10 DAYS OF ARTS AND CULTURE
Noosa alive! is bigger and better than ever
Every year Noosa alive! brings world-class musicians, authors, dancers, artists, food events and more to town for an amazing 10 days of arts and culture.
This year’s event, from Friday, July 19 to Sunday, July 28, features hundreds of acts from around the country, including the Queensland Ballet, The Umbilical Brothers and Tim Freedman from The Whitlams.
The festival kick starts with the official opening ceremony at the Laguna Lookout on Friday, July 19 from 4.30pm.
With a shuttle operating from the J Theatre, the opening ceremony will take place as the sun sets over Noosa.
The Gubbi Gubbi Dancers will be joined by Dr Eve Fesl for the opening welcome and performance.
From 6.30pm, the celebrations return to The J Theatre for an hour of free entertainment with Tane Tokorangi and drinks on the deck to warm up for the evening’s headline event, The Modern Maori Quartet.
Having performed their award-winning show, That’s Us!, to rave reviews across the globe in 2018, The Modern Maori Quartet are bringing their old-school entertainment and utterly incredible voices to Noosa alive! for one night only.
Inspired by New Zealand’s showbands of the 1960s and 1970s, MMQ merge soul classics with the Maori tradition of storytelling in this heartwarming and humorous evening for all music and entertainment lovers.
James Tito, Matariki Whatarau, Maaka Pohatu and
Francis Kora mix old-school charm with modern quirk, spiced with Maori culture for what is sure to be an unforgettable evening.
MMQ brings the concept of a Maori Ratpack into the present with a contemporary twist, weaving their acting and musical abilities together to tell stories, fusing hearty and humorous Maori storytelling with the Western tradition of showband entertainment.
It’s a celebration of humour and heavenly harmonies as the MMQ put their stamp on Kiwi classics and some of today’s biggest hits.
The group’s work highlights New Zealand’s musical past and present through a repertoire that blends old-school charm with modern pizzazz, featuring unique spins on Maori waiata, showband hits and pop music, all infused with the multi-talented Maori foursome’s irresistible charisma, sublime harmonies and universal humour.
MMQ aspires to be one of Aotearoa’s global cultural ambassadors, representing the revival of a proud heritage of world-class Maori showband entertainment, with relevance and appeal to today’s contemporary markets; at the heart of it all — hearty Maori entertainment. Tickets to MMQ are $60–$65 per person. To secure your seat and for further information, visit www.noosaalive.com.au
Attendance to the opening ceremony and Tane Tokorangi is free, as is entry to the after-hours festival venue Hop and Vine from 8.30pm.
2019 EVENTS
MODERN MĀORI QUARTET – THAT’S US! | Friday 19 July: Inspired by New Zealand’s showbands of the ’60s and ’70s, MMQ merge soul classics with the Maori tradition of storytelling in this heartwarming and humorous evening for all music and entertainment lovers.
ONE-ACT PLAY FESTIVAL | Friday 19 & Saturday 20 July: Join us for a fabulous feast of theatre at the One-Act Play Festival presented by Noosa Arts Theatre. The two performances will showcase three one-act plays: Black Matter, Little Angels and A Messy Engagement.
KERRY O’BRIEN – IN CONVERSATION WITH ANNIE GAFFNEY | Saturday 20 July: Join one of Australia’s most distinguished and respected journalists (Kerry has six Walkley Awards for excellence in journalism) over a special two-course plated luncheon from View by Matt Golinski.
TIM FREEDMAN – LIVE AND INTIMATE | Saturday 20 July: Lead singer and songwriter of The Whitlams, Tim Freedman takes to the stage for a special solo performance sharing his songs of well-crafted charming cynicism – a wonderful mix of caustic wit and delicate piano.
YOUR WRITING LIFE – WORKSHOP | Sunday 21 July: An interactive sleeves-rolled-up workshop to hone your writing skills, sharpen your interest and set you
on a pathway to practice and improvement. You’ll come away energised and inspired!
FROM STORIES TO MARKET – DISCUSSION PANEL & BOOK LAUNCH | Sunday 21 July :A sensational panel of publishing and writing experts will discuss the opportunities and challenges facing today’s writers, readers and publishers, followed by the launch of Shelley Davidow’s High Infidelity – a ‘fab forties’ romantic comedy about midlife, infidelity and finding happily ever after.
MICHAELA BURGER – A MIGRANT’S SON | Sunday 21 July: Award-winning cabaret star Michaela Burger and her riveting true story, A Migrant’s Son, appearing for the first time in Queensland before she tours London. This special show will be performed with Noosa’s own amazing community choir, Noosa Chorale.
SLOW FOOD WITH FILM – CHOCOLAT | Monday 22 July: Chefs Aden Moriarty from Noosa Springs, Matt Golinski from Peppers and Lisa Mahar from Makepeace Island will provide a three-course feast for the senses while you sit back and enjoy Chocolat, a most delicious comic fable and a celebration of difference.
AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM | Tuesday 23 July: Get ready for Australia’s biggest spoken word competition! Australian Poetry Slam is a live literary performance program where the audience decides the champion.
BEST MEDICINE – STAND-UP COMEDY | Wednesday 24 July: Four top stand-up comedians take to the microphone at Land & Sea Brewery for a special laugh-out-loud performance.
SAHARA BECK | Wednesday 24 July: Bombshell Sahara Beck returns home to the Sunshine Coast for a special NOOSA alive! all-ages performance. After taking off with her soaring single Here We Go Again, she returns with her new red-hot release I Haven’t Done A Thing Today.
THOMAS E.S. KELLY – (MIS)CONCEIVE | Thursday 25 & Friday 26 July: High energy mash-up of traditional and contemporary dance styles choreographed by the incredible Thomas E.S. Kelly. A fusion of hip-hop, physical percussion and rhythmic cultural pattern.
GANZ A CAPELLA – HOME IS CALLING | Thursday 25 July: Direct from Berlin, the classical six-piece vocal group GANZ A Capella are touring their incredible talents across the world this July, showcasing their inspiring dedication to the power of voice.
THE UMBILICAL BROTHERS – SPEEDMOUSE | Friday 26 July: Australia’s own comedic royalty, The Umbilical Brothers, are bringing their multi award-winning show Speedmouse to The J Theatre for one night only.
OPERA FUNK | Saturday 27 July: Award-winning Bel Canto Soprano singer/songwriter Emma Bridget Tomlinson presents her own production Opera Funk accompanied by two of Australia’s finest musicians/ composers, Sean Peter Ross and Peter Koppes (The Church).
NOOSA ORCHESTRA | Saturday 27 July: Conducted by maestro Antoni Bonetti and starring virtuoso clarinettist Sacha Gibbs-McPhee, along with soloists Cassandra Wright, Kristian Scott and Sarah Winn — who will be sharing famous opera arias.
MORPHE NOOSA | Saturday 27 July :An avant-garde immersion of hair, art, fashion and food! Event will feature runway creations from the region’s best hair and make-up stylists, fashion and costume designers among an exhibition of thought-provoking artworks by Raquel Ormella.
QUEENSLAND BALLET | Saturday 27 July: Returning for two special performances produced specifically for the festival, witness the mastery of Queensland Ballet alive, including a Q&A session.
STARS OF TOMORROW | Sunday 28 July: Discover how dancers are made — from their first tentative moves at the barre to their first pointe shoes and dancing their first Swan Lake. Experience the energy and ambition of these dynamic, passionate and talented young dancers.
For ticket purchases and more information, go to www.noosaalive.com.au