To everyone who made the 2025 Community Bank Smithton & Districts McCain Foods Smithton Rotary Club of Smithton’s Devil Country Muster such a huge success, WE THANK YOU!!

Firstly, to you our patrons - without you buying tickets to our annual event we simply could not continue. Some of you have been there since day one, back in March 2013 when local Rotarian, Eric Marshall had a vision, had a dream!

Eric suggested to his fellow Rotarians that they host a live outdoor country music concert. Eric contacted well known Tasmanian guitarist Stuart French and together they had their first line-up of local and interstate artist ready to perform at the local footy ground, their first “Headlining Act” was Luke O’Shea.

It was our greatest pleasure to present the annual John ‘Doc’ Turnbull award to Eric Marshall on Saturday for Excellence in Country Music. Erics vision, passion and dedication to the Devil Country Muster is unquestionable and although Eric retired last year from the Muster, we all owe it to Eric to ensure to Devil Country Muster continues to be a huge success year after year. Thank you Eric, your vision was one that has brought so much amazing Country Music to Circular Head. 12 Musters later and on to its 3rd home after outgrowing the previous 2, the Devil Country Muster is A MUST on the Tasmanian Live Music Scene Calendar of Events.

The gates opened on Monday 3rd February at 9 AM to welcome our first lot of campers and by Friday it was a sea of campers, caravans and motor homes.

Entertainment kicked off on Wednesday night with 15 artists vying for top spot in the Talent Quest. Congratulations to young Westbury based junior, Loui Moran for taking out the Junior Section and local Smithton talent, Damon Pike for winning the 2025 Senior Section. Loui’s love of traditional country music shone through and judges, Circular Head’s Deputy Mayor and well-known coastal music identity Annette Dawes, Circular Head’s country music royalty, Chris Boys and the Muster’s Event Manager and award-winning Tasmanian country music artist, Gina Timms, all agreed that country music is in good hands with artists like Loui coming through. “Loui has a big future in country music if he keeps up his hard work, I had goosebumps watching and listening to Loui”, Gina said. “Damon Pyke wowed us with his artistic skills of looping and performing his original songs in the heat and grand final”, Gina said. Local Tassie singer, Zac Weeks entertained the crowd between the heats and finals and shared with us his own style of country/easy listening music. Thursday night saw the return of local favourites Chris & Viv Boys. These two beautiful humans are stalwarts annually at the Devil Country Muster and bringing along a very special guest, Shirl Brown helped make this night extra special. We included the Maverick Line Dancers this year to do free line-dance lessons so the patrons could learn some steps and dance along all weekend to the various artists.

Friday nights BAND BONANZA was epic. Their first time at the Muster, Tamworth based, Redneck Gentlemen opened the night with a great upbeat set followed by popular coastal band, The Heartbeats. Back by popular demand, The HeartBeats had the dance area absolutely full.

THE MAIN EVENT - THE MUSTER did not disappoint!!

Opening the Saturday program was our 2025 Talent Quest Winner Damon Pyke followed by Mrs. Brown and Her Boys! A clever play on words, Shirl Brown teamed up with her good friends Chris & Viv Boys for some great traditional country music. Tassie’s own Jamie Davis was next wowing the crowd with some country standards and a bit of yodelling. Muster Event Manager and local legend Gina Timms entertained everyone with her own style of traditional country songs plus Gina launched her new single, “Curled Up On The Floor”. A song Gina penned to honour a great friend, family members and people she has come across throughout her travels with country music who have found the “Black Dog” had crept into their lives and challenged their mental health. “Depression is something we shouldn’t be afraid to talk about, anyone struggling with mental health, I urge them to reach out and chat to someone or seek help because we all matter and I hope my song helps encourage those doing it tough mentally to know they are NOT alone”, Gina said.

Patrons were treated to some brilliant country music right throughout the day on Saturday with Muster newbies Kinta Watts Rob Breese and Craig Lloyd - Music appearing at their first Devil Country Muster. The Redneck Gentlemen made their second appearance for the weekend whilst Crowd favourites, Kiara Rodrigues and Dean Perrett were welcomed back and popular Hobart duo, The GoodFellas closed out the night until the rains came after 9.30 PM. We were so lucky as the rain threatened nearly all day.

Closing out the 2025 Muster on Sunday morning was some Bush Poetry presented by local ladies, Julie Oates and Shannon Heald plus Kiara Rodrigues and Rob Breese delivered some beautiful country gospel followed by Gina Timms and closing the Muster, Chris and Viv Boys.

There are so many people to thank for helping make the 2025 Muster a huge success and we start with the hard-working Muster committee, Patrick, Meredith, Wendy, Ian, Darcy, Jeff and Gina. All the Rotary Club of Smithton’s Rotarians, you are all amazing.

Our dedicated sponsors, food and coffee van vendors, Circular Head Council, our brilliant sound & lighting team, Dave, Judd & Chris, Don Grogan for capturing the awesome drone shots, our catering team who looked after our artists and band, our talent quest entrants, the circular head businesses who joined in the Window Display competition and who supported our Shopper Docket competition and of course ALL OF OUR PATRONS once again who bought tickets, came and camped and supported the local economy by visiting our local businesses.

WE LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH and we are eternally grateful for your support annually.

WE WILL BE BACK IN 2026 - Lock the dates in your diary folks!!

Camping opens Monday 2nd February 2026, entertainment kicks off on Wednesday night 5th February and the main event is Saturday 7th February 2026.

WE CAN’T WAIT TO WELCOME YOU ALL BACK!!

The entire crew at the Rotary Club of Smithton's Devil Country Muster would like to thank you all for attending our 2024 Muster.

From the minute the gates opened to our first lot of campers at 9 am last Monday, right through to our last campers leaving yesterday and all the amazing things in between, THANK YOU!!

Live music is back, and we have all had a ball this past week.

Congratulations to Jayden Richardson who won this year’s Devil Country Muster Senior Talent Quest and Belle Heald who won the junior section.

Thank you to all the people who put their name down for our walk-up show hosted by our beautiful friends, Chris & Viv Boys. It was even nice to unearth some talent from our campers.

Friday night’s BIG BAND show with The Heartbeats and The Clinton Hutton Band went off, it was great to see so many of you up on the dance floor.

Saturday - THE MAIN EVENT was spectacular.

From Tamworth's Crosby Sister to Tassie's Mike Carr, Debbie Parry, Chris and Viv Boys and Montana Rose, plus newcomers Lance Birrell, Bec Hance, Bluegrass royalty, The Davidson Brothers, the hilarious Buddy Goode to this year's event followed by Tassie’s local legend Gina Timms who has been here for all 11 Musters the day was off to a great start.

Sunday’s session was a beautiful laid-back morning of some great gospel songs from Breah and Shayla, Patrick Bakes, Lance Birrell, Annette Dawes, Belle Heald and Gina Timms.

The Bass Highway saw a large contingent of Caravans, RV’s and Campers heading up the coast some going home, some going to explore Tassie and some heading to the Spirit of Tasmania for their journey home.

We are doing it all again next year folks.

Lock in the dates - Monday 3rd February 2025 our campgrounds will open up with live music every day from Wednesday 5th February through to Sunday 9th February 2025.

Book the Spirit of Tasmania early to avoid disappointment and tickets and camping will go on sale from the 1st August 2024.

Our volunteers and Rotary Club of Smithton members were amazing all week and leading up to the Muster, they are our heroes.

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR FOLKS.

Don’t forget to like our Facebook or Instagram page so you don’t miss out on any info for future Musters.

THE DEVIL COUNTRY MUSTER HAS A NEW HOME 2023

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