ALL roads lead to Moree picnic races on Saturday, May 24 – especially Route 33, the Queensland-based duo headlining the event’s huge after-party.
Jock Barnes and Trent McArdle – aka Route 33 – have been busy in recent months as they prepare to again venture over the border.
Barnes and McArdle recently featured on ABC Country with Beccy Cole and wowed a big crowd at the Dalby picnic races last month.
In July, they’ll head to Canada to make their international debut at the iconic Calgary Stampede, often referred to as The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
But first, they’ve got next Saturday’s Moree picnic races on their to-do list, and Barnes and McArdle are again keen to travel the black-soil plains.
“We played the Young Aggies Ball out there last year, and have played a fair few weddings at Moree over the years,” Barnes said.
“We’ve also played a few country race meetings as well. We did the Dalby races in April and also played at the Roma Cup, Surat races and St George races over the past year or so,” Barnes said.
Since their debut single, Last First Kiss, was released nearly nine years ago, Route 33 has featured at CMC Rocks, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Gympie Music Muster, Savannah in The Round, and the Groundwater Country Music Festival.
Jock Barnes and Trent McArdle – aka Route 33 – headline the Moree picnic races after-party on May 24 (Image Supplied).
In 2019, Route 33 ramped things up a notch, with the release of their album, Coro Drive.
The album raised the bar on the ARIA Charts, giving Route 33 a No.1 Australian country position on release.
It also gave Barnes and McArdle their first million-stream song, with the single Showing Off hitting the milestone on Spotify.
Soon after, their 2020 hit Quarter Past You was immediately added to Spotify’s Fresh Country Playlist and Apple Music’s Aussie Country Playlist upon release.
Since 2018, Route 33 streams have passed the four-million mark.
Route 33’s unique sound, overlapping traditional country, has a modern edge, and has also given Barnes and McArdle a loyal fanbase across Australia.
Well-known for their for crowd interaction, Barnes and McArdle will fit right in at the Moree picnics after-party.
“We love getting out to these events – everyone lets loose and gets into it,” Barnes said.
Between race meetings and gigs, Route 33 is busy recording new material.
“In terms of new tracks, we finished our third studio album last year called Chapters and have a Live from Tamworth EP coming out shortly. This was from the main stage at Tamworth earlier this year at the country must festival,” Barnes said.
Like Coro Drive, Chapters debuted at No.1 as the Aria Australia country album and No.1 independent album.
“We are also playing a few festivals later this year, including the Country Fest at Mackay shortly, Gympie Muster and also heading over the play the Calgary Stampede in July, which should be a ball. “We’re also looking at releasing some more originals later in the year,” he said.
Bus service available
To ensure patrons get to the track safely, and on time, buses will run from the Albert Motel, Royal Hotel and Moree Golf Club from 11am to 2pm at half-hour intervals.
Return buses will begin at 5pm and finish at 11.30pm.
Private transfers are subject to availability. Contact Melissa O’Dempsey on 0427 542167 to discuss options for groups of six or more from private residences within town limits.
Picnic lunch
Patrons are encouraged to take along a picnic lunch to share with friends and family under the main marquee at the president’s luncheon.
The long-standing custom of bringing plates to share dates back to 1924, when Moree held its first picnic race meeting.
Everyone is invited to join president Alex Madden under the marquee and partake in this longstanding tradition.
Moree Lions Club barbecue will also be fired up, with delicious steak and sausage sandwiches available for purchase.
Out on the track
The May 24 Moree picnic races feature a six-race card and $42,000 prize money.
Signature races include the 1400m Boolooroo Cup, won last year by Peter Sinclair’s Peak Road, and the 950m Moree Bracelet, won by Ridge Wilson’s Hiraishin.
Major sponsors for round one of bush racing’s Golden Triangle include Nutrien Ag, RDO Equipment, GrainCorp, B&W Rural, Kenway and Clark Case IH and North West Events.
Tickets
Tickets are only available online from TryBooking at: https://www.trybooking.com/DADHV.
Ticket prices are $40 per person for general race-day admission, with a race-book Included, or
$140 per person for race-day admission as well as the dinner-dancer afterwards.
Moree Picnic Races
When: Saturday, May 24
Where: Moree racecourse
Time: From around midday ‘til late
After-party entertainment: Route 33
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