SurfLife: celebrating surf culture

Gerringong’s SurfLife Music Festival is gearing up to be an exciting three days, with the $57,000 in support from NSW Government’s Regional Events Acceleration Fund. After missing out on the grant last year, Festival Director Adam Loxley says it is all about injecting funds into SurfLife to help it grow and realise its potential.

Music is only part of the festival with an array of events happening on Werri Beach, including a surf expo, a classic surf car and van show, a surfboard swap meet, sandcastle competition and more.

“These events have all happened before in an experimental stage, but the grant has allowed us to really put a lot more effort into growing all of them,” says Adam.

The extra funding is evident on the music front, with music legend Tex Perkins performing with Matt Walker (above) on the Friday night, supported by our very own Frank Sultana.

“Part of the grant was to help us get bigger artists to the event, so when we were reaching out to a variety of artists and Tex’s name was thrown into the ring, we got quite excited,” says Adam.

“We’ve also got Pacific Avenue playing on Saturday night and we are organising a lot of free live music around Gerringong.”

The festival will also coincide with the Surfing NSW’s Her Wave surf competition happening on Jones Beach.

It’s open to female surfers of all ages and abilities with individual and team divisions running across the weekend.

Alongside the competition on Sunday, spectators can enjoy the pop up skate park, workshops and food organised by Destination Kiama.

A shuttle bus will take people from the event at 2pm back to the festival in Gerringong.

With ticket sales on the rise, Adam feels there is a lot of enthusiasm for the event this year.

“After two years of COVID, there was a lot of uncertainty. I feel like that has gone and people are much more willing to commit to events now.

“Last year, a lot of events were experiencing the same thing where nobody was buying tickets until the very last minute, and it made everybody quite anxious. This year it is all looking really good,” says Adam, who believes their decision to move the event to earlier in the year to catch the end of summer has helped.

31 March – 2 April Go to gerringongfestival.com. au for tickets and info. by Cassandra Zaucer

AboutDrToniaGray......

“HavinglivedwithintheKiamaelectorate forover30years,Iunderstandthe pressuresfacinglocalpeople.

I’mstandingfortheGreensbecauseour localcommunitiesaredemanding transparentandhonestdecisionmaking fromourpoliticians.

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