MUST-SEE SHOWS
IT’S A FESTIVAL FEAST
JUST when the cooler weather was triggering thoughts of hibernation, an array of annual festivals and one-off acts have come together in the calendar to create a perfect cultural storm. Here are nine of the hottest tickets in town:
1. TAKE YOUR BEST MATE TO THE MOVIES NOW UNTIL APRIL 14 BROADWATER PARKLANDS
You can do pretty much anything with your dog these days, catching a blockbuster included. American Express Openair Cinemas’ Gold Coast sessions are canine friendly. Hit up the food vans first for Salt Meats Cheese pizza and gnocchi or Haagen Dazs ice cream, then pull up a beanbag under the stars. Tonight’s film is Green Book, with Bohemian Rhapsody (the perfect way to get pumped for Queen’s GC stopover next year) and Captain Marvel also left in the line-up. Tickets start at $17.
2. RELIVE BOOGIE NIGHTS IN A BREWERY APRIL 12 BURLEIGH BREWING CO. 2 ERN HARLEY DVE, BURLEIGH
Catch up with Dirk Diggler and the gang at Burleigh Brewing’s outdoor cinema, where you’ll be treated to ready access to straight-from-the-tap brews like Burleigh Mango Mac and Nitro Red Ale. Did we hear there’ll be roller girls? Add (on-screen) sex, drugs and Mark Wahlberg to the equation and it goes without saying this Gold Coast Film Festival event is adults-only. Furniture is available on a first-come first-served basis, however, it’s a good idea to BYO blanket (gangster). Entry is free.
3. SIP SUNDOWNERS ON THE SAND APRIL 17 TO 28 (CLOSED APRIL 23 AND 24) BURLEIGH HEADS BEACH
We’re not talking about those sneaky Burleigh Hill sessions which we definitely do not condone because they are definitely not allowed. The Burleigh Bleach* Club at Burleigh Heads has the honour of being our first ever licensed bar on the beach. Enjoy Burleigh Brewing beer, Witches Falls wines and The Collective Catering’s pop-up restaurant while you listen to live music and catch special performances.
4. RAISE THE BAR APRIL 17 TO MAY 12, GOLD COAST BULLETIN CENTENARY PARK
Pyrotechnics, a thumping soundtrack, Coney Island sword swallower Heather Holliday, aerial wiz Marco Motta, gravity-defying Chinese pole and beatboxing master Mikael Bres bring Limbo
Unhinged to life in the Gold Coast Spiegeltent. General admission tickets from $59.
5. WATCH POETRY IN MOTION APRIL 18, GOLD COAST BULLETIN CENTENARY PARK
Singer-songwriter Katie Noonan and her jazz trio Elixir take over the Spiegeltent for a night of music and poetry. Showcasing Katie’s ARIA-nominated album Gratitude
And Grief and Australia’s poet laureate Michael Leunig, it unites spoken-word poetry with angelic vocals. “I love it because I look out and people don’t quite know where to look,” Katie says. “Do I look at Michael drawing, do I look at the screen, the band, the orchestra? It’s quite a feast for the senses aurally and visually.” General admission tickets are $49.
6. SOAK UP THE BEAUTY OF OUR BACKYARD APRIL 18 TO 23 ACROSS THE GOLD COAST
After locals answered the Bleach* festival callout, their canal-front properties and pontoons will set the scene for an intimate concert series. Free-to-the-public Water Songs performances will also take place in waterway parks across the city.
7. STAR IN YOUR OWN THRILLER APRIL 24 TO 28, MUDGEERABA SHOWGROUNDS
Buckle up and set a course for the normally charming hamlet of Mudgeeraba for Throttle, a B-grade thriller viewed from the “safety” of your car. Lit by your headlights, heard through your car radio and seen through your windscreen, this is a live-action drive-in from Gold Coast dance theatre company, The Farm. Disclaimer: there could be zombies. A car pass is $60.
8. PLAY DRAG QUEEN BINGO APRIL 27, MIAMI MARKETTA
There is bingo, and then there is drag queen bingo. Hosted by Natasha St. James and ShuShu Funtanna, expect an outing with attitude (and great outfits). Tickets are $25 and proceeds go to Rural Aid to help Australian farmers.
9. LAUGH WITH LANO AND WOODLEY APRIL 27 AND 28, GOLD COAST BULLETIN CENTENARY PARK
Double act Lano and Woodley reunite under the Spiegeltent. Their show, Fly, brought audiences to their feet at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. With characteristic enthusiasm, Colin (Lano) and Frank (Woodley) present a tribute to the pioneers of flight, The Wright Brothers. General admission tickets are $58.