A FLOOD RECOVERY CELEBRATION
November 21–23 | Wingham Showground
Tickets on sale now at http://winghammusicfest.com.au
Wingham is set to come alive this November as local country music sensation James Johnston headlines the annual Wingham Music Festival, a special three-day event, this year dedicated to flood recovery and community resilience.
Currently touring the nation on his Where You’ll Find Me tour and on the back of the release of his new album of the same name, James Johnston will make a heartfelt stop in his hometown to support the Mid North Coast community, which has faced significant challenges this year. The festival is proudly billed as a Flood Recovery Concert, aiming to uplift spirits, reconnect neighbours, and rebuild lives through the power of live music.
“I knew I wanted my first show back in my hometown to be something truly special. After everything this past year has thrown at this community, there’s no better reason to come together and celebrate how far we’ve come. I’m so proud to be a Wingham boy and seeing the way everyone stood shoulder to shoulder and rebuilt after the floods was truly inspiring. I know there’s going to be a little bit of magic in the air that night, and I’m honoured to stand on that stage and share it with every single one of you,” said James Johnston.
Joining Johnston on stage will be an incredible lineup of Australian talent, including Backsliders, The Badloves, Bill Chambers, Hat Fitz and Cara, Round Mountain Girls, Blues Arcadia, and many more.
Johnston’s meteoric rise in the country music scene has been nothing short of phenomenal. With over 134+ million global streams, six #1 airplay singles, and an
astonishing 118 consecutive weeks in the Top 20 of the Country Hot 50 National Airplay Chart, he’s become one of Australia’s most celebrated contemporary artists.
His accolades include nominations for the QMA Awards, APRA Music Awards, an ARIA Award nominee, and a Rolling Stone Australia nominee for Best New Talent. In 2023, he took home two Golden Guitar Awards — New Talent of the Year and Vocal Collaboration of the Year — and in 2025, fans voted him Entertainer of the Year and Male Artist of the Year at the Countrytown Awards.
Festival Coordinator Donna Ballard said, “This year’s Festival feels more meaningful than ever. Our community needs a celebration, and having James Johnston return home to headline makes it all the more special. We’ve been eagerly waiting to make this announcement and it’s such a joy to welcome James back. His loyal fans are going to love singing along to his hits, right here in his hometown. It’s going to be a truly unforgettable night and an incredible three days.”
The Wingham Music Festival invites visitors from across NSW and beyond to experience the best of Australian music while supporting the local community still recovering from the 2025 floods. Single-day tickets and three-day passes are available now, with proceeds going directly to local recovery efforts, including donations to business chambers, Rotary, and Lions Clubs — helping restore livelihoods across the Mid Coast.
Friday 21 November – Sunday 23 November
Tickets on sale now
JAMES JOHNSTON HIGH RES IMAGES HERE
WINGHAM FESTIVAL MEDIA KIT AVAILABLE HERE
Media enquiries: Festival co-ordinator:
Tatiana Marchant – Estellar PR Donna Ballard
Ph: 0410 655 020 | tatiana@estellar.com.au Ph: 0417 570 359
Background:
Wingham and surrounding towns in the Manning River catchment experienced a devastating flood in May 2025, following more than 700 mm of rainfall in under a week.
The Manning River surged to record levels, forcing over 50,000 residents to evacuate and damaging more than 10,000 homes. Infrastructure failures, including the destruction of Wingham’s main water pipeline, left communities vulnerable and in urgent need of support.
Emergency services conducted over 280 rescues, with assistance from the Australian Defence Force and volunteer organisations. The SES led an extensive emergency response that included suppling food, water medicine to isolated communities, assisting with damage assessment, as well as cleaning and beginning repairs on damaged properties.
Wingham and surrounding towns – including Taree, Harrington, Coopernook, Nabiac, Gloucester and more – continue to be impacted by the damage from the May floods.
