BLUES ON BROADBEACH – LET THE GAMES BEGIN

Broadbeach is ready to shine

Following the flurry of excitement of the Commonwealth Games, the eyes of the world are again on the Gold Coast, which is gearing up to host its next huge event – the award-winning Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival. In less than two weeks more than 160,000 visitors will be converging on the stunning Broadbeach, Gold Coast precinct to see some of Australia’s best Blues acts perform, along with a host of international stars. Broadbeach is certainly in the spotlight, and it is ready to shine again! This year’s line-up is a stunner, featuring The Robert Cray Band (USA), The Screaming Jets, Ash Grunwald, Backsliders, Lloyd Spiegel, Eilen Jewell (USA), Charlie A’Court (CAN), Southern Avenue (USA), Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds (USA), and many many more. Better yet, it’s all completely free.

Now for the second year, the festival is announcing its partnership with The Salvation Army, a charity with a trusted history in helping Australians in need for over 135 years. This year, the partnership will be expanding to include six collection points throughout the precinct, and will again use ‘Tap to Donate’ doors, a new technology trialled last year. Visitors to Blues on Broadbeach2018 can make a 100% tax deductible donation to the Salvos by tapping their credit or debit card at any collection point.

“Our partnership with Blues on Broadbeach allows the Salvos and their volunteers to be a part of this free festival, giving out free event programs to patrons, and giving them the opportunity to donate to The Red Shield Appeal to help fund our social and community services,” said Rowan Johnstone, The Salvation Army Fundraising Manager for the Gold Coast. “We provide hope to those who need it most.”

Ashley Goewie, an Australian who now lives in Miami, suffered from addiction for almost 20 years. The services provided by The Salvation Army opened doors for Ashley to recover from his addiction, and to regain his life and his sense of purpose.

Click here to view Ashley's story, which reveals the incredible power of The Salvation Army to change lives.

And what Blues event would be complete without guitars? Also supporting Blues on Broadbeach this year is the festival’s newest sponsor, Yamaha, one of Australia’s most well respected musical instrument brands.

“We are excited to be an event sponsor providing instruments from our catalogue of musical instrument brands – Yamaha, Line 6 and Vox for Blues on Broadbeach in 2018,” said Jaclyn Williams, Yamaha Brand Manager. “This collaborative sponsorship is in line with our companies aim of ‘sharing passion and performance’, and we are looking forward to working with the production team and hope we can grow our partnership in the coming years.”

Especially exciting is that this year, festival goers who leave their details with one of the friendly competition staff will have the opportunity to win a sensational Revstar Yamaha Guitar, signed by all of the artists performing at Blues on Broadbeach 2018.

Headliner Jimi Hocking loves Yahama
guitars to highlight his signature Blues sound

Headliner Jimi Hocking of The Screaming Jets endorses the incredible calibre of the brand, saying, “I have been working with Yamaha for some 15 years now... Everyone knows I am a bit of a guitar collector and I am often seen playing my Yamaha SG Gold Top and my SA2200...

They have been part of my main touring rig for years. I’m a VOX amp guy, and those guitars work beautifully with that rig for me to get ‘my sound’. The SG 1802 is as good as any classic guitar I have owned, don’t know what I’d do without it.”

Most exciting for the up-and-coming music stars of the Gold Coast is the festival’s partnership with Griffith University, who has provided their support for the festival’s School Yard Blues event this year. The event gives young musicians the opportunity to experience playing at a world-class festival, alongside some of their biggest idols.

There is no doubt that the Gold Coast has emerged as the City to watch when it comes to a thriving music scene. The Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University has been there from the start with their ongoing commitment to supporting emerging young talent within the grassroots music scene. As one of the country’s leading destinations for the next generation of musicians, their continued support of the Griffith University’s School Yard Blues event at the festival is a true testament to this.

“With an unrivalled international reputation it is such an opportunity for school students participating in Griffith University's School Yard Blues to be billed in the same program as the best Blues acts in the World,” said Prof. Scott Harrison, Director of the Queensland Conservatorium at Griffith University. “It is an opportunity for these students to get a taste of the vibe, excitement and diversity of the live music scene and be inspired for future possibilities.”

Griffith University’s School Yard Blues kicks off the Kurrawa Park Program on Friday morning 18th May, featuring eight Blues Bands from Gold Coast High schools.

All in all, this year’s Blues on Broadbeach is set to be huge. With over 150 live performances over four packed days (May 17-20) the line-up has something for everyone… And in the wake of the incredible Commonwealth Games, the sunny Gold Coast is ready to show off its new status as the emerging hub for entertainment in Australia. The countdown is on…See you there!

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