Lee Kernaghan reinvigorated Australian Country Music in the 1990’s, synthesising traditional country themes with his own brand of rural rock and images of an evolving regional culture. Songs like The Outback Club, Boys from The Bush, Hat Town, She’s My Ute and Australian Boy are now modern day anthems for a generation of Australians living and working on the land.

In 2015 Lee released the epic work, “Spirit of The Anzacs”, based on a collection of letters and diary records from Australian servicemen and women, some dating back to the landings at Gallipoli. On its release the album struck a chord with the Australian people holding the number 1 position on the Australian ARIA Album Chart for four consecutive weeks and was the highest selling album by an Australian artist (all genres) for 2015. All proceeds from the “Spirit Of The Anzacs” song and music video featuring music greats Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Shepherd, Shannon Noll, Jon Stevens and Megan Washington are donated in perpetuity to veteran support groups – Legacy Australia and Soldier On.

Lee has sold over two and a half million albums in Australia with releases including Outback Club, Three Chain Road, 1959, Hat Town, Rules Of The Road, Electric Rodeo, New Bush, Ultimate Hits, Spirit Of The Bush, Planet Country, Beautiful Noise and Spirit Of The Anzacs all achieving platinum or multi-platinum status. Lee is a four-time ARIA award winning artist and in 2015 he was presented with the Australian Record Industry Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Lee has achieved a staggering 38 #1 chart hit songs over his career and has been awarded 37 Golden Guitars. He has been named Hit Maker of the Decade, twice, in 2001 and 2011. This accolade is in recognition of Lee having more chart hits in Australia than any other country music artist in the world.

Kernaghan is long-time and passionate supporter of rural and regional Australia. His Pass the Hat Around Australia Tours, Spirit of The Bush and Farmhand concerts have raised millions of dollars for drought, flood and bushfire relief, hospitals, schools, ambulance and volunteer organisations nation-wide. In 2004 Kernaghan was the recipient of an Order of Australia Medal and was named 2008 Australian of the Year.

Lee Kernaghan’s 2017 Boys from The Bush 25th Anniversary Tour launched in Tamworth on Australia Day and sold out 29 of the 32 shows on the 2017 tour. The tour was a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Lee’s amazing career and of the release of his first single and album, the legendary Boys From The Bush, and the album it came from – Outback Club. By popular demand this record breaking tour was extended through 2018 and again the tour achieved sell out concerts throughout the year.

At the end of the 25th Anniversary Tour Lee began the writing process for a new album called “Backroad Nation”.

“Backroad Nation” is a collection of stories and themes that caught Lee’s attention from the places he travelled to, and the people he met, whilst on tour. It is a celebration of all things Australian and a tip of the hat to our regional and rural communities who have faced some of their most severe challenges ever in recent years. The first single from the album “Wheels” was released early March and the album will be launched on 10th May.

In 2019 Lee will undertake his most extensive tour for many years travelling to every state and territory on the Backroad Nation Tour. The Tour begins in May and concludes at the end of November.

Troy Cassar-Daley

Performers