Entries open to Airlie music fest Far North musos invited to enter regional comp

l CAIRNS

| Nick Dalton

APPLICATIONS are now open for original acts to enter what has now become Australia’s largest live, original music initiative – Passport to Airlie 2023.

Regional competitions will be hosted in Cairns, as well as Melbourne, Newcastle, Byron Bay, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Mackay and Darwin.

Passport to Airlie co-ordinator

Cherrie Hughes said each regional winner played in the main tent at Airlie Beach on Thursday, November 9 to open Airlie Beach Festival of Music 2023.

“They’ll be hoping for not just an overall win but also the prize of a headline spot at next year’s Airlie Beach Festival of Music,” she said.

“The chance to be on a bill with international stars was once-in-a-lifetime ... fresh new acts and established artists can all enter to have this chance plus the opportunity to build experience and networks as well as their opportunity for a spot on the Airlie Beach Festival of Music line-up.”

Brick Lane Brewing is back again for the second year as the official Passport to Airlie sponsor in 2023, a relationship that has assisted greatly in the growth of Passport.

Brick Lane and festival ambassador Sarah McLeod also returns as head judge and mentor before she rocks the stage with The Superjesus Saturday night.

“Passport is going off, what a great opportunity for bands to be discovered on a legit platform in front of real fans who will follow their journey. Australian Idol this ‘aint,” she said. Passport to Airlie’s 2022 win- ner Perry Street Park have gone on an absolute tear since winning last year’s competition, now winning the Bluesfest Byron Bay Busking Competition which saw them playing the Juke Joint stage for Bluesfest 2023.

Frontman Benny Nelson says of his Passport experience: “I’ve personally been a part of P2A twice.

“Once as a solo project in 2019 and in 2022 with Perry Street Park,” he said.

“Passport to Airlie gives up and coming bands from all around Australia the opportunity to perform at a renowned festival on the big stage in front of industry and music lovers.”

The Airlie Beach Festival of Music returns for an 11th year. The festival delivers a stellar line up of acts each year and has featured some of the biggest names nationally and internationally on the seaside stage.

Back at the Whitsunday Sailing Club in 2023, the festival

• Applications for Passport to Airlie 2023 are open now via: https://www.airliebeachfestivalofmusic.com.au/how-to-enter/ will be under the big tent from November 9-12.

Tickets are on sale now, starting at $300 for a three-day pass

It is widely acknowledged the festival has transformed what was once Airlie Beach’s quietest weekend into the busiest, with the calendar re-set for each November on the weekend after the Melbourne Cup.

The first announcement for 2023 sees the festival bringing Ian Moss, Frenzal Rhomb, The Superjesus and Pierce Brothers to the Whitsundays.

Tickets available from: https://www.airliebeachfestivalofmusic.com.au/event/airlie-beach-festival-of-music-2023/

SUPER SUBURB SALE MACHANS BEACH Sunday FROM 8am l SUN MAY 21, FROM 8:00AM

CRANKWORX CAIRNS 2023 SMITHFIELD MTB PARK l WED MAY 17 - SUN MAY 21 l FRI MAY 19 - SAT MAY 20

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IN l SAT MAY 20 - SUN MAY 21

ROSE WATTS - IMPERMANII AUSTRALIA GALLERY

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Barbary Coasters, Cairns Cruising Yacht Squadron, 4:00pm

The Vibes, Dunwoody’s Hotel, 4:00pm

The Vibes, Dunwoody’s Hotel, 4:00pm

Christina Ukulele, The Cotton Club, 5:30pm

Wind and Wood, Ten 06, 5.30pm

Rock’n Sweet, Edge Hill Memorial Bowls Club, 6:00pm

Whiskey Boat Trio, O’Donnells Irish Bar and Grill, 6:00pm

Eddie Skiba, Barron River Hotel, 6:00pm

Denim Blues, Mission Beach Blues Bar, 6:00pm

Carruthers and others Jazz, The Benson Hotel, 6:30pm

Carrizma, Cazaly’s Cairns, 6:30pm

Infinity Duo, Mareeba Spanish Club, 7:00pm

Andrea and Louie, Trinity Beach Sports Club, 7:30pm

Kaweyova, Rattle N Hum Palm Cove, 8:00pm

Lisa Hunt, Bar36 at The Reef Hotel Casino, 9:00pm

SATURDAY

Wood and Wind, Yorkeys Knob Boating Club, 3:00pm Rowly, Ellis Beach Bar and Grill, 2:00pm Wasabi Barbie, Big Trev’s Takeaway, 3:00pm Waiting for Alice, Strait on the Beach, 3:00pm

Christina Ukulele, Vine Room, 6:00pm

Infinity Duo, Cazalys Cairns, 6:15pm

Guitar Masters, Hallorans Hill Hall, 7:00pm Kaweyova Duo, Central Hotel, 7:30pm Lisa Hunt, Bar36 at The Reef Hotel Casino, 9:00pm Tropic Thunder, Red Beret Hotel, 8:00pm

SUNDAY

DJGlennW, Dundees at the Aquarium, 11:30am

Cinnamon Sun, Ellis Beach Bar and Grill, 1:00pm

Tony George, Red Beret Hotel, 1:00pm

Bobby Maguire, Dunwoodys Hotel, 2:00pm

Jay Cee Music, Edge Hill Memorial Bowls Club, 2:30pm

JC & Me, Edge Hill Memorial Bowls Club, 2:30pm

Vivin Aisi, Paper Crane by Crystalbrook, 3:00pm

Jasmine Maraea, Ten 06, 3:00pm

Kaweyova, Hidden at Yorkeys, 3:00pm

Andrea, Bar36 at The Reef Hotel Casino, 7:30pm

Are you a venue or an artist that wants to be listed in the Gig Guide? Complete the form on www.cairnslocalnews.com.au/gig-guide to submit your gig each week to be listed in Friday’s paper.