The Outback Music Festival Group has announced that legendary Australian artist, John Williamson, will headline the Big Red Sunset Concert in Birdsville next year.

The special concert, on 8 July 2025, will be staged as a one off, never to be repeated event while the Birdsville Big Red Bash event takes a breather in 2025. The performance takes place on top of the 40m-high Big Red sand dune at sunset, 12 years to the day since Williamson performed there in 2013.

Ticketing and full event details for the limited-edition John Williamson Big Red Sunset performance will be announced in January 2025 and gives fans the opportunity to reconnect with the roots of the iconic Big Red Bash.

“It’s an honour for me to be chosen as the only artist to perform on the Big Red sand dune at Birdsville next July,” John Williamson said.

“I remember at the beginning in 2013, when I performed for the competitors and volunteers on top of the dune after the first charity run Greg Donovan organised out there. It was a magical night. The sound is perfect on sand as there are no hard surfaces for my songs to bounce off. It will be a true campfire outback setting that is ideal for my Aussie songs. And a perfect celebration as part of my 55 years in the business.”

The special concert will be set against the backdrop of the Simpson Desert’s sweeping landscapes looking out from on top of Big Red, and under the flaming sunset skies that the region is renowned for. John Williamson’s iconic storytelling through his music promises to deliver another magical evening that celebrates the spirit of Australia in the heart of the Outback.

“After we announced the breather for the Birdsville Big Red Bash next year, we took stock of the outpouring of disappointment, not just from our loyal festival goers, but from the multitude of businesses in Outback Queensland who rely heavily on the $20 million in tourism dollars that the event generates annually,” Birdsville Big Red Bash founder and organiser, Greg Donovan, said.

“It weighed heavily that the decision to take a breather was going to have a knock-on effect for businesses that have supported us for more than a decade. And more recently we were thrilled to have the Birdsville Big Red Bash take home the Gold for Festivals and Events at the Queensland Tourism Awards, and this along with wanting to support our friends in the outback, spurred us on to look at what we might be able to do on a much smaller and less intense scale to bridge the gap until we’re back in Birdsville with the Big Red Bash in 2026.

“I have always dreamed that at some stage we might get a chance to go back to where it all began with a simple John Williamson Sunset Concert staged on the top of the Big Red dine. And with the date of the original sunset concert on 8 July 2013 lining up with what would have been the 1st day of the 2025 Big Red Bash – 8 July 2025 – it felt like recreating the very first Big Red sunset concert was meant to be.

“So, for 2025 we have decided to re-create and celebrate where it all began for us, providing a unique bucket list opportunity for people to experience first-hand the special event that led to the creation of the Big Red Bash. To have John Williamson performing again after 12 years on top of the iconic dune, along with the boost that it will provide for tourism in the outback, is truly a win/win.”

From Williamson’s first solo performance in 2013, the Birdsville Big Red Bash has grown to an award-winning three-day festival featuring performers such as Midnight Oil, Jimmy Barnes, John Farnham, Missy Higgins, Icehouse, Paul Kelly, Human Nature, Tina Arena, Colin Hay, Tim Finn, Jon Stevens, Ian Moss, Daryl Braithwaite, Kasey Chambers, Kate Ceberano, Richard Clapton and many more.

“The Big Red Bash sets the gold standard, quite literally, after the event’s recent gold win at last month’s Queensland Tourism Awards,” minister for the Environment and Tourism and minister for Science and Innovation, Andrew Powell, said.

“The Big Red Sunset concert will carry the spirit of this beloved and iconic festival through 2025 while also putting the breathtaking beauty of Outback Queensland on full display, all while supporting local tourism and the regional economy until the full event returns in 2026.

“It feels like Christmas has come early for us with the decision to stage this even in our Shire next year,” Diamantina Shire Council mayor, Cr Francis Murray, said. “While the numbers won’t be at a Big Red Bash level, it will still bring an influx of travellers to Outback Queensland and that’s a huge win for all of us.”

“This wonderful and exciting announcement comes at a great time for Outback Queensland and true music lovers of all ages,” Outback Queensland Tourism Association CEO, Denise Brown, said. “Outback event organisers are well known for their creativity and determination, and I congratulate Greg and the Outback Music Festival Group for re-imagining the 2013 Big Red Sunset Concert and inspiring travellers to journey to our region next year.

“The Sunset Concert promises a magical experience at one of Queensland’s most spectacular locations and the timing couldn’t be better, with a full calendar of Outback events encouraging visitors to extend their itineraries through the amazing regions surrounding Birdsville and beyond.”

Having captivated audiences for decades with timeless hits like True Blue, Raining on the Rock, and Cootamundra Wattle, Williamson’s music has become synonymous with Australia’s rich culture and landscapes. Performing on Big Red, where the Big Red Bash first began, brings his music full circle to a location that perfectly embodies his themes of connection to country, heritage, and identity.

Tickets for this special event will be strictly limited given the restricted space on top of Big Red.

The John Williamson Big Red Sunset Concert is proudly supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland.