever Australian contestant at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest, which attracted 200 million viewers, Sebastian finished in fifth place. Guy has shifted well over 7 million combined units worldwide, has over 725million streams world-wide, while attaining 69 Platinum certifications and 8 Golds certifications since he first exploded through our TV sets and into our hearts as winner of the inaugural season of ‘Australian Idol’ back in 2003. He continues to shine on TV as a popular and winning Coach on The Voice, and recently sold out 23 arena shows to recording breaking capacity. Guy is an avid community minded man of soul with his philanthropic work with The Sebastian Foundation.
Twin brothers Jack and Patrick Pierce of the Pierce Brothers will also play on Friday night. The high energy duo has been a staple of the Australian indie-folk/blues and roots scene since they exploded on the stage in 2014, starting their career as buskers on Bourke Street in Melbourne. While they’ve toured all over the world, it was during the 2020 lockdown that the boys took to the studio for six weeks and created their most ambitious record yet, Into The Great Unknown.
Headlining on Saturday night are country-rock titans, McAlister Kemp, one of the most successful Australian country acts of the last decade. From the breakout success of their debut album All Kinds of Tough’in 2010, through their incredible live shows, and their additional two albums Country Proud (2012) and Harder to Tame (2014), Drew McAlister and Troy Kemp’s work is packed with hands-in-the-air rockers like “Hell Yeah”, “Hard Work” and “Country Proud” along with anthems like “It Don’t Buy You Love”, “Fight Me” and “All Kinds of Tough”. Their new single ‘Paid for Drinking Beer’ is out now and set to rock the Isa stage!
Starting the party on Saturday night is star of Raised Like That and Small Town fame James Johnston. A country boy born and bred in Wingham; James Johnston has built a sound that is capturing the hearts of listeners everywhere and is a definite crowd favourite.
Tickets are ON SALE NOW at Isarodeo.com.au.
Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships: Thursday August 11, 2022
In partnership with Mona Aboriginal Corporation
Buchanan Park Events Complex, George and Sutton Street, Mt Isa
Website: Isarodeo.com.au
The Queensland Government is the Principal Partner of the Indigenous Rodeo Championships and Roadshow
Mount Isa Mines Rodeo: August 11 to 14, 2022
The Mount Isa Mines Rodeo is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere
Thursday 11th August to Sunday 14th August 2022
Website: Isarodeo.com.au
This event is supported by the Queensland Government, via Tourism and Events Queensland
