Thinking Of Heading Out For Queensland Music Trails? Here's Where To Start
Queensland Music Festival is looking a little different this year. The 2021 celebration of arts, music and culture is hitting the road and heading out across the landscape for the inaugural Queensland Music Trails. All throughout the Sunshine State, a slew of wondrous live gigs will be taking place in some of the most incredible settings around. Here are just some of the events happening during the fest, as well as some choice landmarks and locations to take in along the way.
Opera At Jimbour
The heritage listed Jimbour Homestead will be playing host to a series of opera and chamber music events this July. Opera At Jimbour will take place at multiple locations across the property, including an intimate orchestral event in the personal airplane hangar, and for the first time, inside the iconic Jimbour House.
Pit Stop: Great Artesian Spa - Mitchell
Between Jimbour and the next stop, there’s more than ample chance to relax by pulling into the Great Artesian Spa in Mitchell. Utilising the natural mineralised waters of the local area, the spa has been perfectly calibrated to ease muscle tension and naturally restore tired bodies.
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Music For Stargazing
Onwards the festival goes to Charleville, where live tunes and astronomy come together with Music For Stargazing. Featuring an all-star lineup of local chamber musicians and lead by Kate Miller-Heidke and William Barton, the Charleville Cosmos Centre will transform into the most out of this world live music venue around.
Pit Stop: Cooladdi
Cooladdi may be small, but that’s exactly what makes it worth visiting. With a reported population of as low as three people, Cooladdi has been touted many times in the past as the smallest town in Australia. There’s not much need to stay for long, but chances are whole town will come out to say g’day.
Echoes In The Dust
Set to the natural backdrop of the Baldy Top lookout point in Quilpie, the next stop on the trail will see Echoes In The Dust combine contemporary composition and performance art - care of Topology and Dead Puppets Society. A tribute to the local wildlife and natural beauty of the area, this will definitely be one to catch.
Pit Stop: St Finbarr’s Opal Altar
Before hightailing out of Quilpie, take a quick detour to St Finbarr’s Church to take in the bejewelled iridescence of the Opal Altar. Looking more like it belongs at Graceland than an outback place of worship, the altar is a stunning homage to the regions local industry.
Oasis Afternoons
The penultimate stop in the festival road trip, Oasis Afternoons offers one last chance to kick back and relax before the big finish. Just as the sun is starting to descend, revel in the chilled out country and blues stylings of Karl S Williams, Emily Wurramara and Hussy Hicks.
Pit Stop: Birdsville Hotel
What better way to commemorate trekking over 1000kms through the bush then by grabbing a coldy at one of Australia’s oldest pubs. Established in 1884, the heritage listed Birdsville Hotel offers it all from their famous wall of hats to scenic flights of the local area.
Big Red Bash
Last and definitely not least, the Big Red Bash promises to be a massive send off to this outback odyssey. A staple fabric in the Queensland festival scene, the gig will feature sets from huge Aussie acts like Paul Kelly, Kate Cebrano, Ian Moss and heaps more.
Queensland Music Festival's Queensland Music Trailers kicks off from 26 June and runs through to 8 July. Head to the QMF: Queensland Music Trails website here for all the info on events, tickets and more.
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