Latest Groundwater Country Music Festival additions include Suzanne Vega and James Blundell tribute

The latest additions to Queensland’s Groundwater Country Music Festival (formerly Broadbeach Country Music) is a 30 Years of Pride tribute to James Blundell.

Established and emerging acts, yet to be announced, will join him to run through his three-decade catalogue.

Growing up on a sheep and cattle station in Queensland, he was recognised best new talent at the 1987 country music awards.

A 1992 duet with James Reyne on a cover of The Dingoes’ ‘Way Out West’ gave him a national hit.

But his albums sold consistently well, with This Road going double platinum.

Blundell, the brother of a mayor, ran in the Queensland elections for Bob Katter's Australian Party although Blundell’s support for same-sex marriage and the abolition of penalty rates brought him at odds with some other party members.

A coup for the festival is the addition of US singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega, whose run of hits as ‘Marlene on the Wall’, ‘Luka’ and ‘Tom's Diner from the mid-80s and albums as the Grammy nominated Solitude Standing made her an inspiration for two generations of female troubadours.

Other additions announced this morning are Amber Lawrence, Bennett Bowtell & Urquhart, Ashleigh Dallas, Davidson Bros, Jasmine Rae, Matt Cornell, The Weeping Willows, Col Finley, Billy Bridge & Rebecca Lee Nye, A Band Called Twang, 2018 Starmaker winner Brad Cox, Amy Nelson, The Whisky Mountain Boys, Brook Chiwell, The Cherry Pickers, Tyson Coleman, Pine Mountain Cartel, Paradise Road, Bud Rokesky and Ruby Gilbert.

They join a bill which already includes names as The McClymonts, Adam Harvey, O’Shea and Catherine Britt & The Cold Cold Hearts and US acts Granger Smith, Lillie Mae and Joshua Hedley.

“In programming this festival, it’s important for us to cover all the bases in Australian Country Music and give a spotlight to both the veterans and the artists of the future,” said festival director, Mark Duckworth.

“There such a cool variety coming to Groundwater in 2018, all with a different style of story to share.”

Groundwater is held July 27—29 on the Gold Coast.