The big red paddock at Mundi Mundi was buzzing for day one — stacked line-up, sold-out crowd, and plenty of Aussie artists ready to bring the vibes out on the Plains.
Mick Thomas kicked things off, rolling in with his signature storytelling and that cheeky charm he’s known for from Weddings Parties Anything. He had the crowd eating out of his hand, throwing out hit after hit with a few laughs tucked in between. It was the perfect way to ease into Thursday arvo — even with a few dusty heads in the mix, Mick’s tunes were just what everyone needed to get back in the groove.
And yep, someone definitely ordered an early sing-along. Highlights for me? “Monday’s Experts,” “Raining in My Heart,” the classic “Father’s Day,” and a cover of The Screaming Jets “Helping Hand” that hit a little deeper. Oh — and that Farnham track? Loved it.
Next up was the amazing Caitlyn Shadbolt — and wow, that voice! Seriously impressive. She was one of Australia’s rising country stars, and her set totally backed that up. Back for another round after last year’s bash, she was welcomed with open arms and picked up a bunch of new fans along the way.
Caitlyn didn’t hold back — she brought her A-game and dropped some killer tracks like “Bad Decisions” and her latest one, “Wildflowers,” which had the crowd singing right along. She absolutely owned that stage. Loved her energy and the way she commanded the whole vibe.
Shannon Noll rolled in like he owned the joint, ready to fire things up. Total crowd favourite from his Idol days — we all knew he was one of us. He smashed out the big ones: “What About Me,” “Shine,” “Drive,” and “Lift,” and didn’t miss a beat.
He even squeezed in a cheeky selfie, which the fans absolutely ate up. That grin of his lit up the whole paddock — and just like moths to a flame, we were all drawn in. He looked sharp on stage, and that powerhouse voice of his had the crowd hooked in no time.
Then came the moment — when he jumped on the war machine, the place went off. Total legend move.
We were all hanging out, ready for a bit of “Eagle Rock,” and Ross Wilson didn’t disappoint. He has been a crowd fave in years gone by, so it only made sense he came back to dish out the lyrical magic he’s known for.
The whole paddock was moving — adults, kids, you name it — all rocking out in a sea of chequered shirts and cowboy hats. He dropped classics like “Come Said the Boy” and “Cool World,” and when “Chemistry” and “State of the Heart” hit, it turned into a full-blown sing-along. Proper goosebumps stuff.
No wonder the guy’s been a legend in Aussie music for over fifty years — he had the crowd in the palm of his hand.
Thirsty Merc rolled in not long after, ready to tear through their killer back catalogue. They didn’t mess around — straight into bangers like “20 Good Reasons,” “Someday Someday,” and the Aussie classic “In the Summertime.”
The boys were locked in from the first note to the last, keeping the pace up and giving the crowd zero chance to catch their breath.
Rose Tattoo were exactly what you’d expect — loud, raw, and totally unapologetic. As soon as their set kicked off, the volume cranked up hard… pretty sure the soundie got a cheeky bribe to push everything into the red on the desk.
These guys have been tearing up stages for decades, and they came in fired up, ready to blow the roof off. No messing around — they kicked the door in and let loose with a storm of pure Aussie rock.
Their set was full throttle, packed with classics like “Scarred for Life,” “Rock ’n’ Roll Outlaw,” “One of the Boys,” and of course, the anthem that put them on the map — “We Can’t Be Beaten.” And judging by the crowd reaction, they weren’t.
Kasey Chambers hit the stage to a massive roar from the packed dancing arena — the cheers were loud and full of love. It was awesome seeing her family up there with her too. That crew’s got some serious musical talent running through their veins.
I was hanging out for the staples — “Not Pretty Enough” (which was absolutely stunning, such a moving version), “The Captain,” and “Pony.” And yep, like everyone else, I was hoping she’d drop that Eminem cover we were all waiting for.
She took a moment to share her journey to Mundi Mundi, talking about her childhood and travelling in a caravan her dad built with his own hands. It was such a grounding story, and you could feel how much it resonated with the crowd.
Loved the shift in pace she brought, and the way she opened up with so much honesty. Her vocals were next-level — raw, powerful, and full of heart.
Fresh off their 50th Anniversary tour and dropping their fourteenth studio album, The Angels were fired up and ready to go — and man, they delivered. Dressed sharp as ever, they hit the stage like a freight train, that unmistakable sound lighting up the crowd from the very first note.
The lights and pyro were spot on, blasting across a sea of 15,000 fans packed into the dance floor area — not a single person was standing still. You forget just how stacked their back catalogue is until they start rolling through hit after hit. Total rock royalty.
I was curious how they’d handle “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again” at a family-friendly gig… but to my surprise, they kept it true. The kids were all in — parents, maybe not so much. Either way, it went down a treat!
Friday can’t come quick enough! What a day!
Photos by Hunter Brothers Media
