General News
6 October, 2026
Join the Savannah singalong
PLENTY of whiskey and rye will be flowing at Savannah in the Round this weekend, with festival organisers also hoping to claim the title for the country’s biggest American Pie singalong when Don McLean takes the stage.
From iconic music legends to fresh, up-and-coming talent, this year’s Savannah in the Round is set to deliver even more unforgettable performances with over 60 artists performing across the four days.
The festival has quickly grown to become one of the biggest in the Far North and event director James Dein is very excited to deliver another show in 2026.
“We’re now out of marketing mode and very much into delivery mode, to make sure that what we do is all about patron experience, and we’re putting a lot of extra effort into that this year,” he said.
“That includes cleaner amenities, and more of them, better access around the site, and more detail in and around camping comfort.
“We think that the overall experience is going to be a good one. It’s going to be an amazing festival and we’re looking forward to delivering it.”
This year’s event boasts headline acts such as American Pie’s Don McLean and Aussie rockers, Icehouse, as well as country sensation Tyler Braden from the USA and Australia’s own, Missy Higgins.
Other big names include Lee Kernaghan, Ian Moss and Troy Cassar-Daley, The Wolfe Brothers, Mental As Anything, Wade Forster, and Max Jackson.
Mr Dein said this year’s lineup was a broad mix with something for everyone.
“I think we’ve got a well-rounded, solid festival lineup with something for everyone. It’s a real blend of genres across the board,” he said.
“We’ve got some wonderful heritage artists, but we’ve also got probably the strongest mix of new and emerging artists at the festival this year. It’s a cracking lineup.”
On Saturday night, Savannah in the Round will attempt to claim the unofficial title for the largest American Pie singalong Australia has ever seen, according to Mr Dein.
“We’re really looking forward to the big singalong with American Pie. It’s going to be amazing,” Mr Dien said.
“We just want to engage our tribe, get them in a happy place and get them singing along. We’re going for the largest singalong of American Pie in Australia.”
McLean will be performing on a grand piano, courtesy of the Pullman International Cairns, with the festival covering the costs of transport and tuning, “so it’ll get all the love and attention that a grand piano deserves”.
“Don had insisted on using a grand piano… so we threw it out to the community as a bit of fun,” Mr Dein explained.
“We had a lot of recommendations but one of the great hotels in Cairns stepped forward and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got three grand pianos. Which one would you like?”
The piano, which is displayed in the hotel’s foyer, will be delivered to the festival on Friday afternoon, ready for its big gig the next day.
Festivalgoers can expect another well-attended event, with ticket sales reportedly on par with numbers seen in 2024 when the festival saw a total of 25,000 in and out of the gates over the four days. Meanwhile, camping numbers were up on previous years with plenty of options still available.
All the action is set to start this Thursday with a Campers Concert, kicking off from 12.30pm, before the highly anticipated Great Northern Bullriding Series showcase from 7pm (see Page 17 for more information).
Attendees can then stick around for live entertainment from Jayne Denham at 9pm and the Luke Geiger Band from 10.35pm.
“It’s good to be back and we just can’t wait to open the gates and let a great festival get underway in Mareeba once again,” Mr Dein said.
Savannah in the Round will be held this Thursday to Sunday at the Mareeba Rodeo Grounds (Kerribee Park). For the full lineup, program, bus and accommodation information, and more, visit https://www.savannahintheround.com.au/
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Thursday
Campers Concert (Big Top Music Hall) officially kicks the festival into gear at 12.30pm.
The Great Northern Bullriding Series will then give attendees a taste of the country from 7pm.
Live music at the Big Top Music Hall (from 9pm) and Backyard Stage (9.30pm) when the dust settles.
Friday
Bull Bar: Action from 9.30am featuring Bondi Cigars (1.15pm), Clayton Mullen (2.30pm), and others.
Big Top Music Hall: Get the morning started right with line dancing from 8am-9.15am (Fri, Sat, Sun), then stick around for acts like Bachelor Girl (12.55pm) and Busby Marou (3.45pm).
Cape Stage: Fan favourites Max Jackson (4.45pm), Wade Forster (6.05pm) and Lee Kernaghan (7.25pm) before Tyler Braden at 9.10pm and The Wolfe Brothers from 10.45pm.
Saturday
Bull Bar: Featuring James Blundell (12noon), Roadtrippers (1.15pm), Hussy Hicks (2.30pm) and more.
Big Top Music Hall: See Toyota Star Maker winner Jarrad Wrigley (9.15am), young star-in-the-making Billy Vincent (1.15pm), 19-Twenty (3.40pm) and Mental As Anything from 11.45pm.
Cape Stage: Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley kick things off at 4.40pm, followed by all the big names including Don McLean (6pm), Ian Moss and Troy Cassar-Daley (7.35pm), Icehouse (9.05pm) and The Road Hammers (10.40pm).
Sunday
Bull Bar: Pete Denahy (10.45am), Catherine Britt (3.45pm) and Funhouse from 11.40pm.
Big Top Music Hall: Featuring Mackenzie May (9.15am), Tori Darke (10.05am) and Dragon from 3.25pm.
Cape Stage: Rising talent Bella Mackenzie gets things underway at 4.45pm, followed by Missy Higgins (6.05pm).
