Cowboy Connections: Where to Dance, Drink and Dress for Melbourne’s Country Craze

Cowboy hats are popping up where you least expect them. Belt buckles are bigger, denim is bolder, and there’s a faint guitar twang threading through beer gardens and dance floors across the city. Call it Yellowstone, nostalgia, or a collective craving for something tactile and communal — whatever the reason, Melbourne is well and truly in its country era.

For the country-curious, there’s never been a better moment to lean in. From bootscooting nights and honky tonk bars to festivals, rodeos and Westernwear worth investing in, this is your guide to dancing, drinking and dressing your way through the city’s most joyful revival.

Are you ready, boots? Start walkin’.

Join the New Gen of Bootscooting

Bootscooting is back. While line dancing long wore the ‘uncool’ label (aside from Australia’s enduring devotion to The Nutbush), the return of cowboy and country culture has brought it stomping, tapping and twirling back into the spotlight.

Disco Rodeo is run by Kitty and Lu, partners in bootscooting and life. They’ve got a serious cowboy boot collection and a passion for bringing the joy of scooting to Melbourne.

“Honestly, we’re not really sure why it’s taken off now, but I wonder if it’s a correction to the hyper-online nature of our lives,” Kitty says. “You’re so in your body when you’re dancing — there’s really nothing digital about it, and that’s incredibly appealing.”

The welcoming sense of community (they jokingly call it a cult) is part of the appeal. Join sessions on Wednesdays at Thornbury Theatre and Fridays at Railway Hotel Fitzroy North, in February, then Fitzroy Bowls Club for the rest of the year, and Sundays at Moon Dog Wild West.

They’re not the only scooting duo in town. Enter Country Struts. Long-time dancers Gail (aka Abigail Varney) and Glenn (aka Alice Glenn) have been teaching together since 2022.

“You don’t have to be a dancer, and you can wear whatever you like,” Gail says.

Join classes on Wednesdays at Memo Music Hall, Thursdays at Quadraphonics Club, with Richmond classes coming soon to Corner Hotel on Tuesdays. They’ll also be pairing up with local bands for Honky Tonk nights at the Corner Hotel and making an appearance at Sheila’s Shakedown (an annual woman’s only motorcycle ride and campout in Ballan) in February.

If you’d rather try it casually, slide into Bodriggy Brewpub’s Bootscootin’ Sundays in the afternoon for free lessons and live music.

Giddy Up to a Gig

New to the country music circuit? These are some verified hotspots for honky tonk, alt-country and retro Americana. You’ll be a saloon regular in no time.

Head west. Moon Dog Wild West’s epic playground of cowboy and country vibes hosts live music at the honky tonk bar every Friday and Saturday, with just about every local country act passing through at some point. The menu hits all the right American notes too — chilli cheese fries, tacos and loaded hotdogs. While you’re there, try your luck on the mechanical bull (it’s harder than it looks). Maybe after a few Cowboy shots.

Country and Americana have been part of The Lulie Tavern lineup since 2015, according to booker and events manager Asia Taylor.

“Post-Covid, people love the nostalgia and have no worries about whipping their rhinestones and cowboy hats out,” she says. “We love incorporating the country scene because Lulie represents that good old-fashioned honky tonk energy.”

They host country music most weeks, including Sunday two-step dances with J. Taylor Bell and the Ding Dongs. In 2026, Country Thursdays return with Heartache Tonight — multi-act shows spanning old and new country all night long. You’ll also spot Brono the mechanical bull at every LuliePalooza street festival.

A longstanding tradition at Fitzroy favourite The Rooks Return, Honky Tonk Thursdays run weekly from 9pm to 11pm. Local legends James Ellis and the Jealous Guys hold a residency every second Thursday. Free entry, boots and hats encouraged.

Hop over to Collingwood for Honky Tonk Tuesdays at The Gem Bar with free two-step dancing, then head upstairs to the Cowboy Kitchen for an on-theme bite. Keep an eye on their socials for occasional country gigs.

When you want to go properly old school, you can’t beat an RSL. Coburg RSL hosts weekly Thursday dance classes focused on two-step styles — Texas, bar room, mountain and Cajun — alongside waltz, blues shuffle and more, backed by local acts like the Moonee Valley Drifters. Country and folk gigs run regularly too. Hot tip: the craft beer and small-batch wine list is surprisingly excellent.

Dress the Part(ner)

A cowboy’s look is iconic, so you’ll want the right places to source your get-up.

American Vintage Clothing has been bringing American style to Brunswick Street since 1991. The big draw? A prodigious selection of genuine, pre-loved cowboy boots sourced from the US, with potentially hundreds on show at any time. You’ll also find original denim from Levi’s, Wrangler and more, plus belt buckles and neckerchiefs. Enter a city slicker, leave a cowboy.

For modern Westernwear, Melbourne-based Reigner by designer James Noble delivers deliberately genderless, gloriously hedonistic suits. Known for elaborate embroidery and custom detailing — think cactuses, cowboys and bucking bulls — even their ready-to-wear pieces have sleek retro cuts that suit the honky tonk bar. Made in Bali, around 80 per cent of fabrics are sourced from Australian mills or repurposed dead stock from high-end fashion brands.

While not Melbourne-based, Sydney’s Route 66 has an online store that’s a treasure trove of vintage and new Westernwear, from boots to bolo ties, bomber jackets and trucker caps. The family-run business has been building its cult following since the 80s.

Hit the Hoedown

When you’re ready for your first rodeo — in one case, literally — it’s time to boot up and head to a festival.

Each October, Seaworks Williamstown transforms for Out on the Weekend, Melbourne’s biggest celebration of alt-country, country folk, rockin’ blues and every adjacent genre. Expect a full day of music, food trucks, bars, vintage American clothing and handcrafted jewellery. The line-up regularly features major international and local talent, from Nikki Lane to Vincent Neil Emerson, Johnny Fritz, Sweet Talk and Ella Hooper. Book the Bodriggy coach, or arrive via the Cripple Creek Ferry with a full bar and live gigs onboard.

Country meets city when Ridin’ Hearts Festival rolls through in October, bringing Nashville spirit to Melbourne and Sydney. Past international headliners include Megan Moroney, Nate Smith, Riley Green and Bailey Zimmerman, alongside Australian favourites like Lane Pittman and Sara Berki. With two stages, saloon bars, food stalls and line-dancing, it’s a big day out for dyed-in-the-denim fans.

Melbourne Rodeo kicks up the dirt in February. Expect bull rides and barrel racing, Ringers Westernwear, bars, food trucks, live music and the occasional mechanical bull. Part-sponsored by Bodriggy and tied to National Rodeo Co’s Stampede circuit, it’s the loudest, dustiest expression of the city’s country love affair.

From bootscooting floors to beer gardens, vintage denim to festival dust, Melbourne’s country revival is less about costume and more about connection — and right now, the city is leaning all the way in. For more regional flair, explore art galleries and classic pubs scattered across Victoria’s varied landscapes.