Just over a year after his last stop in Penrith, country star Travis Collins is making his return to Panthers, this time as the Sunset Bash headliner.
According to Collins, last year’s Penrith show was a standout, showcasing everything he loves about western Sydney.
“That show was amazing. I think it might have been one of my favourites of that whole tour – definitely top three,” he said.
“The western Sydney area is just so rich for country music fans. They’re really committed to the genre and they have been for a long time, not just lately when it’s gotten cool. There have been die hard country fans out there for decades!”
Since then, he’s made a pivot away from solo shows and instead towards festivals – which he said he’s definitely not mad at.
“In a festival environment, there’s a different energy about people who have circled it on the calendar, they’ve saved up their money for the ticket, they’ve got their crew together, and then they just turn up with a different energy about it than they would just a normal touring date,” he said.
It’s for this reason that Collins said he can’t wait to head back to Panthers, this time to headline the iconic Sunset Bash festival.
“I watched it with the biggest FOMO last year online. I’d seen all the status updates, and on the day I was seeing people post things, a couple of friends that were there went live on Facebook, and just had mad FOMO!” he said.
“I’m stoked to be coming back to headline it this year. I think it’s going to be a huge one!”
At September’s event, Collins will be joined by a huge lineup of homegrown talent, including Lane Pittman, Missy Lancaster, Duncan Toombs, Wade Forster, Andrew Swift and Cass Hopetoun.
“I’ve become friends with most of them after years and years of being in this industry,” he said.
“They’re all 100 per cent certified good time people, and I have no doubt they’ll get the party started for sure.”
As for Collins’ set, he said he’ll be sticking to ‘the usual mission statement’.
“We’re going to make them laugh, make them cry, make them think about a couple of things, and try and make them lose their voice,” he said.
“If they wake up the next day with a little bit of a headache and a sore voice, then I know I’ve done my job.”
Hoping that the weather holds out, Collins said he can’t wait to hit the stage in The Backyard, and see as many people there as possible.
“I’m yet to get to The Backyard, but I’ve head that it’s just stunning and looks straight out at the Mountains, and I’m really looking forward to that; just being around that view around sunset, it’s just going to be special,” Collins said.
“I think the people that aren’t there are going to regret not being there, like I did last year!”
Travis Collins will be on at Panthers as part of Sunset Bash on Saturday, September 21 at 3pm. Tickets are $59. For more information or to book, visit http://www.penrith.panthers.com.au.
Cassidy Pearce
Cassidy Pearce is a news and entertainment journalist with The Western Weekender. A graduate of the University of Technology Sydney, she has previously worked with Good Morning Macarthur and joined the Weekender in 2022.