Country music and motorsport are set to collide in a big way at Tailem Bend this spring, with Lee Kernaghan and James Johnston announced as the headline acts for a refreshed Bend Classic across the October long weekend.
Running from 2 to 4 October 2026 at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, the event is being reimagined as a full-scale weekend of country music, camping and classic cars, with the Saturday music festival led by two of the country’s biggest local names.
For South Australia, the announcement lands at a time when country music is finding a bigger and broader audience than ever. Recent industry reporting says Australia is now one of the world’s biggest country music markets, with strong streaming growth and a surge in younger listeners helping push the genre further into the mainstream.
That momentum is exactly what The Bend appears ready to tap into.
Lee Kernaghan, one of the most recognisable names in Australian country, said the event has the makings of something much bigger than a one-night concert. “Country music festivals are all about big crowds, great stories and bringing people together, and The Bend Classic has all the ingredients to become something really special,” he said, adding, “You’ve got the music, the camping, the atmosphere and a whole weekend built around it. I reckon this event has the potential to grow into the Tamworth of the South.”
He’ll be joined by James Johnston, one of the country’s biggest streaming success stories, who said the South Australian stop will mark his first festival performance in the state. “I’m so pumped to be heading back to South Australia for The Bend Classic to play my very first festival in the state. South Australian audiences are always some of the rowdiest, so it’s going to be one hell of a night,” Johnston said. “To combine this with my other passion of motorsport – I know we are going to have a good time.”
Shell V-Power Motorsport Park CEO Alistair MacDonald said booking the pair together signals the scale of the weekend ahead. “Having artists of the calibre of Lee Kernaghan and James Johnston headline The Bend Classic sets the tone for the entire weekend,” he said. “They represent two generations of Australian country music and bring huge audiences with them, so announcing them together is a major moment for the event and its future.”
Beyond the stage, the weekend is set to roll out as a full precinct-wide experience. Organisers say fans will be able to stay on site with multiple camping options, including infield camping overlooking the circuit, deluxe pre-set tents and a new Turn 1 tent and swag area, while the broader program will also feature nostalgia drag racing, historic motorsport, family activities and other festival-style entertainment.
It is a bold play from The Bend, and one that feels tailored to the growing overlap between live music crowds, regional road-trippers and motorsport fans. With more artist announcements still to come, this year’s Bend Classic looks like it is aiming to be more than a niche weekend away. It’s set to become to be a fixture on the South Australian events calendar.
WHAT: The Bend Classic
WHERE: Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend
WHEN: October 2-4, 2026
MORE INFO: https://www.thebend.com.au/
