CAIRNS FESTIVAL WILL ROCK YOUR SOUL TO ITS ROOTS

Rock your soul, jazz up your winter blues and hip hop on down to enjoy a select line up of live musical talent in Australia’s tropical cultural capital when this year’s Cairns Festival kicks off on Friday, August 25.

Free and ticketed events over the 10-day program range from family fun and interactive gigs to shows to set you thinking and your toes a-tapping, all at the same time.

There will be a classical twist when Barton meets Tchaikovsky with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and soulful ‘Hope’ from the Soweto Gospel Choir at CPAC.

Indie rock meets alternative pop with Cub Sport at The Tanks Arts Centre, The Jungle Giants at Munro Martin Parklands, and The Ironing Maidens who will be working the irons and boards with workshops and a fun, thought provoking show in Tank 3.

Carnival on Collins will also feature a range of music and performance reflecting Indigenous, PNG and Hawaiian cultures, as well as local jazz, choral and other performers.

Back in town, it will be music, music and more music setting the tone and floating around the Festival HQ at the Court House Gallery, plus free gigs with emerging and established artists on the Esplanade Main Stage.

On opening night (August 25) Madam Manana DJ, Water Street and Boy of Many Colours will set the mood from 5.45pm for headline act Gold Coast indie rockers Eliza and the Delusionals.

The chance to check out the freshest and most diverse Aussie musicians continues on Saturday from 1.15pm with Miss Tee, Abi Muir Duo, Lady Valiant, Hylidae, and Phat Love before the Grand Parade and fireworks from 5.30pm - 7.30pm, followed by Main Stage headline act, Electrik Lemonade.

Cairns Festival continues to support the next generation of talent with ‘Introducing …’, an innovative music event featuring local musos, songwriters, bands and performers, on Sunday, August 27 from 2pm - 6pm.

Jelly Oshen, local Cairns singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who is slowly building a following, is delighted to headline ‘Introducing …’.

“It’s exciting – there has never been a final act before because I am always opening,” Jelly said. “I have been writing more songs because the excitement came back. “

He is just about to release another single to add to the seven he has on Youtube, Spotify and Apple Music. At 22, Oshen is still experimenting and trying to define his style, describing his music as “chilled” and, with a gentle laugh,  “good”.

It says a lot about the persona that put pen to paper as a teen to try to work out his sadness and emotions and was happy to find it resonated with others and helped them through similar issues.

During COVID his grandmother taught him to sew and he now enjoys making his performance and street wear from his favourite material, velvet, helping to manage his style and his budget.

His repertoire for ‘Introducing …’ at Cairns Festival will include his fan favourite ‘Mine’ about unrequited love for a girl who was dating another.

Looking forward to her moment on the ‘Introducing …’ stage is local 16-year-old emerging singer/songwriter and indie rocker Tenni, who will perform from her repertoire of original numbers, including her new release,  ‘Bad Things’ (released August 1).

“It’s super exciting – Cairns Festival is pretty big, so we are going up the rank a little. I would like to get out there and share my art and hope people connect with it,” Tenni said.

Tenni – the year 11 student’s nickname – is a multi-instrumentalist but sings with guitar on stage.

Musical family influences saw her pick up at the mic at age 10. Her music can be found on Youtube, Instagram, Facebook and Spotify.

Cairns Festival runs from Friday, August 25, until Sunday, September 3. For the full program of music, theatre, film, dance and events and more information go to  www.cairnsfest.com.au.

ENDS