About Karly Jewell
There are gigs. And then there are moments. The Wentworth Cancer Benefit Concert on Saturday, March 7 is firmly in the second category – and if you’re anywhere near the NSW Riverina region, you need to be there.
Melbourne-based rock powerhouse Karly Jewell is heading back to her hometown of Wentworth to headline the second annual Cancer Benefit Concert at the Wentworth Showgrounds, and this one is shaping up to be something genuinely special. Not just as a live music event – though the lineup absolutely delivers on that front – but as a full-day community experience built around something that matters.
A Full Circle Moment
Jewell isn’t just passing through. This is personal.
“For me this isn’t just another show,” she says. “My late grandfather helped establish country music festivals in the area many years ago, so coming back to Wentworth to be part of something that supports the community and raises money for cancer research feels like a full circle moment and something we can continue to build on.”
If that doesn’t give you chills, check your pulse.
The event was founded by local organiser Patrick Nunan as a way to raise funds for cancer research and build genuine community awareness – and with Jewell stepping in as headliner for year two, the ambition has jumped up a gear. This is a woman who knows exactly how to work a stage, and she’s choosing to bring that energy home.
Who Is Karly Jewell? (Glad You Asked)
If you’re not already across Karly Jewell’s work, now is the time to fix that.
Her second full-length album There’s A Jewell In Town recently debuted at No.3 on the ARIA Australian Artists Chart – a milestone that cements what Melbourne’s live music faithful have known for a while: this is one of the city’s most powerful contemporary rock voices, full stop. Her delivery sits in that sweet spot between rock grit and heartfelt emotional resonance that very few artists ever actually find.
Latest single Rock Ain’t Pretty says everything you need to know about her ethos – it’s a track about earning your place in music through persistence and hard work, not shortcuts. It sounds exactly as good as that premise suggests.
Her resume reads like a bucket list: Melbourne’s iconic live circuit, Los Angeles’ legendary Whisky A Go Go and the Viper Room, tours through Japan, and a growing international radio presence. She’s on an upward trajectory and she’s still choosing to spend a Saturday in Wentworth raising money for cancer research.
That’s the kind of artist worth showing up for.
Oh, and mark your calendars for Friday, March 6 too – the day before the concert, Jewell drops the final single from the album, ‘Check Out’. The perfect warm-up.
The Lineup Is Stacked
Jewell isn’t carrying this alone. Joining her on stage are Audio Reign, The Dreadful Tides, and a collection of local and visiting artists that round out a day’s worth of live music worth sticking around for.
But here’s what elevates this beyond your standard all-day festival: the cultural performances woven throughout the program. Expect the Thuukalu Dancers performing traditional Indigenous dance, Irish dancers, children’s entertainers Little Notes, and a genuinely diverse spread of community performers across the full 10-hour run. The Mayor of Wentworth will officially open proceedings, because yes – this event carries that kind of weight in the region.
The Details You Need
This is an all-ages, free entry event. There are donation points throughout the site, and every dollar raised goes directly to cancer research. Organiser Patrick Nunan also has a dedicated fundraising page if you want to contribute before or after the day.
Beyond the music: food vendors, family activities, raffles, community stalls, and the kind of atmosphere that only happens when a whole region gets behind something together. Support has come from Wentworth Shire Council, Trio Support Services, The Coomealla Club, Triple M Sunraysia, and a host of local businesses and music industry partners.
This is a community doing what communities do best.
Cancer Benefit Concert – Raising Funds for Cancer Research Wentworth Showgrounds, NSW Saturday March 7, 2026 | 11:00am – 9:00pm All ages | Free entry | Donations encouraged
Register for free tickets: events.humanitix.com/concert-for-cancer-research-second-annual-community-fundraiser
Donate directly: fundraise.acrf.com.au/fundraisers/patricknunan
Follow Karly: karlyjewell.com
There’s A Jewell In Town is out now. The final single ‘Check Out’ drops March 6. And on March 7, Wentworth gets its headliner back.
Don’t miss it.
