In January 2020 Cass Hopetoun won the Tamworth Songwriter’s Association talent quest before releasing her debut single ‘Shots’ independently in March.

In May she was opening for Casey Donovan at Australia’s first ever pandemic drive-in concert, performed live on Channel 7’s Sunrise and shortly after ‘Shots’ reached #4 on The Music Network Country Airplay Chart. In September Cass’s follow up single ‘Typical Bride’ peaked at #1 on that same chart. ‘Typical Bride’ also hit the #1 spot on 2TM’s Top 20 and #3 on KIX Country’s Hottest 20 charts. Both singles were added to full rotation on CMC/CMT respectively and to Spotify and Apple Music playlists.​ In 2021 Cass was nominated for her first Golden Guitar award for ‘Best New Talent’, less than one year after her first commercial release. She also took home ‘Best New Songwriter’ and ‘Best Ballad’ at the 2021 TSA Awards up in Tamworth.

Cass stumbled upon her talent for songwriting when a friend “dragged her along to the choir” as a young student in Sydney’s Blue Mountains. She learned piano, took singing lessons and idolised Delta Goodrem but the songwriting of Dolly Parton and Brandy Clark soon became her driving influences. ‘Who Needs Hawaii’ is Hopetoun’s 4th and latest single and is all about taking some ‘me time’ in amongst the chaos of a world that sometimes gets caught up in the idea of being busy. Cass’s debut album, produced by Matt Fell, will be released in 2021.

Don’t miss this rising star as she takes to the Groundwater CMF stage this November.