Live Review: Blues On Broadbeach Proves The Gold Coast Festival Scene Is Alive & Well
'Going by the swelling crowd numbers year on year, it seems event-goers are indeed tipping their hats to the four-day free event.'
For some mysterious reason live music seems to come and go on the Gold Coast. The tourist mecca was once home to incredible live venues in The Playroom, The Trocadero, the old Fishos (fun fact, Nirvana supported Violent Femmes there), Bombay Rock – plus, the city was always the first Aussie leg of the now defunct Big Day Out tour. While the hey days of those haunts are well and truly over, some smaller intimate stages have popped up in recent years to give locals their share of today’s bands.
One event that has been a constant in the high and dry times is the Blues On Broadbeach Music Festival. The blues and the blue bloods have come face to face on the glitter strip since the festival kicked off in 2002 amid the area’s fine dining and sleek high rises. Such longevity should be rewarded, and going by the swelling crowd numbers year on year, it seems event-goers are indeed tipping their hats to the four-day free event.
Friday’s proceedings get off to a soggy start as the rain settles in – well-heeled regulars would do better to ditch the stilettos and don the gumboots. Thankfully organisers have braced themselves for the downpour with most stages either under cover or inside warm bars, but the deluge did put a dampener on some planned shows this evening.
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Things are pretty cosy in TC’s bar with a thick crowd at the feet of genre legend Phil Manning. The solo artist and founding member of Chain is in his element with just his trusty guitar to accompany him, as he works through songs old, new, loved and lauded. He’s quietly spoken amid the raucous bunch before him, but the casual vibe keeps things fun and carefree.
Outside on the Broadbeach Mall stage it’s standing room only on the cusp of the sheltered area as the seats fill up fast for The Shane Pacey Trio. These guys have the crowd wrapped around their nimble fingers from the get go. The man himself wields his guitar with such gusto that his licks are more like attacks. They run through cruisy blues boppers Watch Out and Mr Trouble, keeping things upbeat in the outdoor chill.
Back in TC’s Wards Xpress inject some rock into the evening with ditties that range from the low and slow to the down and out dirty. Leading man Ross Ward has a faultless voice, letting the aggression reign when the guitars wail. These old dogs still know how to turn a few tricks, much to the delight even of country music legend Troy Cassar-Daley, who nods along in the back.
Young gun Matt Stillert is footloose and fancy free – and also footwear free – downstairs at Envy across the Mall. While the venue seems to be filled with equal parts blues fans and bar minglers, all sit up and take note when the bearded gent lets that passionate, rasp of his raise the roof with Money In My Hat. The alt-blues up-and-comer mesmerises with his raw talent and good humour.
As the rain continues to fall it claims victims in big names such as Harts and Kevin Borich on the festival’s flagship Surf Parade stage. It’s a blow, but organisers are quick to get the word out on their socials, reminding us that there’s more chances to catch these guys over the weekend as well as hinting at some last-minute plans for late-night shows tonight.
Blues On Broadbeach continues this weekend on the Gold Coast.
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