EVENTS! Hello

Things are heating up on the Sunshine Coast with a plethora of events on offer during the cooler months as Deb Caruso discovers.

Without wanting to jinx anything, can I just say how wonderful it is to see the region come to life again?! Performances and events that celebrate our local talent and create unique experiences in our stunning landscape play a vital role in our wellbeing and sense of community. From coffee shop talks to major festivals, do yourself a favour and support local businesses at the same time! Our facebook and website has a stack of events listed, including these key events:

Booze And Brews

The Hinterland Craft Beer Festival, Saturday 26 June, 12noon-8pm, The Imperial Hotel Eumundi. Entry: free, all ages.

Meet the brewers from eight local breweries pouring more than 40 craft beers from ales and lagers to sours, porters, stouts, IPA’s and other specialty beers. This smorgasbord of fun-filled, family-friendly entertainment will also feature a gin bar, tasty food, live music and grooves, karaoke, Pinball Lane and old skool games, roving street performers and some seriously good vibes - what’s not to love?

www.imperialhoteleumundi.com.au

In Conversation

Learning from Legends with John Eales, Friday 16 July, 11.30am-2pm, Venue 114, Sportsmans Pde, Bokarina. $130 pp incl 2-course lunch, drinks and entertainment

Enjoy an up close and personal conversation with former Wallabies captain and World Rugby Hall of Fame legend John Eales AM. Internationallyrenowned poet and author Rupert McCall will MC the event and also share some of his greatest pieces of work. www.venue114.com.au

Garden Gurus

Queensland Garden Expo, 9-11 July, 8am-5pm Fri; 8am-4pm Sat-Sun, Nambour Showgrounds. $20 for adults; under 15, free. Group discounts and packages available. With more than 7 hectares of inspiration including 350 exhibitors selling more than 60,000 plants; and around 45 guest speakers presenting more than 120+ free lectures and demonstrations on 11 stages; the 36th annual Queensland Garden Expo will have something for everyone!

The action-packed program welcomes the return of crowd-favourites such as ABC’s Gardening Australia gurus Sophie Thomson, Costa Georgiadis and Jerry Coleby-Williams as well as event favourites Adam Woodhams, Dr Kevin Redd and Phil Dudman.

Kids are well catered for with a range of interactive sessions such as kids craft, seed planting and of course the popular free kids playground.

www.qldgardenexpo.com.au.

SUNSHINE COAST CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL, 18-20 June, various venues. Ticketed and free events.

The inaugural Sunshine Coast Chamber Music Festival promises to excite, soothe, connect, challenge and inspire music lovers of every age in the region’s most breath-taking spaces. Here are the highlights of this three-day event: OPEN AIR: ‘Song of the Black Swan’ which will weave together ancient Dreamtime stories and Aboriginal legend through ritual, music, and song; SMALL HALLS in Eudlo and Palmwoods which will merge music, heritage and hospitality with Nature Spirit + Fire Dances, Greenbushes, and Southern Cross Dreaming featuring headline artist Karin Schaupp, an internationally renowned classical guitarist; and a morning concert titled SECRET GARDEN: Bird Song celebrates the natural amphitheatre and bush setting amongst the sculptures of the Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens at Tanawha, featuring Queensland’s up-and-coming youth ensemble, Acetaria Woodwind Quintet.

CLASSICS FOR CHILDREN: Sonic Safari in Buderim and FRINGE: Beats + Loops in Maroochydore will engage children with music in a meaningful way and a special outreach performances titled MUSIC & WELLNESS: Musical Meditations will be hosted at SCU Hospital and an aged care centre, in partnership with regional charity Wishlist.

The sophisticated Chamber Music Gala themed Songs of Sky, Bush & Moon, featuring three headline artists will be a highlight at the Events Centre Caloundra; and a new annual RISING STARS: mentorship program will guide young and emerging musicians in chamber music practice by esteemed, established professional artists and ensembles. These young musicians will play in OPEN AIR: Heartland alongside Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University Riverside Guitar Ensemble and the Acetaria Woodwind Ensemble to close the festival concert. www.scmf.com.au woken by the early chirps no hint of daylight on her drapes a chance that she might beat the sun fresh skin face boots barely laced beanie slouched on messy hair rustic clay cup warm in hand camera strap wide on her shoulder timber door shut soft behind her long strides to the ocean side shallows painted so sublime smiling as she walks the boards down to the wharf where sea folk wake to tend to boats and wrangle ropes and coffee fills crisp winter air lovers stroll and birds in flight she gets her shot inspired by life captured here in perfect light

Artistic Director Louise King said her vision was to curate events that resonated with the Sunshine Coast community and lifestyle, and to build new audiences and appreciation for the diversity of the Festival musicians.

“The Festival’s theme is Distance + Intimacy | Hope + Regeneration to reflect the timeless journey of chamber music to today’s unforeseen challenges for artists; it promises to be a poignant occasion,” Ms. King said.

The traditional and unexpected settings across the region will deliver a unique concert to celebrate the Coast’s natural, ancient landscapes through artistic collaboration, cultural exchange and evocative music.

Nekita Roberts

@theaustralianpoet www.theaustralianpoet.com