Airlie Beach Festival of Music for grown-ups

Image: Andrew Pattinson

The Airlie Beach Festival of Music is calling all "oldies" (over 35 year olds) to get out and enjoy a perfect weekend of live music with great Aussie rock legends performing around 18 venues in the tourist town of Airlie Beach, Queensland from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 November.

Forget camping out in the middle of a paddock, this festival rocks for so many reasons including comfort!  Stay in a wide choice of accommodation around Airlie Beach (camp if you like) and walk to the bars and restaurants hosting the festival over the weekend. 74 bands and over 240 musicians from all over Australia and NZ will be on show to perform a wide range of musical genres from Rock to Reggae, Blues, Country, Folk and even Hip Hop.

Image: Andrew Pattinson

Enjoy the Thursday night jam session at Beaches, music at a host of venues from 10am to 4pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and three nights of magic on the main stage at the Whitsunday Sailing Club, set under a high-top tent on the edge of the Coral Sea. Headline acts include the Screaming Jets, Mark Seymour (Hunters & Collectors), Jon English, 1927, Eurogliders, John Paul Young, The Radiators, Shane Howard (Goanna), Phil Emmanuel, Mal Eastick and  Kevin Borich. Ticket holders have the option of daily bar hopping on the main street or enjoying the free transport provided to deliver them to the outer venues of their choice. There will also be access to free transport after the festival finishes each night.

Promoter Gavin "Butto" Butlin says, "this has been a vision of mine for years and I wanted to create a festival for everyone who loves live music. The average age of the locals in Airlie Beach is 37 years and so there is a great vibe about the place and there are not many towns in Australia where you can find so many bars and music venues in one small strip. The setting is awesome, the music is magic, the climate is perfect and everyone has a brilliant time. Last year people were coming up to me and saying it was the best weekend's entertainment they have had in years so all I can say is come along and see for yourself."

Ticket prices are very reasonable at $120 for a one day pass which gets you into all venues and one day of the main stage performances or $260 three day pass including all festival events. For the main stage performance schedule go to www.airliebeachmusicfestival.com.au or book online at www.mackayecc.com.au.

The promoters have also put together a great value weekend package which includes four nights twin share accommodation including breakfast at Club Crocodile Resort, a three day pass, festival t-shirt, stubbie cooler and free transfers for $699/person. Contact Sam Hayward at the Whitsunday Sailing Club for this package deal on 07 4946 6138 or email functions@whitsundaysailingclub.com.au.

Airlie Beach Festival of Music has a free live Teaser Gig featuring Mason Rack Band and Lance Friend & the Murky River at the Whitsunday Sailing Club Sunday 26 October from 3pm. For more information go to www.airliebeachmusicfestival.com.au.

All images: Andrew Pattinson for Vampp Photography 0402 846 726  www.vampp.info

Festival Dates: Friday 7 November to Sunday 9 November (with a warm-up Jam Session at Beaches from 6pm Thursday 6 November)

Headline acts: The Screaming Jets, Mark Seymour (hunters & Collectors), The Eurogliders, 1927, Jon English, The Radiators, Shane Howard (Goanna), Phil Manning, Mal Eastick, John Paul Young & The Allstar Band

Other artists include: James Blundell, Kevin Borich, Phil Emmanuel & Ball Aitken, Mason Rock Band, Steady Eddie, The Bostocks, Wanita & her Honky Tonk Bar Dwellers, Kieran McCarthy Band, Lance Friend & the Murky River and winners from the Blue on Blue competition.

Ticket price starts at $120 for one day pass (all venues and 1 day of the main stage performances)

Ticket price is $260 for a three day pass including all venues and main stage performances for three nights.

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