Pilbara music duo Highway 95 secure coveted spot at Tamworth Country Music Festival

Karratha’s dynamic country music duo, Highway 95, has secured a coveted spot in the line-up for the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January. The Tamworth Country Music Festival, held in Australia’s country music capital, is the largest and longest-running country music festival in the southern hemisphere, marking its 50th anniversary in 2022. It spans 10 days each January, drawing in music enthusiasts from all around. Highway 95, an acoustic/rock country music duo based in Karratha, built a dedicated following by captivating audiences at various events and local venues across the Pilbara. Formed in January 2023, the duo consists of guitarist Bob Derschow, a traditional owner in the Pilbara, and vocalist Nicole Bylund. The band’s name, Highway 95, originated from Derschow’s personal connection to the road that links Port Hedland and Karratha. Growing up travelling down this road to visit family and friends, Derschow saw the name as a symbolic representation of bringing people together and a tribute to the beloved area. With decades of experience performing in various bands, both Derschow and Bylund share a deep passion for crafting and presenting original music. Derschow, inspired by a long-standing desire to create original compositions, approached Bylund with the idea of forming a band earlier in the year. The duo’s journey to the Tamworth Country Music Festival began when they engaged their supportive network of friends, family and followers. Leveraging social media, they rallied votes in the Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards, ultimately earning a spot as one of the finalists in the best band duo category. “We were initially planning to make our way to Tamworth in 2025, but we felt now is just as good a time as any,” she said. “We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to showcase our music, participate in the busking competition and see how we fare on this grand stage.”