Review: Craig Eriksson. Photos: Jason Rosewarne (Except Megan Moroney pics by Mason Goodson)
Wild horses couldn’t drag me away. A bit of rain (Melbourne’s wettest day this year – ed) didn’t stop fans from attending the Ridin’ Hearts Country Music Festival at Caribbean Gardens in Rowville. Our experience was quite different to last year where we were blessed with beautiful sunshine all day. However, this year it was typical four seasons in one day in Melbourne and most of us were decked out appropriately in ponchos, cowboy hats and boots. Ridin’ Hearts presented a stellar line-up of young up and coming country singer-songwriters from Australia and USA playing alternative country rock, folk and pop.
It was raining quite heavily when Lewis Love from Ballarat, Victoria opened the show. We had only recently saw Lewis at the start of this month supporting the Zac Brown Band at Margaret Court Arena. Lewis announced it was his birthday today and had turned 20 years of age. The laidback Lewis and his band play an enjoyable blend of alt-country, folk-infused songs that create a feel-good vibe. The perfect choice to start the day!
The rain continued to pour heavily as 25-year old singer-songwriter Karley Scott Collins from Lake City, Florida took to the stage. The rain didn’t deter Collins one bit, kick starting her set with a shoey and also venturing out on the catwalk in the rain wanting to get closer to her fans. Collins announced she had just released her debut album Flight Risk (2025) and performed several songs from the new album, such as Cowboy Sh!t, Bad Bad, Easy to Leave, Quit You and Denim. Collins has shot to fame quite rapidly and has already collaborated with and supported Keith Urban on his current High and Alive World Tour and also supported Willie Nelson.
Thankfully, the rain had stopped for 24-year old Australian singer-songwriter Sara Berki from Bundaberg, Queensland. Berki is one of Australia’s rising Country artists and has been named in the line-up for the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January. Berki’s plays with such confidence and her songs are filled with authenticity and a deep sense of home that embodies the true spirit of country. Her standout songs were In The Neon, Cowboys Do It Better and Porch Light.
The sun kept shining as 21-year old American singer-songwriter Blake Whiten from Six Mile, South Carolina entered the stage. Blake’s Southern style country rock songs are inspired by his experiences growing up in a small community that has a population of under 800 people. Quite amazing to think that Blake was performing today in front of more people than his hometown. For such a young artist, Blake has so much depth in his gravelly vocals. Blake’s keyboardist was loving the experience and getting right into the music. Standout songs were Bad Guy, Hard to Break, Made for Goodbyes, Breaking My Heart and his biggest hit Rollin’ Stone. Blake also did a cover of Hard To Handle by The Black Crowes.
Barnstorming his way into the Australian Country music scene, 18-year old Lane Pittman from Mount Isa, Queensland put on a fun and high-energy performance, connecting well with the crowd. Lane spent his childhood in Tamworth and gained a national audience when he appeared on The Voice in 2022. We saw him back in February this year supporting Luke Combs. Pittman has become known for his signature mullet and music. Standout songs were Let’s Get Lost, Amen for the Weekend and Going Nowhere Fast. Lane sang several new unreleased songs. He dedicated one of his new songs Man I’m Turning Out To Be for his father who passed away back in 2018. Lane also performed a cover of Wheatus’ Teenage Dirtbag, which had the crowd singing along jovially.
Back came the rain but this time it was a huge thunderstorm, which stopped the festival for almost an hour. Fans took cover and made their own fun. There were two guys out in the rain with their shirts off doing belly slides in the mud, which had the crowd in fits of laughter. Security put an end to it as the crowd chanted “One More Slide”. (It was a ‘you had to be there moment’). Other groups were doing their own sing-alongs encouraging everyone to join in and sing Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline and John Denver’s Take Me Home, Country Roads. The festival provided saloon bars, food vans, craft and clothes stalls, dodgem cars, line dancing classes, merch and signing tents, catering for everyone’s needs.
Finally the weather cleared and 19-year old rising American country singer-songwriter Waylon Wyatt from Hackett, Arkansas appeared and played a 30-minute, 6-song shortened set, which was such a shame. Waylon said that during the thunderstorm he was out the back talking with Lewis Love who told him about Melbourne’s four seasons in one day. He laughed and said “this weather is crazy, 10-minutes ago it was torrential rain and now the sun is out”. Wyatt plays acoustic guitar and harmonica and his 2-piece band is made up of a keyboardist and slide-guitarist (no drummer). Wyatt is known for his raw, honest lyricism and stripped-down sound. Inspired by red-dirt contemporaries Tyler Childers and Zach Bryan, he gained popularity on Tik Tok with his song Everything Under the Sun going viral. His music is acoustic folk/country and standout songs were Smoke & Embers, Pretty Little Liar and Arkansas Diamond. On Jailbreak he broke a string but continued on without a flinch.
Next up was 21-year old American country singer-songwriter Avery Anna from Flagstaff, Arizona. Avery has an angelic voice and her music could be described as country rock and acoustic pop. Avery thanked the crowd, stating that more Aussies streamed her biggest song ‘Narcissist’ than Americans and when she sang this song the crowd erupted. Avery performed a beautiful cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s No More Tears. Other standout songs were Blame It On My Broken Heart, Indigo, Mr Predictable and It’s Just Rainin’. Avery encouraged everyone at the festival to forget about everything going on in the world and today just be in the moment and to enjoy and connect with the music.
American singer-songwriter Nate Smith from Paradise, California opened with Bulletproof and at the end of the song said he wears his heart on his sleeve. He told fans how a devastating fire burnt down his house back in 2018 and he lost everything he owned. All he had left was his passion for music and to cope with the tragedy, he wrote a song called ‘One of These Days’ that resonated with people and went viral. He moved to Nashville to pursue his dream and wrote another song in 2020 called ‘Wildfire’ which earned him a record deal with Sony and kick started his career. Nate played 10-songs over his one hour set. He sang Nobody Likes Your Girlfriend (which is his new release with HARDY) and then played a wonderful cover of Luke Combs Beer Never Broke My Heart. Nate’s music has a strong, soulful country sound and his rise to fame has seen him support Morgan Wallen, Cole Swindell and Thomas Rhett. Other standout songs were his first #1 hit Whiskey On You along with Fix What You Didn’t Break and World on Fire.
Hailing from Douglasville, Georgia, west of Atlanta, 28-year old American Country singer Megan Moroney headlined Ridin’ Hearts today. Moroney’s rise to fame happened so fast, releasing her debut EP back in 2022 and her single ‘Tennessee Orange’ was huge. Moroney calls herself an ‘Emo Cowgirl’ because she blends the emotional vulnerability of emo music with country pop. Moroney’s show had all the bells and whistles and stood out today with her colourful stage backdrops and blend of storytelling country pop and her signature look. Platinum blonde hair, bright pink outfit (which is significant because it’s associated with the video of her song “I’m Not Pretty’), white cowboy boots, glitter guitar and microphone stand, with her name etched on several of her guitars. Her music is about love, heartbreak and personal growth. Moroney played 19 songs over 75 minutes. Some of her popular songs were Man On The Moon, Indifferent, No Caller ID, I’m Not Pretty and Am I OK? During the show, Moroney talked about a past relationship in which she was unhappy but thought strength was staying in the relationship and trying to please her man. As she matured, she realised strength was actually leaving the relationship. This led into Girl In The Mirror with lyrics: The girl in the mirror, she’s lost her damn mind, she looks just like me but I don’t recognise her, she’s got the same eyes but they’re heavy and tired, He just walked out and she’s standing right here, she loves the boy more than she loves the girl in the mirror.’
Despite the volume of rain, it certainly didn’t stop everyone having fun and enjoying the event. There was still that friendly atmosphere of connection, community and shared passion for country music. We will certainly be back at Ridin’ Hearts again next year!
