Social media influencer and mega country music fan Sienna Mallon has started a viral call for a bush doof after revealing that she wasn’t invited to Australia’s TikTok Awards this week. Mallon came up with the idea of a country music alternative.
The awards were held at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney on Wednesday (27 November). US pop star and online personality JoJo Siwa performed and presented the Artist of the Year award (to indie rockers Royel Otis, who were absent), DJ CYRIL performed with Shannon Noll, and Bridey Drake was crowned the TikTok Creator of the Year.
On a night that The Guardian described as “flashy” and “absurd,” Mallon would have provided some down-to-earth energy to the event.
Taking on TikTok yesterday, Mallon quipped that she wasn’t invited to the TikTok Awards because there was free alcohol, and she would have had too much fun. But she had an idea for herself and other creators who weren’t invited to the event: to put on a “Bush Doof” – an outdoor live music event in the regions.
The idea caught on with young singer-songwriter Lane Pittman, who replied to her video: “If this comment gets 10k likes, I’ll bring the band along and headline the Bush Doof,” with the fire emoji at the end. At the time of publication, his comment—made 19 hours ago—has over 4,800 likes.
After seeing Pittman's comment, Mallon posted a follow-up video and asked her audience, “Tell me what you want.” Mallon said she would drive something if she believed she could do it and people were interested.
In the comments, viewers asked for tickets for the general public and suggested having food trucks, market stalls, and other interactive activities for attendees. Viewers also tagged EDM duo Peking Duk, who made headlines earlier this year by successfully hosting a rave at the hardware store Bunnings.
Lane Pittman wasn’t kidding about headlining the Bush Doof, either. “I think if we can pull this bush doof off, it’ll be amazing,” he said to Countrytown. “It’s ambitious, something I haven’t seen done before. Hopefully, Sienna can get this off the ground because I’ll be there with bells and whistles on, raising some hell on stage!”
The Bush Doof idea has Countrytown’s full support.