They came, they played, they lit up the outback – and now, Headliners are back.
Performers from two break-out bands formed during the ABC’s celebrated 2024 television series Headliners, an original series from Endemol Shine Australia (a Banijay Entertainment Company), are joining the 2025 Mundi Mundi Bash line-up, performing in a newly formed band named after the series. The group – composed entirely of musicians living with disability – won hearts at last year’s festival and will return to the iconic red-earth Mundi Mundi plains outside Broken Hill this August for a special encore set.
Festival founder and Managing Director of the Outback Music Festival Group Greg Donovan says their return marks a deeper evolution in the event’s mission.
“We’ve always prided ourselves on inclusivity,” Donovan says. “But last year’s collaboration with Headliners reframed what that looks like – not just for audiences, but for performers. We’re thrilled to have them back, this time as one unified band.”
The origin of Headliners’ is anything but a typical story. Born from the ABC TV series, the band merges talents from the original two ensembles, Sync or Swim and Together With Strangers, formed under the guidance of Elly-May Barnes, Ella Hooper and Tim Rogers (all episodes of the Headliners TV series are available to stream on ABC iview – https://iview.abc.net.au/show/headliners). The resulting supergroup is set to continue sparking conversations around accessibility, inclusion and representation within the music industry.
“I am beyond proud of my incredible friends, Headliners, who are playing at the amazing Mundi Mundi Festival for the second year in a row. This Festival is incredible and is proving that they care about these changes to our industry, even without the TV cameras there. I love Mundi Mundi and the band and I am really proud to have been a part of the journey,” said Elly-May Barnes.
Headliners will hit the Mundi Mundi stage on the afternoon of Wednesday August 20, before Bash favourites Chocolate Starfish, where they’ll perform for the early entry festival goers.
Headliner band members include:
- Sonnet Cure, a vocalist who is deaf in one ear, says the invitation back means “our voices are still important, and we get to keep sharing our message. We’re making sure that the rest of Australia doesn’t forget about accessibility.”
- Guitarist Kayleb calls heading back to the Mundi Mundi Bash “a privilege” and promises a show festival goers won’t forget: “We’re going to rock hard and play hard in front of a massive crowd. I’m going to play better than last year now that we’re a super group.”
- Rapper MC Wheels, who lives with spinal muscular atrophy, calls last year’s show “the greatest moment” of his career and says, “to be able to do that again is mind blowing.”
- Prairie, who is a bassist, says the Mundi Mundi Bash last year facilitated a deeper conversation about accessibility. “Mundi 2024 was a life changing experience. I haven’t experienced a festival that felt inclusive the way that Mundi did. I can’t wait to keep the conversation going.”
- Aimee, a blues singer and guitarist who has a prosthetic leg, says, “I’m thrilled and honoured to return to the 2025 Mundi Mundi Bash! Performing alongside the Headliners crew is an experience I truly cherish.”
- Mikky, a guitarist, reflects on the shift: “Last year, we had a whole production team guiding us, but this year, we are here on our own merit, and that makes it all the more incredible. I feel really grateful and excited to be playing at this amazing festival.”
- And drummer James, who has Tourette syndrome, is still stunned: “Last year I thought to myself the Headliners experience at Mundi Mundi was a once in a lifetime opportunity. To be given a second chance with everyone behind us is beyond anything I could’ve anticipated.”
Set against the cinematic backdrop of the Mundi Mundi Plains, the 2025 festival – now more than 95% sold out – will welcome nearly 15,000 patrons from across the country.
The line-up that Headliners are joining reads like a who’s who of Aussie music royalty: Missy Higgins, Hoodoo Gurus, The Cat Empire, Birds of Tokyo, The Angels, Kasey Chambers, Kate Ceberano, Leo Sayer, and many more.
While Sarah McLeod has bowed out of this year’s festival to take up a month-long run at the Edinburgh Fringe with 27 Club, she promises to return: “It’s my favourite festival and it was a hard call, The Mundi Mundi Bash organisers were very understanding – so I’m going to go, but I’ll be back next year.”
Beyond the music, the Bash offers its signature outback mix of quirk and camaraderie – world record dance-offs (yes, Nutbush), Mad Max cosplay, camel rides, and even a ‘Mundi Undie Run’ raising funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. It’s BYO booze, dog-friendly, and for the first time ever, features sealed road access right to the gate – thanks to a newly completed 2.5km stretch by the NSW Government.
2025 Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash
Belmont Station, on the Mundi Mundi Plains
9km north of Silverton – 35km north of Broken Hill
August 21-23, 2025
www.mundimundibash.com.au – more than 95% sold out
Missy Higgins, Hoodoo Gurus, The Cat Empire, Birds of Tokyo, The Angels, Kasey Chambers, Kate Ceberano, Leo Sayer, Chocolate Starfish, Brad Cox, Rose Tattoo, Ross Wilson, Shannon Noll, Pierce Brothers, Thirsty Merc, Dragon, Mi-Sex, Ziggy – 50 Years of David Bowie starring Iota, Jeff Duff, Steve Balbi and Bryden Stace, 19Twenty, Chantoozies, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Mick Thomas, Headliners, Leroy Johnson and the Waterbag Bag Band and Tha Boiz
