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For a long time, Mark Duckworth would cringe at the idea of line dancing.
Not because of any lingering aversion to Billy Ray Cyrus and Achy Breaky Heart, but because he once tried staging a line dance at what was then called the Broadbeach Country Music Festival – and it utterly failed.
“It was when we first started, going back 12 years,” Duckworth, the festival director, said. “It just didn’t gel. I don’t think people were into line dancing at the time.
“We were on the black tar in the street and people said it didn’t work well for their feet. We really didn’t nail it.”
It wasn’t until 2024 that Duckworth summoned up the courage to try again.
Much had changed. Thanks to Beyonce’s country album, and songs such as Dasha’s Austin (Boots Stop Workin’) going viral on TikTok, line dancing had renewed cultural currency.
“We brought it back on the deck along the beach, a green space close to our festival bar. And it just went gangbusters.”
So public line dancing sessions are coming back for the 2025 Groundwater Country Music Festival in October, wrangled by expert Chris Watson.
Groundwater Country Music Festival is a free weekend festival taking over the streets of Broadbeach.Credit: Mackenzie Sweetnam
Watson will lead two sessions daily by the water, where the public can boot scoot and heel jack to their hearts’ content.
“I love it because the age range is so diverse. I’m dancing with four-year-old kids and 82-year-old grandmas,” Watson said.
He has been line dancing since the age of six and has taught it on every continent – “including Antarctica”.
“Normally we’re in an RSL or a hall. When we’re at Groundwater, we’re out in front of the public and people see what it really is, and it makes me proud to be able to share that passion with everyone.”
Watson has promised a soundtrack of anything from classic country by Reba McEntire and Alan Jackson to current pop hits such as Sabrina Carpenter’s Manchild.
“We can totally thank social media for the growth in country music, and the stats are growing in Australia for both country music and line dancing.”
Recent research by the Country Music Association of Australia estimated country music generated $1.09 billion during the 2024-25 financial year, while country streaming on Australia’s Spotify platform has increased by 115 per cent in the past three years.
Country singer Luke Combs’ two Suncorp Stadium shows in January sold out in minutes, while the Tamworth Country Music Festival now attracts in excess of 300,000 visitors annually.
The trend is reflected in growing numbers for Groundwater, a free festival that takes over several Broadbeach streets for a long weekend each October.
Duckworth said some festival-goers would fly in, rent holiday apartments, eat at restaurants in the precinct, and spend three days taking in more than 50 acts.
Headliners this year would include Troy Cassar-Daley, Jackson Dean, Casey Barnes, Nikki Lane, Vincent Neil Emerson and Texas act Shane Smith and the Saints.
Amy Sheppard of indie pop group Sheppard has gone solo with her brand of country pop.
Amy Sheppard, who has enjoyed pop music success with her band Sheppard, will appear for the release of her debut solo album, Born to Be Country.
“I don’t know of any other festivals where you can have a swim on the beach and then literally walk up to the stage to see your favourite artists perform,” Sheppard said. “And it’s free as well.”
Sheppard agreed that line dancing was having a big moment.
“We just got back from 18 months in Nashville and you’d hear this loud music and then everyone would just start line dancing in the middle of the street, almost like a flash mob.
“It’s well and truly time that I got my boots on and did some line dancing.”
Groundwater Country Music Festival is on at Broadbeach, October 17-19.
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