The Sunshine Coast is set to host its first-ever all-ages drive-in music festival. AIRWAVES is kicking off at Nambour Showgrounds, spanning three consecutive days.
The day obviously won’t be the same as your typical music festival. There’ll be no sweaty moshing and no big international headliners, but if you’re missing live music as much as we are, we suggest you give it a crack as this lineup will be sure to tickle the itch.
AIRWAVES will be the Sunshine Coast’s first-ever all-ages drive-in music festival, featuring a stellar lineup, including The Chats, The Dreggs, and more.
The three-day drive-in event is just over an hour north of Brisbane at Nambour Showgrounds, taking place on July 10th, 11th, and 12th. With three acts performing each day, AIRWAVES boasts some of Queensland’s most talked about indie, punk and folk artists.
Friday (July 10th) will see Toxic Fox, Sahara Beck and The Dreggs take to the stage. While Saturday (July 11th) features Being Jane Lane, Bugs and the Sunshine Coast’s own, The Chats.
Sunday (July 12) includes performances from Salt & Steel and OKA with Pierce Brothers closing the stage, and putting a halt to the boundaries of the weekend.
Festival director, Cindy Jensen, explains how the space theme represents the restraint she’s felt personally since the pandemic put an immediate hiatus to live music around the globe.
“Reading it set off a rocket launch fire inside me and I wanted to bring some confidence back into an industry that has been so hard hit and affected. I miss travelling and the freedom it brings and the spacesuit represents the feeling COVID-19 confinement has had on me personally.”
The masterminds behind the whole event have previously fronted unique initiatives at Nambour Showgrounds, such as Buskers By the Lake, recognisably Australia’s largest busking festival. The Showgrounds also hosts The Big Pineapple Music Festival, another pioneering platform recognising local music to the Sunshine Coast. With government backing and COVID-19 cautionary measures in place, let’s hope the trial event all runs smoothly.
“It is fantastic to see local and Queensland performers being offered work in what has been a tough time for our cultural industry,” said David Law (Division 10 Councillor).
Tickets for each night will be sold separately, so you can choose to enjoy just one night out under the stars, if you please. All ticketing will be contactless. Hand sanitiser will be readily available. And the team are also doing food delivery drops to vehicles throughout the themed event, including “Cosmic Crave” snack packs. Could be a good time to eat space cakes, maybe?
The AIRWAVES are hoping that the drive-in festival provokes other Australian event organisers to promote live music initiatives and other creative arts events during these strange times. Joel Jensen, AIRWAVES events manager, explains how he would like to see industry experts working together to revitalise the hard-hit live music scene in Australia.
“It’s not just the performers who have been severely impacted, it’s everyone from the large scale production companies and venues, to the family-owned festival hire businesses and supply stores.”
The situation, as it stands, deems it unviable for those living outside of the Queensland state to attend, with borders remaining shut and coronavirus restrictions in place. Parking spaces are limited and tickets are selling quick. Tickets to the Wollongong drive-in gig, that will see Hockey Dad and The Pinheads play, sold out in just five minutes after going on sale!
You can purchase your tickets on the Airwaves Festival Instagram and Facebook pages, as well as through their website. Be readily prepared to embrace the weirdness in your best galaxy-themed cosmic getup!
