The High Street Drifters and Midnight Chicken at TCMF

Midnight Chicken and High Street Drifters (full band) are teaming up for a bluegrass bonanza double bill at the Tamworth Hotel (car park stage). Don't miss out.

Hatched and hand-raised in Newcastle, NSW, Midnight Chicken are making waves in Australia’s bluegrass and country scenes. Known for their bizarre and refreshing take on bluegrass, they deliver standout renditions of traditional tunes alongside captivating originals. Since forming, they’ve toured nationally with Brad Cox, performed at major festivals like Woodford and the National Folk Festival, and graced some of Australia’s biggest regional theatres. Individually, members have worked with icons such as Kasey Chambers, Greg Sheehan, Phil Emmanuel, and Gina Jeffries. Their debut self-titled album, released in early 2025, was featured on ABC Country radio.

The High Street Drifters are a bluegrass band from Victoria carving out a distinctive place in the Australian music landscape. Led by mandolinist Justin Vilchez and guitarist Daniel Watkins, the band features a rotating cast of some of the country’s finest bluegrass musicians on fiddle, banjo, and bass. Together, they deliver the drive and energy of modern bluegrass while staying true to the places they've grown.

Known for their rich harmonies, breakneck instrumentals, and heartfelt songwriting, The High Street Drifters bring a fresh and unmistakably Australian voice to the genre.

Their 2024 self-titled debut EP firmly established them on the national scene, with the standout single Back to the Hills earning a 2025 CMAA Golden Guitar nomination for Bluegrass Recording of the Year. The release was followed by a packed run of festival appearances across the country.