Local legend, Max Jackson, is back in Newcastle for a special free event, giving fans and local creatives the chance to hear directly from one of Australia’s fastest-rising country music stars.
The chart-topping artist has carved a powerhouse path from Coonamble to the world stage, collecting Golden Guitars, touring internationally and selling out headline shows along the way.
Her connection to Newcastle runs deep; this is the city where she honed her craft and landed her first professional gig at just 13, long before becoming one of the most in-demand performers in the country.
With influences drawn from icons like Dolly Parton and Shania Twain, Max built her career on relentless determination. When her debut album dropped just as the pandemic shut down the industry, she refused to slow down, harnessing social media to keep her momentum alive.
That persistence paid off, leading to a breakout 2022 as the 42nd Toyota Star Maker winner and a string of major festival appearances nationwide.
Since then, her rise has been unstoppable. Her hit Little More Country dominated the Countrytown National Airplay Charts, she earned multiple Golden Guitars, including back-to-back wins for Female Artist of the Year, and she became a three-time Ambassador for the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
She’s toured with The Wolfe Brothers, cracked the Top 10 with a run of singles, attracted international airplay, and even earned a rare nomination at the TikTok Australia Awards.
This year has already seen Max perform internationally, release her new album Dangerous in Denim, which debuted at #1 on the ARIA Australian Country Chart, and continue her ascent as one of the brightest forces in modern country.
Her live shows have become known for their high energy, feel-good chaos and the kind of atmosphere that leaves audiences, as she says, “satisfied to the MAX.”
In Conversation with Max Jackson takes place on Monday 4 May, 5–7pm, at The Underground, 32 Church St, Newcastle. The event is free to attend thanks to support from Sound NSW, but registration is essential.
