Casino is set for its biggest weekend of the year, with Aussie music icon Shannon Noll confirmed as headline act for the 2026 J&J Rodeo Bucks N Trucks Country Fest, and organisers say the tourism boost for the Northern Rivers could be huge.
The announcement also locks in Noll’s business, The Great Australian Rum Co., as the event’s naming rights sponsor, deepening the singer’s ties to the two-day country festival.
The festival takes over the Richmond Valley Events Centre in Casino on Friday, 31 July, and Saturday, 1 August, with organisers expecting crowds to pour in from across regional New South Wales and south-east Queensland.
J&J Rodeo co-owner Janaya Felton said landing Noll was a coup for both the festival and the region.
“To have someone as iconic as Shannon Noll joining us as our headline act is huge for our festival and for the Northern Rivers,” she said.
“Shannon is someone who embodies everything we love about country Australia – he’s authentic, hardworking and knows how to put on an incredible live show.”
“We know people are going to travel from right across the region and beyond to see him.”
The festival blends professional rodeo action with live music, carnival rides, food vendors and family entertainment. Organisers say the extra visitors will flow straight through to local accommodation providers, hospitality businesses and retailers across the weekend.
Felton said having Noll’s own company on board as sponsor was a sign of how far the event has come.
“It’s incredibly exciting that Shannon isn’t just performing, his business is backing the event as well. That says a lot about the confidence they have in what we’re building,” she said.
“We’re creating much more than a rodeo. This is bringing together great entertainment, great food, great music and a fantastic atmosphere for the whole family.”
Friday night kicks off with live country music, carnival rides, food vendors, licensed bars, line dancing and family entertainment, before the Bucks N Trucks Rodeo and Noll’s headline set take over on Saturday.
Organisers are tipping the 2026 festival to draw its biggest crowd yet, putting Casino and the wider Northern Rivers firmly in the spotlight.
“Every year we’re looking at how we can make the experience bigger and better,” Felton said.
“Whether you’re a rodeo fan, a country music lover or simply looking for a fantastic weekend out with family and friends, Bucks N Trucks Country Fest has something for everyone. This year is going to be our biggest yet.”
J&J Rodeo was founded by Jackson and Janaya Felton and delivers professional rodeos and country festivals across eastern Australia. The Bucks N Trucks Country Fest has grown into a major drawcard for the region, pulling in visitors while shining a light on local businesses, hospitality and country culture.
“J&J Rodeo is a family-owned business and Casino is home for us,” Felton said.
“To be able to bring an event of this scale back to our own community is something we’re incredibly proud of.”
“We want people to come and experience the best of country hospitality right here in the Northern Rivers.”
J&J Rodeo Bucks N Trucks Country Fest 2026 is on Friday, 31 July, and Saturday, 1 August, at the Richmond Valley Events Centre (former Primex site) in Casino.
Tickets are available at: https://jandjrodeo.flicket.io/memberships/f94738e8-a914-4947-b704-8093e6e66a3f?tab=information
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