Surfers Paradise Live

THE inaugural Surfers Paradise LIVE festival will transform the heart of the Gold Coast into a multi-stage street festival capturing all the raw energy of a pub gig, but amplified. Over three days and nights from May 8-10, Surfers Paradise LIVE will combine the best of live music and surfside revelry, with ARIA award-winning duo Sneaky Sound System headlining the Beach Live Stage on Saturday night. An initiative of the Surfers Paradise Alliance, Surfers Paradise LIVE features a great mix of Australian and international music groups, performing on five stages spread throughout the precinct, including at Surfers Paradise Beach, Cavill Mall, and Orchid Avenue. Envisaged as the future home ground for locally-bred acts, Surfers Paradise LIVE brings a mix of contemporary and heritage acts from genres best enjoyed live, including amped-up rock and pop, sweet soul music and roots acoustic. The festival kicks off on Friday May 8, with Lisa Hunt playing the Beach Stage from 5.40pm, and Mason Rack from 6.50pm. The silky, rock and roll vocals of Phil Jamieson, the voice behind one of Australia’s most popular bands, Grinspoon, will headline Friday night’s program at the Beach Stage. Milan Martin, Bree Bullock and Simon Write take to the Cavill Mall Stage from 5pm, entertaining those who and wining and dining throughout the precinct. Saturday May 9 boasts a packed schedule of acts from 11-9pm, including Casey Barnes, Sun City, Ngaiire and headliners Sneaky Sound System from 8-9pm on the Beach Stage. Winners of two ARIA awards in 2006 for Best Dance Release and Best Breakthrough Artist, Sneaky Sound System is a dangerous duo of modern dance tunes and sexy vocals who have played their way around the world, clocking up major hits including ‘UFO’, ‘Kansas City’, ‘Hip Hip Horray’ and ‘Pictures’. From what began as a Sunday Sessions gig in Sydney, Sneaky Sound System erupted into a global music team that carved its name across international music tours and events, as well as big Australian musical festivals such as Big Day Out, Homebake, Good Vibrations Festival, Splendour In The Grass, Stereosonic and more. On Sunday May 10, the sounds are back for a fabulous closing afternoon from 11-5pm, with Casey Barnes, Cheap Fakes and, finally, Bonjah rounding out entertainment on the Beach Stage. Hailing from New Zealand, Bonjah is a lively four-piece rock group who has toured with some of the biggest music names around the world including The Who, The Beautiful Girls, The Black Seeds and Eskimo Joe. Their blues roots element has entwined with a soulful rock approach to deliver an addictive hearty, raw rock sound. For more information or to view the full event schedule, visit surfersparadise.com.