Kaylee Bell says CMC Rocks fans are ‘the best we've ever played to’

For Kaylee Bell, CMC Rocks is a lot more than just another date on the calendar.

As the iconic festival prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary (you could be there - details here), the Kiwi country star is reflecting on a journey that’s taken her from a newcomer rehearsing in a flat to becoming one of Australasia’s biggest country music success stories.

Speaking with Georgia, Kaylee said the festival has played a major role in shaping the modern country music scene across Australia and New Zealand.

“I feel like CMC is a very special festival,” she explained. “It was the first big country music festival that had American headliners in all of Australasia, so I have a deep, deep love of this festival for what it's done for country music on our side of the world.”

The festival has evolved over the years, moving from Thredbo to the Hunter Valley and now Queensland, but Kaylee says its ability to bring together the biggest names from America alongside homegrown talent remains its greatest strength.

“I love that it has the best of America and the best of Australasia on the one bill at a time,” she said. “It’s the one time fans get to see them all together. It’s such a cool concept and I’m such a fan of the festival too.”

This year marks Kaylee’s eighth appearance on the CMC Rocks lineup, something she admits still feels surreal.
“I can’t believe that. That’s actually wild to me,” she laughed. “I remember probably five or six of them very clearly.”

Looking back on her first appearance, Kaylee remembers just how different life looked at the time.

“I’d just moved to Australia and I'd put my band together,” she recalled. “We were rehearsing in our flat in Bathurst and it was the first big show I'd done in Australia where we were actually being celebrated for playing original music.”

The contrast between then and now isn't lost on her.

“To think where that started and now where we get to play on the bill, and the fact that Aussies know the words to your songs now, it's been a journey,” she said. “It’s cool to look back and have those moments of, ‘Wow, we’ve done something really cool.’”

Kaylee also credits the festival with helping build a pathway for local artists pursuing country music careers. She remembers discovering artists like Morgan Evans and seeing firsthand how the genre was beginning to break into the mainstream.

Reflecting on the festival’s influence, she shared one of her favourite stories involving a then-unknown Taylor Swift.

“I think Taylor Swift played the very first CMC Rocks just before ‘Love Story’ [blew up],” Kaylee said. “I remember hearing that nobody wanted to interview her at the time, and then six months later ‘Love Story’ was the biggest song in the world.”

“It’s got so many amazing stories that have come out of this festival. It’s always a good reminder that you just never know what’s going to happen.”

Fans heading along to this year’s event can also expect a high-energy performance from the New Zealander, who says live shows remain her favourite part of being an artist.

“I love playing live,” Kaylee said. “If you've never seen us play, it's high energy. My band and crew work their butts off and we're always trying to make things bigger and better.”

“I think it’s a fun-filled, feel-good show, and I’m very excited to come up with some cool concepts to make it really special for CMC Rocks as well.”

And yes, before anyone asks, Kaylee has experienced CMC camping firsthand.

“I have proudly camped once at CMC Rocks,” she laughed. “We got there late and there was literally one patch left and it was all rocks. I don’t think I slept for three days.”

Even so, she says the famous campground atmosphere is part of what makes the festival unique.

“The CMC fans embrace everything,” she said. “The mud, the rain, whatever it is. They are seriously the best fans we've ever played to.”

Catch the full interview with Kaylee Bell above, or listen on our Essential Interviews podcast - out now on iHeart or wherever you podcast.

We're sending one Kiwi and a friend across the ditch next March so you can be there for the 20th Anniversary celebrations yourself! Full details here.

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Hear Kaylee Bell and more of your favourite country artists on iHeartCountry NZ by using the player below.