Month: December 2020

Cooly Rocks On announces merge with VIVA Surfers Paradise

Posted on by Major Events Gold Coast

Australia’s largest Rock ‘n’ Roll and nostalgia festival, Cooly Rocks On has announced that it will merge with the award-winning VIVA Surfers Paradise in 2021.

The Major Events Gold Coast owned and produced events will see Cooly Rocks On welcome the spirit of VIVA Surfers Paradise with five days of Elvis activity to be added into an already bursting program, bringing ‘The King’ to Cooly. The event will feature the cars, music, memories and moments of the 50s, 60s and 70s in a colourful explosion of sound and culture.

The merge will see VIVA’s Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, an Elvis Presley Enterprises sanctioned event, move to the Coolangatta beachfront, bringing music from The King with concerts, dances and performances over five action-packaged days and nights. The free family-friendly festival will transform Coolangatta into a hub of Rock ‘n’ Roll from the 9th to the 13th of June 2021.

Enthusiasts near and far are expected to flock to the festival to experience the nostalgia, from the Shannons Classic Car Show ‘n’ Shine to Harvest Moon Swing Ball and dance classes. The Cooly Rocks on Merge with VIVA will have visitors rocking and rolling across the beachfront’s Queen Elizabeth Park as they embrace classic favourites.

Major Events Gold Coast Director of Events and Festivals, Mark Duckworth, said the new additions to the festival will make next year one of the best.

Adding the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest to Cooly Rocks On will continue to complement the unique nostalgic experiences…for over almost 30 years visitors have flocked to the Southern Gold Coast to experience the feeling of eras gone by, and after a year off in 2020 we look forward to showcasing the music, the dancing and much-loved events like the Shannons Classic Car Show ‘n’ Shine again in June 2021.

As the festival continues to evolve, Cooly Rocks On is set to attract over 120,000 visitors on a local, drive, intra-state, inter-state and international level. The new additions will drive widespread interest and continue to support the Gold Coast’s reignited tourism industry.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said it’s exciting to see such an iconic event on the Gold Coast Festival and tourism calendar returning in 2021 with its expanded schedule.

To combine the two events makes absolute sense as we reimagine our major events calendar under the new major events organisation.

Continuing to support the local tourism community, Cooly Rocks On looks to drive overnight visitation from the 120,000 visitors, boosting the local Gold Coast economy. Visitors and local enthusiasts are invited to immerse themselves in the Coolangatta celebration of sound, memories and cars of the 50s, 60s and 70s.

For further information on the Festival including updates and programming, visit the Cooly Rocks On website.

Blues is back in Broadbeach

Posted on by Major Events Gold Coast

Major Events Gold Coast is excited to announce that Blues is back in Broadbeach!

Yes, one of the largest FREE music events in Australia is announcing its return in 2021, bringing with it a diverse array of local Aussie talent, a range of rising stars, and your all-time blues favourites. — some of whom will be performing exclusively for Blues on Broadbeach.

Hungrier than ever to put on another incredible music festival, the Gold Coast’s much-loved Blues event last rocked the streets of Broadbeach in May of 2019, and in 2021 it is slated to light up the streets of Australia’s favourite playground for four days of musical celebration (May 20 – 23, 2021).

With world-class dining, incredible beaches and bars, plus sensational vistas on-offer; Broadbeach is a no-brainer of a location to springboard your Gold Coast getaway, so don’t delay, book your stay and get ready to see a range of stunning performances, all within walking distance of your very own hotel.

Gold Coast Mayor, Tom Tate said

What fantastic news and what a line-up for 2021. Since lockdown, I’ve been dying to get amongst some great blues music, so with Tommy heading down under, I can see a record crowd milling around the main stages at Broadbeach

Revered as the best acoustic guitarist in the world, Nashville based Tommy Emmanuel is a man that has achieved enough musical milestones to last a lifetime. In 2021, he is returning home with a fresh album under his belt to perform exclusively at Blues on Broadbeach.

With one of the most enduring and recognisable voices in Australia, the multi-faceted icon and ARIA award-winning artist Christine Anu will be stylin’ up the festival stage and tipping her hat to the Queen of Soul in a must-see performance packed with heartfelt interpretations of Aretha Franklin’s most memorable hits. The critically acclaimed Aretha Franklin Songbook is a show unlike any other and will be performed exclusively at Blues on Broadbeach.

Roots-legends overseas and a household name in New Zealand, The Black Seeds have come from humble beginnings, and since 1998 they have continued to push the boundaries of Reggae-fusion without compromising the music’s heart; bringing raw energy, good vibes, and bass-heavy sounds wherever they go. Alongside bands like Fat Freddy’s Drop and Katchafire, the multi-platinum selling band have earned a reputation for rocking dancefloors around the world. This is a special year for them as they will be releasing new music and performing in Australia for Blues on Broadbeach exclusively.

Sydney’s energetic and ferocious blues/soul powerhouse The Lachy Doley Group are a must-see for anyone, topping charts and electrifying crowds around the world with their iconic sound. This year they will be returning to Blues on Broadbeach with some very special surprises to be announced later.

Festival Director, Mark Duckworth said,

After producing a digital version of Blues on Broadbeach in 2020, we can’t wait to throw open the doors and welcome back our festival fans new and old. In 2021 we have curated a mix of artists to give the streets a party vibe and let live music entertain once more.

Blues on Broadbeach is supported by the Queensland Government via Tourism and Events Queensland and is a feature on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

For further information on the Festival including updates and programming, visit the Blues on Broadbeach website.

Beyond the Sand is another welcome addition to the Gold Coast arts calendar.

Posted on by Major Events Gold Coast

What was formerly known as the Sand Safari Arts Festival has today announced it will return to the Gold Coast in 2021 as Beyond the Sand.

Beyond the Sand will transform Surfers Paradise into a captivating beachfront gallery of colour, movement and music with larger-than-life artworks across nine days and nights from the 13th to 21st of March 2021.

The free Surfers Paradise Event, owned and produced by Major Events Gold Coast delivers a significant cultural tourism impact to the Gold Coast with visitors travelling from around Australia to wander through the beautifully curated festival, providing a significant boost for the local Gold Coast economy. Beyond the Sand will become a cultural hub that reflects the lifestyle and creativity of the Gold Coasts thriving art scene.

The reimagined festival is putting a modern spin on the loved local classic to evolve beyond just ‘sandcastles’, showcasing eight large-scale installations as well as artworks that will travel from showrooms to Beyond the Sand’s beachside artist gallery.

The 2021 event will be circus-themed offering entertainment for the entire family. Featuring the annual Australian Sand Sculpting Championships, installations from local and nationally acclaimed artists, as well as circus performances, roving entertainment and workshops, attendees will be able to ‘step right up’ and learn new skills from performers and artists.

Major Events Gold Coast Director of Events and Festivals, Mark Duckworth, said the rebrand will provide room for the festival to grow and evolve as it forges ahead.

“This rebrand is the perfect way to represent the art community on the Gold Coast and further afield. Having the festival at the start of the year allows us to highlight the artistic flair and creativity that the Gold Coast has to offer year-round. We are excited to showcase a high calibre of talented artists exhibiting works at Beyond the Sand and continue to celebrate the cultural hub that is the Gold Coast” said Mr Duckworth.

For further information on the Festival including updates and programming, visit the Beyond the Sand website.