Tag: tourism

Blues on Broadbeach teams up with the birthplace of blues – Memphis

Posted on by Kesha West

Blues on Broadbeach, the Gold Coast’s very own home of blues music, is coming together with the city where it all started, Memphis.

Today Blues on Broadbeach announced an exciting three-year partnership with Memphis Tourism coming on board as an Official Support Partner of the festival from 2023-2025. The partnership formalises the festival’s long-held relationship with Memphis Tourism.

From the blues clubs on Beale Street, Memphis to the streets of Broadbeach Queensland, Memphis Tourism will play an integral role in bringing that unique Memphis blues sound to Blues on Broadbeach fans each year. This partnership falls in line with the ethos of festival producers Major Events Gold Coast, to deliver a truly authentic blues experience and nurture our growing blues music culture in Australia.

“Blues on Broadbeach has built a strong relationship with the team at Memphis Tourism for many years, curating some amazing festival performances from some of Memphis’ best,” said Festival Director Mark Duckworth.

“To see our partnership continue to grow for our 2023 event, and beyond, is a testament to the genre of blues music, and its ongoing journey around the world. We can’t wait to welcome many more legends from the home of blues music, to our Gold Coast stages.”

Thanks to Memphis Tourism, the recently announced Blues on Broadbeach 2023 lineup will, for the first time, include Memphis rhythm and blues artist Don Bryant.

“Memphis Tourism is thrilled to once again be partnering with Blues on Broadbeach,” said Chris Ingram, Director of Memphis Tourism Australia/New Zealand.

“Known as the home of blues and soul, Memphis is a perfect match for this festival and the synergies extend far beyond the music. We are incredibly excited to be welcoming Don Bryant and The Bo-Keys to the festival from Memphis, and we can’t wait to be part of another successful Blues on Broadbeach.”

Memberships to the festival’s exclusive Twelve Bar Society are on sale, and the Memphis Tourism partnership brings with it a truly special experience for 2023 members – an exclusive masterclass with rhythm and blues legend Don Bryant, and friends. An opportunity fans of soulful blues won’t want to miss!

The Twelve Bar Society was established in 2022 to offer the ultimate blues experience for avid Blues on Broadbeach fans and included exclusive offers and opportunities, selling out quickly in its inaugural year.

Along with the Don Bryant masterclass, 2023 membership will include a ‘secret show’, a special masterclass with one of the greatest acoustic guitarists, Tommy Emmanuel, an exclusive VIP bar and main stage viewing area and limited-edition merchandise. Don’t miss your opportunity to become a member of Twelve Bar Society available here.

Born in the blues capital of the world, Memphis native Don Bryant is among the greats of the genre. He is immortalized in the history books of music as the artist who penned “the best song ever”, as declared by John Lennon. The timeless hit I Can’t Stand The Rain is a song Don wrote for his wife Ann Peebles, one of many influential records he created as a solo artist and in collaboration with fellow blues elites, like Otis Clay and Al Green.

Twelve Bar Society members have the opportunity to experience a piece of blues history with Don Bryant himself at the very heart of it. With a career spanning over 50 years, Don will no doubt have a wealth of insight to offer in his masterclass, as well as a vast catalogue of soul, jazz and blues to perform on the Gold Coast in May. Sharing the stage with Don will be The Bo-Keys, a band of multi-instrumentalists from Memphis who bring together the sounds of classic rhythm & blues with their own distinct flavour.

For over two decades, Blues on Broadbeach has been an annual pilgrimage for blues fans, travelling to the Gold Coast from across states and seas to this unique four-day event. Now one of Australia’s largest music festivals, Blues on Broadbeach returns for its 22nd year from 18 – 21 May 2023 and will showcase some legendary names in the Australian and International blues scene.  Don Bryant & The Bo-Keys (US) will be joined by the likes of Tommy Emmanuel, Don Walker, Emma Donovan & The Putbacks, The Kevin Borich Express, and The Turner Brown Band (US/AUS), plus many more to be announced.

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.

Cooly Rocks On awarded top honour at Queensland Tourism Awards

Posted on by Kesha West

Australia’s favourite nostalgia festival Cooly Rocks On has been awarded Gold in the Major Festivals and Events category at the prestigious Queensland Tourism Awards on the Gold Coast in front of industry leaders and peers.

Held this year at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Queensland Tourism Awards (QTA) recognise the outstanding achievements of the state’s tourism industry, including individuals, businesses, and events.

Proudly produced by Major Events Gold Coast, Cooly Rocks On is one of the largest and most authentic nostalgia festivals in Australia celebrating the motors, music, and lifestyle of yesteryear. In 2022, more than 136,000 visitors enjoyed the five-day festival held in the iconic beachside destination of Coolangatta.

“We love this festival, and the team work really hard to ensure we produce an event that is authentic to the era it celebrates, and also something the local community continues to be proud of, and get involved with, every year, ” said Major Events Gold Coast Director of Festivals and Events Mark Duckworth, who accepted the award last night.

“This award is recognition that we have been able to create a unique festival experience for the tens of thousands of visitors that come from right around Australia and overseas to participate in and enjoy, and we couldn’t be happier.”

The annual festival has grown to be one of Australia’s biggest showcases of classic cars with more than 900 cars displayed in 2022. It also features a lineup of the best rockabilly, swing, rock ‘n’ roll and tribute artists, with Indonesian Rockabilly band The Hydrant among the standouts of this year’s festival.

Among the other festival highlights is the Pin-up Pageant and the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, one of only 10 worldwide acknowledged by Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Major Events Gold Coast CEO Jan McCormick said she was thrilled Cooly Rocks On had taken out the top award.

“Cooly Rocks On is just one of those really unique festivals that people fall in love with, you can’t help but have a good time in the winter sunshine at this festival, it’s infectious,” said Ms McCormick. “I am so proud of our entire team, who work tirelessly each year to deliver not just Cooly Rocks On but three other fantastic music festivals: Blues on Broadbeach, SPRINGTIME and Groundwater Country Music Festival.”

Major Events Gold Coast would like to thank the City of Gold Coast and our Cooly Rocks On 2022 Sponsor Family – Tourism and Events Queensland, Indian Motorcycle, Celebrity Ink™ Coolangatta and The Strand.

The QTA win means Cooly Rocks On will automatically be entered into the running to win an award at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in March 2023.

The 12th Cooly Rocks On will be held from 7 – 11 June 2023.

Cooly Rocks On is supported by the Queensland Government, via Tourism and Events Queensland, and is a feature on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

Sun, surf, smiles and sweet sounds signal a successful Groundwater CMF

Posted on by Kesha West

Sunny skies greeted tens of thousands of fans for the ninth annual Groundwater Country Music Festival (CMF) held on the Gold Coast from 28 – 30 October 2022.

Produced by Major Events Gold Coast, the Groundwater CMF party continued all weekend as 50 of the biggest national and international country music stars performed in the parks, streets and venues of Broadbeach delighting fans from near and far with three epic days of free world-class country music by the beachside.

The return of interstate and overseas visitors was notable, and humbling, with fans and artists coming together for the first time in many years in what became a big-hearted reunion.

“Being from Canada, I’ve really been missing the country music scene so when I heard there was a country music festival on the Gold Coast AND right next to the beach I just had to come,” said one Canadian festival goer. “Now I am a devotee; I’ve never been to a festival like this.”

Groundwater CMF headliner and Canadian, Dan Davidson said, “There is nothing in the world like Groundwater CMF, we arrived on the first day, walked around and it took our breath away – the Gold Coast is absolutely amazing! There is a friendliness of spirit everywhere that has been reflective of the country music vibe that brings people together.”

“To make it even better, every single person that is part of the festival has treated us like gold…it’s been a 10 out of 10 experience and I’m so stoked to be here representing Canada and making new friends.”

The party vibe was reflected in the styles of the hottest emerging country artists: Dozzi, Max Jackson, Abbie Ferris, Kaylee Bell and Bella Mackenzie who ensured this genre of music will continue to grow and reach a wider modern audience.

Surprises were in abundance over the weekend, with many of this years’ lineup jumping on stage to support each other and collaborate, to the audiences’ delight.

Speaking of support, the Groundwater CMF family really do know how to help a mate in need, with many digging deep to provide much needed funds to Drought Angels, the Official Charity Partner of Groundwater CMF. Their donations supporting farmers in need all over Australia.

“There has been a really great vibe at this year’s festival,” said Major Events Gold Coast Director of Festivals and Events Mark Duckworth. “The country music community really know how to dig in and have a good time with each other.

“What’s made this year so special has been being able to reconnect people after a couple of tough years. Many of our fans, and artists, both abroad and across the country haven’t been able to get to Groundwater CMF with the borders closed, so being here and being together again means a lot.”

Soaking up the sunshine and having an amazing time in this slice of paradise was foremost on the minds of Melbourne band Sweet Talk who said: “This is our first time at Groundwater CMF and the vibe is electric. It’s quite incredible that visitors (and us as the musos!) get to listen to the hottest music AND pop for a swim in the ocean in between. There is nowhere else like it.”

Just some of the big names who performed at this year’s festival were SEAFORTH, ANDREW FARRISS, GINA JEFFRIES, KAYLEE BELL(NZ), TRAVIS COLLINS, TAMI NEILSON (NZ), and FANNY LUMSDEN.

“What a great weekend!” said festival favourite Fanny Lumsden. “Groundwater CMF was such a joy to play, to see thousands of people from all over literally dancing in the street again and all the artists come together in the sun, kind of made everything make sense.”

Groundwater CMF has cemented such a firm place in the hearts of thousands, that long-time country artist sensation, Hayley Jensen was borrowed from the festival to sing the national anthem at the main race of the Major Events Gold Coast supported Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 up the road in Surfers Paradise.

Groundwater CMF wraps after an incredibly successful 2022 with thanks to our sponsor family this year: City of Gold Coast, Tourism and Events Queensland, P&O Cruises Australia, Yugambeh Region Aboriginal Corporation Alliance (YRACA), 1029 Hot Tomato, KIX Country, and our Charity Partner Drought Angels.

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

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