General News
24 March, 2026
Music icons named for Savannah
AUSTRALIAN music icon Icehouse and legendary singer-songwriter Don McLean are the first of the major artists to be named for this year’s Savannah in the Round festival.
Two big name acts from Nashville, expected to be revealed next month, will join the first headline acts for the four-day music festival in Mareeba, from 8-11 October.
The announcement this week marks a major step in the festival’s rollout, with the headline artists anchoring a program that will again feature a mix of national, international and local performers across multiple stages at the Mareeba Rodeo Grounds.
Icehouse, led by Iva Davies, rose to prominence in the late 1970s and 1980s with a string of hits including Great Southern Land, Electric Blue and Crazy.
The band has remained a staple of the national music scene for more than four decades, with enduring appeal across multiple generations.
Joining them is Don McLean, whose career spans more than 50 years and includes the globally recognised anthem American Pie.
A Grammy Award honouree and inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, McLean’s catalogue also includes Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) and Castles in the Air, cementing his place as one of the most influential singer-songwriters of his era.
James Dein, festival director and chief executive officer of Sound Australia, said the headline announcement reflected the scale and direction of the event as it continued to grow as a major destination festival for regional Queensland.
“These headline acts set the tone for the entire weekend,” Mr 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.”
Mr Dein said Savannah in the Round’s success had been built on consistency, audience trust and a format that encouraged visitors to stay longer and fully engage with the region.
“They camp, they explore the region and they make Savannah part of a broader trip, which is good for the festival and good for Mareeba,” he said.
Independent economic analysis from the 2025 event shows Savannah in the Round delivered more than $7.4 million in direct and incremental expenditure for the Mareeba Shire and more than $12 million for the Queensland economy.
This was driven largely by visitors travelling from outside the region and staying for multiple nights, according to Mr Dein.
The festival attracted almost 12,000 individual attendees, accounting for more than 30,000 attendances across four days.
Queensland Minister for Tourism Andrew Powell said the announcement of the first headline acts marked an important milestone in the lead up to the 2026 event, which was set to contribute an estimated economic impact of $12.7 million into the state.
“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.
“This week’s headline artist announcement builds excitement for another strong year for Savannah in the Round and highlights the festival’s growing national profile.
“The Crisafulli Government is proud to support events like Savannah in the Round as they encourage visitors to stay longer, explore more, and support local businesses across Tropical North Queensland.”
Further artists will be announced in the coming months, with ticket and camping information available at www.savannahintheround.com.au
ARTISTS ANNOUNCED:
Icehouse
Don McLean
Lee Kernaghan
Ian Moss & Troy Cassar-Daley
The Wolfe Brothers
Mental As Anything
San Cisco
Max Jackson
Busby Marou
Bachelor Girl
Ganggajang
Chocolate Starfish
Wade Forster
Taylor Moss
The Road Hammers
Dan Davidson
Brooke Mcclymont & Adam Eckersley
Rachael Fahim
Tom Busby
Tori Darke
Jayne Denham
Hindley Street Country Club
Robbie Mortimer
Catherine Britt
James Blundell
Slim Dusty’s 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
Jarrad Wrigley
