Tag: art

Amazing live sets from BENEE, Matt Corby, Bag Raiders and more, a beachside skate park, murals and art installations, coupled with three days of perfect weather helped prove why SPRINGTIME is becoming one of the country’s favourite beachside festivals.

Not a single patch of sand was left empty on Surfers Paradise beach this weekend, as thousands danced and sang along to some of Australia’s best homegrown and international music acts in perfect spring weather at the Gold Coast’s SPRINGTIME festival.

Proving why spring will never be the same again, the three-day festival saw a sea of people spend the long weekend swimming in crystal blue water, sunbathing and immersing themselves in all the good times and good fun on offer at SPRINGTIME. The epic lineup across the Beach Stage and the Dr. Martens Street Stage featured more than 30 of the country’s best homegrown artists.

After tens of thousands attended SPRINGTIME last year, the addition of international superstar BENEE in 2023 plus a brand new commissioned art installation, the Vans Skate Plaza, and a DJ Skool at the Paradise Centre saw an even bigger wave of music fans flock to the festival this year.

As Australian dance royalty Bag Raiders took the stage on Friday night, it was clear that the crowds had returned – this time with friends – turning Surfers Paradise into a real vibe for music tourists from around Australia. Saturday night crowds, which spread as far as the eye could see, welcomed international popstar BENEE with open arms, while on Sunday Australia’s very own Matt Corby served as the perfect conclusion to this spring party to remember, with his unique blend of blissed out indie surf-pop.

“This being a free concert is just next level, I love that, we need to be doing this more often,” said NZ artist BENEE. I love Australia, it’s close to home and this feels like a little holiday.”

Partnering again with the Gold Coast Music Awards (GCMAs) SPRINGTIME continued to live up to its promise of supporting and highlighting local talent. This year’s festival kicked off with an after party celebrating the music community and emerging Gold Coast artists.

GCMAs People’s Choice winner Lyric then took centre stage as she opened SPRINGTIME’s Beach Stage on Friday. What followed was a smorgasbord of incredible Aussie talent across the long weekend with uplifting acts from the likes of Sunshine & Disco Faith Choir, Sycco, Girl and Girl and the Gold Coast’s bella amor.

“I’m just so stoked that this festival is here, and I am so grateful to play here,” said Gold Coast artist bella amor. “It is really cool for people to have an opportunity to hear what talent we have around here. It is great for the Goldie people too, because they can come and have a good time.”

Complementing the live music element of the program, live art mural painting added a kaleidoscope of colour to the city’s streets thanks to the candy-coloured aesthetic of renowned Korean-Australian artist YEAHYEAHCHLOE and Yuggera – Minjungbal – Nyangbul – Ugarapul land duo Malara Rise, who’s alluring mural framing the ocean paid homage to their ancestory.

Punters of all ages looking to engage with art and test their skills weren’t left out, as the creative minds at Shock Therapy Arts definitely brought it, with their commissioned installation Quest of Chaos causing, you guessed it, chaos. All weekend, participants climbed, scrambled and tumbled through the giant obstacle course on Surfers Paradise beach as they attempted to defeat King Chaos and his gang of interdimensional troublemakers. A totally unique interactive experience only found at SPRINGTIME.

“This has been a great festival, we’ve had perfect weather and it’s been a pleasure to watch the beach filling up with fans coming to see their favourite artists,” said Festival Director Mark Duckworth. “Second year in, we’re really seeing this festival grow and we’re excited about what SPRINGTIME is going to do for the city into the future.”

The Vans Skate Plaza was a festival highlight with some of Australia’s top skateboarders showing off their world-class runs and tricks to crowds of fans lining the street. Local skaters were invited to drop in alongside the Vans Skate Team.

With Surfers Paradise buzzing with crowds, local businesses, restaurants and bars enjoyed bumper trade proving the importance of major events for the Gold Coast community.

“It has been super busy which is great,” said Nim Pavia from Gelato Messina in Surfers Paradise. “We are located at the Paradise Centre, and it (the stage) is like seven steps to us so we can hear the music and people come in and out and enjoy the beach, enjoy the music and they come and get a gelato.”

Produced by Major Events Gold Coast, SPRINGTIME wraps after another successful year with thanks to our Sponsor Family – City of Gold Coast, Dr. Martens, triple j, Gold Coast Airport, Paradise Centre, Vans, Clean Vibes, EVENTelec, Radio Metro and the Yugambeh Region Aboriginal Corporation Alliance.

Good times are guaranteed again in 2024 with the return of SPRINGTIME confirmed for 6 – 8 September, 2024!

Live music, a pop-up skate plaza, mural artists and a huge interactive art installation inspired by retro arcade games is all set to land in Surfers Paradise for SPRINGTIME this September!

Less than one month out from the return of the Gold Coast’s newest free music, arts and skate festival SPRINGTIME has unveiled its program for three days and nights of good times making for the perfect spring long weekend.

With a stacked lineup of more than 30 artists across two stages, the Vans Skate Plaza, live art murals, a new participatory performance installation from the team behind 2022’s smash hit ‘The Cleaners’, DJ workshops and more, SPRINGTIME is once again set to blossom.

Kicking off on the Gold Coast’s ‘Show Day’ public holiday on Friday 1 September, day one of the three-day event kicks off at noon with live music from some of the country’s favourite artists, including sets from Brisbane pop act Sycco, electro-pop outfit Boo Seeka, internationally acclaimed group Girl and Girl who will be lighting up the newly-named Dr. Martens Street Stage, and a special DJ slot on the SPRINGTIME Beach Stage from beloved dance duo Bag Raiders.

Complementing the live music element of the program, live art mural painting will add even more colour to the festival, with the candy-coloured aesthetic of renowned Korean-Australian artist YEAHYEAHCHLOE and Yuggera – Minjungbal – Nyangbul – Ugarapul land duo Malara Rise both kickstarting their live mural painting showcases as part of the ever popular SPRINGTIME arts program.

For punters of all ages looking to engage directly with art and test their skills, the creative minds at Shock Therapy Arts are set to surprise SPRINGTIME fans with another hit – Quest of Chaos, a totally new participatory performance installation that’s one part obstacle course, one part live action video game, one part retro art installation, and a whole lotta fun.

Commissioned for SPRINGTIME, Quest of Chaos lifts influences from Japanese game shows, retro video games and animated series and will take participants through a series of obstacle course challenges. Players will put their physical and mental skills to the test as they attempt to defeat King Chaos and his gang of interdimensional troublemakers, in this totally unique fun interactive experience.

More than just art and music, SPRINGTIME will also welcome back the newly named Vans Skate Plaza. Kicking off at 12:00pm daily, the beach-side skatepark will showcase skate demos from some of the country’s most revered skateboarders, including Gold Coast locals Jesse Noonan, and 22-year-old Nixen Osborne and at just 17 years old, Newcastle local Rome Collyer across all three days of the festival. Experienced skaters are encouraged to come down to this Skaters Paradise and show off their skills as well.

Vans couldn’t be more excited to be teaming up with SPRINGTIME festival this year!” said the team at Vans. “We want this to be a place for self-expression and creativity, so come hang out and showcase your skills alongside some of Vans best riders!”

Music and fun will continue at the Paradise Centre shopping mall with an opportunity for budding DJs to hit the decks. For the first time, SPRINGTIME will be teaming up with Paradise Centre to provide people of all ages the chance to drop in and learn to spin the decks and mix like a pro, with a series of totally free workshops run by DJ Skool every day of the long weekend.

As the sun rises on day two of SPRINGTIME, get ready to enjoy another packed day of live music including a special performance from Sunshine & Disco Faith Choir, who will be bringing their unique live show of disco-house, gospel, and dancing from Melbourne to the beachfront, plus we welcome international superstar BENEE to the SPRINGTIME stage! Fresh from massive performances at Coachella, Splendour In The Grass and Day Trip Festival, the highly renowned Kiwi performer will guarantee good times on the Saturday night, totally free of charge!

For music fans still hungry for more on day three, SPRINGTIME will still be in full bloom with live sets from Gold Coast local Bella Amor, Eliza & The Delusionals, Perth multi-instrumentalist Mitch Santiago and Byron Bay psychedelic pop outfit Babe Rainbow.

As the sun sets on the final day of SPRINGTIME, audiences are invited to round out the weekend with the sand between their toes down at the Beach Stage, as iconic Australian artist Matt Corby slows things down, bringing his signature mix of indie, soul and folk for a not-to-be-missed set on the beachfront.

“We can’t believe it’s less than a month now until we bring in spring with a bang, at the second annual SPRINGTIME,” said Festival Director Mark Duckworth. “The 2023 program is really going to shine a spotlight on the range of musical talent we have here in Australia and right in our backyard on the Gold Coast. We’re also pumped to welcome the incredible BENEE to the SPRINGTIME Beach Stage from New Zealand.”

SPRINGTIME is proud to again be partnering with the Gold Coast Music Awards (GCMAs) in 2023 to celebrate and support the local music scene. The festival will be kicking off the fun early at the GCMAs after-party presented by SPRINGTIME on Thursday 31 August at Home of the Arts (HOTA).

The good vibes and live music will continue across Surfer Paradise all long weekend in our Friends of SPRINGTIME venues. Visit springtimegc.com for more information.

Plan your long weekend of live music, entertainment and good times on the beach by downloading the SPRINGTIME festival app. Spring can’t come soon enough!

The Quest of Chaos project received funding from the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

 

After bringing nothing but three days of good times, live music, art, entertainment and skateboarding to tens of thousands of music lovers on iconic Surfers Paradise beach in 2022, SPRINGTIME is back this September!

Bringing in Spring with a bang, the free, all-ages contemporary music festival will kick off on Friday 1 September, and run for three days and three nights. True to its promise, SPRINGTIME 2023 will continue to shine a spotlight on Australian artists, and highlight local music, arts and the skate scene while celebrating the best parts of the country’s most popular beachside destination.

With an ethos built around celebrating music from across Australia, SPRINGTIME is excited to welcome back presenting partner triple j, who have been championing homegrown talent for almost five decades.

Taking place across two stages, including the Main Stage and the newly named Dr Martens Street Stage, SPRINGTIME’s music lineup for the sophomore year will include ethereal indie-pop icon Matt Corby. Hot off the heels of his first record in five years ‘Everything’s Fine’’ and a slew of sold-out tour dates around the globe, Matt Corby will be making his SPRINGTIME debut on Sunday evening, marking his only free show on his tour and putting a pin in those Sunday blues before the work week takes hold on Monday.

New Zealand alt-pop artist BENEE, fresh from massive performances at Coachella, Field Day and Paddock In The Park will make her first appearance on the Gold Coast since selling out HOTA in early 2022. Australia’s favourite party-starting duo Bag Raiders, the smooth textured sounds of Gold Coast based electropop artist Boo Seeka and Queensland’s very own multi-award-winning artist Sycco will also be gracing the beachside stages of SPRINGTIME in 2023.

Having all performed around the country at some of Australia’s largest music festivals including Splendour In The Grass, Laneway, The Grass Is Greener and The Drop, they’ll now all be appearing at SPRINGTIME for free.

Focusing on putting homegrown talent front and centre, SPRINGTIME also welcomes Australia’s favourite psych-pop outfit Babe Rainbow, indie-rock tour de force Eliza & The Delusionals, rising pop powerhouse Bella Amor, beloved pop artist grentperez, Brisbane indie-pop act yb. and a performance from Sunshine & Faith Disco Choir, who will be bringing their unique blend of disco-house and gospel from Melbourne to the beachfront.

The lineup, which boasts more than 30 artists, doesn’t end there with additional sets from Girl & Girl, Mitch Santiago, Daste., Chutney, Greatest Hits, Dizzy Days, Austin Mackay, Radolescent, Lemaire, The Vultures, Betty Taylor, Big Fuzz, Tomorrow’s Forecast, N’jaane, Bill Durry and Jason Van Miert.

Beyond the live music element of the event, live art mural painting will return, adding a splash of colour to Surfers Paradise. Don’t miss the chance to watch SPRINGTIME’s artists paint in real time across the festival precinct.

In addition to coming on board as a Major Partner of the event, iconic footwear brand Dr Martens will also make a splash on the coastline this September as the Official Festival Sandal of SPRINGTIME, offering up a solution for festival goers looking to strut through the streets by day and boogie on the beach by night.

SPRINGTIME will also welcome back the newly named Vans Skate Plaza in a redesigned form, showcasing the official Vans Skate Team on a pop up, beachfront skatepark over three days. SPRINGTIME is excited to welcome Vans on board as a Support Partner in 2023 and as the festival’s Official Skate Shoe.

Stay tuned because Shock Therapy Arts – the creative minds behind 2022’s eye catching performance art piece ‘The Cleaners’ – will also return with a brand new, top secret interactive performance installation.

Dedicated to celebrating the Gold Coast’s flourishing music scene, SPRINGTIME will again be partnering with the Gold Coast Music Awards (GCMAs) who will be hosting a SPRINGTIME launch party following the conclusion of the annual awards on Thursday 31 August.

“With the launch party kicking off directly after the Awards ceremony, it’s the perfect opportunity to profile the incredible local talent we have here on the Gold Coast, while also making sure we kick off the weekend long festival program in a memorable way,” said GCMA Director Chloe Popa. “The Gold Coast boasts world-class musicians and live-performance opportunities, that the city can be proud of.”

“We are pumped to be bringing SPRINGTIME back in 2023 for more good times and an unmissable lineup of incredible homegrown artists, “ said Festival Director Mark Duckworth. “We created this festival to first and foremost showcase the very best of Australia’s contemporary artists as well as to celebrate and support the musical talent right here in our own backyard on the Gold Coast. I am proud to say we were able to achieve that, and more, in 2022 and saw some impressive crowds come along to enjoy our free festival on the beach. We can’t wait to welcome them all back this Spring.”

Those looking to make a long weekend out of the event are in luck! The Gold Coast punches well above its weight when it comes to dishing up top-tier food and drink options and hosts a never-ending list of high-end hotels, quirky boutique options and family-friendly accommodation smack bang in the middle of Australia’s ultimate major event destination.

Meet SPRINGTIME’s 2023 Sponsor Family here.