BEST GIGS

Labrador and Southport will be a key Games hub with the swimming, hockey, triathlon and marathon all featuring. There are plenty of other attractions for fans, too

Miss out on tickets to the opening ceremony? Don’t worry — one of the highlights of Festival 18 takes place on April 4 and it’s a short tram or bike ride from Southport. Yothu Yindi and The Treaty Project’s free live concert on the main stage in Surfers Paradise from 7pm is a definite must see.

Surfers Paradise beach will also host the Australian premiere of thought-provoking theatrical installation Holoscenes. The show features an enormous aquariumlike tank that engulfs performers for up to three minutes at a time, forcing them (and encouraging audiences) to consider our relationship with rising seas.

Commissioned and produced by Bleach* Festival, locally created musical event The Spirit of Churaki sees Violent Femmes star Brian Ritchie join homegrown creatives Kyle Slabb, Fred Leone and Leah Flanagan to share the story of local Aboriginal man Churaki — the Gold Coast’s first surf lifesaver. The truly unique musical theatre work merges ceremony, ancient sounds and visuals. All-star surf rock greats The Break top it all off with a cyclonic live set. Another don’t miss event on Southport’s doorstep on April 12 from 7pm.