The 29^th annual Illabo Country Music Stampede will be held from April 14 to 17 at the Illabo Showgrounds.

The weekend – which centres around a talent quest – is a must event for all country music fans with a huge line-up of guest artists, including Dean Perrett, Anita Ree and Kevin Harris, to conclude the event on Sunday. 

Dean Perrett is a bush ballard singer songwriter who ‘sings what he knows’.

It has worked well for him with two Golden Guitars in 2015 alone. In 2014 he released his 13^th album and he is now inducted into the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame. 

Anita Ree has two Golden Guitar nominations under her belt, along with four albums and a DVD. 

With a unique style, she is a true Australian talent not to be missed.

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Kevin Harris is a bush balladeer who has won Australian Song of the Year at the Camooweal Drovers Reunion in 2003 and is a country music presenter. 

While the guest line-up is sure to turn heads, the backing band across the weekend – The Vintage Four –  are sure to gain a lot of applause.

The stampede weekend starts with a campfire sing-a-long on Thursday night, powered by the Galloping Grannies kitchen which will be offering the best homemade soup to help ward off the night chills. 

Fast forward to Friday afternoon and you will find a music workshop in the showground pavilion offering the chance to hone in talent and develop new skills.

The veterans and walk-ups for the talent quest begin for 6pm. 

Saturday is jam-packed with a bush poets breakfast followed by talent quest heats, before the finals on Sunday, alongside a line up of guest artists. 

The event will see a new talent pick up a trophy and someone will win four hours of recording time donated by Grant Luhrs of Flying Fox Recording Studios. 

The bush poets breakfast will now be held on Saturday and Sunday is guaranteed to be entertaining. 

While listening to the music patrons are welcome to check out the market stalls such as the Junee Mudlarks Pottery, Simply Green, Seams by Jan and Rustic Rose, which will be showcasing handmade local craft, art and produce. 

Don’t just bring your guitar – bring your caravan, tent or swag and spend the weekend. 

Three day admission is $40 for adults, $30 for pensioners, $20 for children under 17 or $100 for a family. 

Two day and one day passes are also available. 

Camp sites at the showgrounds are available for $20. Powered sites are $40

For more information or to book a place visit www.illabo.org.au or phone Karen Clemson on 0428 242 445 or Caroline Willis on 0427 244 266.