Music festival to take over Airlie, bringing bands to the beach
The Airlie Beach Festival of Music will bring music to Airlie Beach and beyond with a lineup of huge talent including The Angels, Troy Cassar-Daley, and Busby Marou.
Aerial view of Airlie Beach Festival of Music (Image: Supplied)
The Festival, now in its ninth year, will see some of Australia’s best musicians playing on one of the best beaches in the world.
The lineup includes ARIA Hall of Famers The Angels whose original lineup have been touring nationally throughout 2021.
“The band is re-energised to the extent that I feel like it’s a young band again,” said founder Rick Brewster.
“I feel like I felt when we started out.
“We’re over the moon to be playing shows again and can’t wait to strap on the guitars and rock out with the crowd at Airlie Beach,” he said.
Joining The Angels are John Schuman of Redgum and Shane Howard of Goanna who will be playing their catalogue of hits with the Rockin’ Red Dirt Band.
The lineup also includes prolific country star Troy Cassar-Daley and ARIA Hall of Famer Russell Morris, as well as American singer-songwriter Toni Childs and lead singer of The Superjesus Sarah McLeod.
Across the three day festival there will be performances by Alex Lloyd who is playing a series of 20th anniversary shows to celebrate his album Black the Sun and Rockhampton duo Busby Marou.
Airlie Beach Festival of Music founder Gavin Butlin says the multi-day event welcomes all musical tastes.
“Having to cancel the 2020 Festival was devastating so I am beyond thrilled to welcome a stellar line-up of artists and musicians to play venues throughout the gorgeous Airlie Beach,” Mr Butlin says.
Airlie Beach Festival of Music 2019 (Image: Supplied)
“Like all events this year, we have had to adapt to travel restrictions with some of our originally programmed interstate artists unable to attend but we are all systems go and our new line-up includes some huge Aussie music legends, Queensland touring artists and talented locals.
“I’m also delighted that audiences will have the chance to discover and support the ‘next big thing’ with Passport to Airlie, Australia’s largest live original music competition where finalists perform at the Festival and the winner scores a spot on the main stage in 2022.
“We need to support the next generation of internationally famous Australian acts so I invite everyone to check out the Festival’s incredible program and support live, original music at a grassroots level.”
The Festival also includes the biggest music competition in the country, with the winners of Passport to Airlie landing a spot on the next year’s bill.
This year’s contest is judged by lead singer of The Superjesus Sarah McLeod.
“I love to see new acts getting a break; to be involved in encouraging emerging artists is one of the great inspirations of being an artist myself,” she said.
Airlie Beach Festival of Music runs for three days from 5 November to 7 November.