Blues festival tipped to break the records

FESTIVAL organisers are gearing up for one of the biggest years of Blues on Broadbeach yet.

The free blues music festival begins on Thursday.

More than 23 live music acts – eight from overseas – are due to perform to more than 180,000 people expected to attend the fourday festival.

CEO of Broadbeach Alliance, which runs the award-winning live music event, Jan McCormick said they were expecting it to be much bigger than in previous years.

“Last year we had about 170,000 people attend, but this year we are expecting 10,000 more,” she said. “Most of the accommodation is already sold out in the area.

“Most people who come from overseas come back. We find when they come here to stay, they will prebook in their accommodation for the following year.”

The event is expected to inject up to $38 million into the economy.

Some of the acts include Canned Heat, Eric Bibb and Kevin Borich Express.