Download the official festival programme here!

The Snowys are set to be well and truly rocked in 2010! XYZnetworks’ Country Music Channel (CMC), Rob Potts Entertainment Edge and Chugg Entertainment today announced the first line up of artists confirmed to perform at CMC ROCKS THE SNOWYS 2010, being held at Friday Flat, Thredbo on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 March 2010, the Canberra Day long weekend and Victoria’s Labour Day long weekend.

Renowned for the raucous energy of his live shows, PHIL VASSAR (USA) has been writing hits for himself and others for over a decade. Country music’s ‘Piano Man’ has scored big with songs like Bye-Bye and I’m Alright (both massive hits for Jo Dee Messina) and Another Day In Paradise. The rowdy spirit of his life-affirming anthems translates to his concert performances, and he’ll be making his first trip down under for an exclusive one-off performance at CMC ROCKS THE SNOWYS.

Australian country music icon LEE KERNAGHAN is coming to Thredbo for CMC ROCKS THE SNOWYS 2010. A dynamic and hugely successful performer, he has been awarded 27 Golden Guitars, 3 ARIA Awards, has had 26 number one hits and in 2008 was named Australian of the Year. His eleventh album, Planet Country, has just been released and he was recently named the biggest hit-maker of the last twenty years on the Australian Country Tracks Chart 2009. A perennial crowd favourite, LEE KERNAGHAN is a perfect addition to the CMC ROCKS THE SNOWYS 2010 line up.

One of Australia’s greatest and most loved voices, GUY SEBASTIAN will be taking to the stage in March next year as well. An ARIA Award-winning and multi-platinum selling artist, GUY SEBASTIAN has just released his fifth studio album, Like It Like That, a collection of songs influenced by the experience of his previous release The Memphis Album. These albums are a departure from the pop sensibilities of his early career, and position him as a genuinely talented rhythm and soul artist. His performance at the festival next year is guaranteed to be nothing less than entertaining.

“I’m really looking forward to playing the next CMC Rocks the Snowys,” says GUY SEBASTIAN. “I’ve heard a lot of great things about the festival and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Taking the stage at Australia’s premiere roots and country music festival will be Australia’s first lady of alternative country music, KASEY CHAMBERS. It’s been a successful couple of years for the multi ARIA & CMAA Award winner with her recent album Rattlin’ Bones, a collaboration with husband Shane Nicholson, debuting at number one on the Australian charts. KASEY CHAMBERS was also part of the stellar line up at the massive Sound Relief event earlier this year.

Texas-born songwriter and dynamic performer JACK INGRAM is coming to Australia for the very first time for CMC ROCKS THE SNOWYS. With a career spanning more than a decade, he remains at the forefront of country music with Big Dreams & High Hopes, his seventh studio album, released in September. If you want to find out what rockin’ Texas Country is all about, don’t miss the contemporary country sounds of JACK INGRAM when he hits Thredbo in March.

Grammy-winner NANCI GRIFFITH (USA) has defied genres, finding success across rock, folk and country, and earning the respect and admiration of collaborators like Jimmy Buffet, Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson. The singer-songwriter has penned enduring songs including Love at the Five and Dime and Outbound Plane in a career spanning over 30 years. Never afraid to tackle difficult topics head on in her songs, her performance is always full of passion and deep honesty.

RICHARD CLAPTON is without a doubt one of this country’s leading singer/songwriters. He paved the way for three generations of songwriters to write about the experience of being Australian. RICHARD CLAPTON is one of the few iconic Australian artists who have managed to maintain a major recording career for the past 35 years. With widespread popularity he is a fantastic addition to the CMC ROCKS THE SNOWYS 2010 line up.

Returning to Thredbo next year will be the charismatic and hugely talented ADAM HARVEY. He performed at the inaugural CMC ROCKS THE SNOWYS in 2008 and is back for another weekend of world class music. A multi-Golden Guitar winner, ADAM HARVEY’s laconic sense of humour, smooth baritone, and his passion for good music makes him one of Australia’s favourite artists.

STEVE FORDE is a Snowys crowd favourite, a mainstay of the festival, and one of Australia’s best loved live performers. He’s an artist who’s blazed his own trail through country music over almost a decade of recording and performing. A former rodeo rider who channels the same energy and spirit into his music, Steve has built a fiercely loyal fanbase through years crossing the length and breadth of Australia. His rockin’ live shows are legendary among Aussie country fans and he will return to rock the Snowys in 2010.

Canada’s DOC WALKER is fast becoming one of the hottest country acts in North America. Childhood friends, the trio have earned themselves the title of “the hardest working Country band in Canada”. Their stellar career has already netted them multiple Top 10 and Top 5 hits on Canadian Radio as well as numerous Canadian Juno and CCMA Music Awards. With their distinctive blend of tight pop sensibilities, vocal harmonies and driving rhythms it is easy to see why they have amassed such a legion of fans in their home land. Don’t miss DOC WALKER when they take over the Snowys.

TANIA KERNAGHAN was destined to become a country music star, coming of age in one of Australian country’s first families. Daughter of Ray and brother of Lee, Tania grew up with a passion for country music and a love of live performance that has taken to the top of the country scene. From the release of her first (platinum-selling) album December Moon in 1996, Kernaghan has remained one of country music’s premiere female artists.

DAN SULTAN is an extraordinarily talented musician whose sound is a blend of blues, soul and country. His debut album Homemade Biscuits received rave reviews since its release. With his highly anticipated second album due to be released towards the end of the year, and a starring role in the upcoming film, Bran Nue Dae,alongside Geoffrey Rush, Jessica Mauboy and Missy Higgins, expect DAN SULTAN to be a memorable artist at CMC ROCKS THE SNOWYS 2010.

One of Australia’s most promising singer/songwriters, SINEAD BURGESS will be back at Thredbo in March 2010. Spending the past year touring around Australia, SINEAD BURGESS is currently writing songs for her debut album. Her fresh youthful sound will appeal to many of the Taylor Swift fans who attended the festival in 2009.

An all-star interstate musical collaboration, Australian band THE WILSON PICKERS have crafted their own unique take on bluegrass and create an earthy energy when they perform by using purely organic stringed and reeded instruments. Be sure to check them out at CMC ROCKS THE SNOWYS 2010.

PETER McWHIRTER, the 2009 winner of the Telstra Road To Tamworth will be bringing his fresh, exciting take on contemporary country music to Thredbo. His debut album, recorded in Nashville with acclaimed producer Mark Moffatt will be launched at the festival.

Also appearing at the festival will be PAUL GREENE. The singer/songwriter, whose music defies categorisation, performs solo with stomp box, harmonicas, a battery of guitars and a ton of soul.

Hailing from Newcastle MARK WELLS is riding a wave of success after winning the Songwriter’s Prize at the Telstra Road to Tamworth in 2008. His performance at Thredbo is guaranteed to be energetic!

A crowd favourite at CMC ROCKS THE SNOWYS 2009, award-winning singer/songwriter AMBER LAWRENCE has just released her second album and will be showcasing new material from her latest release when she returns in 2010.

MIKE CARR has won several Golden Guitars as a prolific, respected and in-demand songwriter. With one of the best voices in Australian country music today he is an exciting addition to next year’s line up. Mike will also share the duties as MC for the event.

Former Star Maker Winner, Telstra Road To Tamworth song writer winner and Golden Guitar Best new talent winner, KIRSTY LEE AKERS will be performing material from her second album, Better Days which debuted at number four on the ARIA Country Music Album Chart.

Victorian four-piece JETTY ROAD, whose music has been described as ‘a tapestry of rock, pop and country, with a hint of folk’, will also be rockin’ the Snowys in March.

Roots and bluegrass duo BUSBYMAROU hail from Rockhampton and with only a handful of shows under their belt, they are quickly making an impact on the Australian music scene. Their debut EP, The Blue Road, was produced by Pete Murray and critically acclaimed producer Anthony Lycenko (David Bowie, Pete Murray, The Beautiful Girls). BUSBYMAROU’s unique alternate-country sounds should not be missed at CMC ROCKS THE SNOWYS 2010.

Brother and sister duo THE HARRISONS, whose contemporary sound blending close-knit harmonies and guitar, will make their CMC ROCKS THE SNOWYS debut in 2010.

Rising star VICTORIA BAILLIE will also be performing at the festival next year. The vibrant and talented young artist won the Rising Star/Female Award at the 2006 Independent Country Music Awards.

Although only in its third year, CMC ROCKS THE SNOWYS has already presented some of the biggest country and roots acts in the world and already has a reputation for offering country music fans mind-blowing line-ups not seen anywhere else in Australia, and has become a major fixture on the roots and country music festival calendar.

In an exciting new feature of CMC ROCKS THE SNOWYS in 2010, a series of free side concerts will be staged at the Thredbo Village over the festival weekend, featuring local and international artists from the festival – DOC WALKER (CAN), MIKE CARR, PETER McWHIRTER and MARK WELLS.

Also performing will be rising star JASMINE RAE, exclusively on the side shows. For times and venue details, please visit. www.countrymusicchannel.com.au

Taking hosting duties will be singer/songwriter and festival fave MIKE CARR, who is also performing. This is the final touch to what is sure to be another fantastic CMC ROCKS THE SNOWYS.

Located at the very TOP of Australia, it’s a massive weekend of music across two stages, with world class performances at an idyllic location. Don’t miss CMC ROCKS THE SNOWYS 2010!

Tickets are on sale now! For information on ticketing, accommodation, packages and up-to-date festival details, go to www.countrymusicchannel.com.au.

CMC ROCKS THE SNOWYS – 5 & 6 MARCH 2010

Featuring: PHIL VASSAR (USA), LEE KERNAGHAN, KASEY CHAMBERS, GUY SEBASTIAN, JACK INGRAM (USA), NANCI GRIFFITH (USA), DOC WALKER (CANADA), ADAM HARVEY, STEVE FORDE, RICHARD CLAPTON, TANIA KERNAGHAN, SINEAD BURGESS, PETER MCWHIRTER, DAN SULTAN, MIKE CARR, KIRSTY LEE AKERS, PAUL GREENE, WILSON PICKERS, JETTY ROAD, AMBER LAWRENCE, MARK WELLS, VICTORIA BAILLIE, THE HARRISONS and BUSBY MAROU