Amy Shark, Cat Empire, Thundamentals, among the 3,500 artists to entertain Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

Amy Shark, Thundamentals, Ian Moss, Troy Cassar-Daley, The Cat Empire, Kate Miller-Heidke, Yothu Yindi and The Treaty Project and Busby Marou are among those to play for audiences at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Under the name Festival 2018 - 3,500 artists from 50 countries will deliver free shows between April 4 to 15.

Most of these are in the Games precinct of Broadbeach and the Sunshine Coast.

Some are also scheduled for Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns.

International names include Peaches, British electronic act Susheela Raman and Ghanian hop artist M.anifest.

Many of the state’s up and coming names as Lastlings, Ella Fence and Eliza & The Delusionals also get to play to large crowds.

At the official launch of Festival 2018 in Broadbeach, Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones, said that half the acts were from Queensland.

“We’re giving local performers a chance to rub shoulders with some of the biggest acts on the planet and we’re showcasing Queensland talent to a global audience,” she pointed out.

“Festival 2018 is an opportunity to expose Gold Coast audiences to some of the most sought after arts and culture acts in the world right now.”

Aside from contemporary music, the 500+ events cover film, dance, circus, ideas, visual, street theatre and family friendly activities.

There ate 35 world premieres and 15 Australian premieres.

Festival 2018 was curated by Kate Fell and Yaron Lifschitz of Brisbane circus Circa, with Bleach* Festival Artistic Director Louise Bezzina.

Lifschitz explained the program’s concept: “A festival is a chance to create a new world – one that builds on the values and aspirations of your existing world but also addresses its challenges, redresses its inequalities and extends its triumphs.

‘We programmed Festival 2018 Gold Coast based on three themes: Encounters, in which we meet the world, Change, in which we effect positive change in the world and Aspire, in which we uplift and transform ourselves and those around us.”

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander works include contemporary fashion, Richard Bell’s tent installation Embassy, and Weaving Water Stories curated by Freya Carmichael.

Courtney Act hosts Sparkle in the Sand, an evening on Surfers Paradise beach covering LGBTQI song, dance, comedy, and discussions.

Bleach* Festival will offer 20 works. Bezzina said, ‘It’s the culmination of our development of our local artists and cultural scene.

“Festival 2018 Gold Coast is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for artists and audiences alike. I invite everyone to experience the new and exciting Gold Coast of contemporary culture.”

At the Festival 2018 launch, one of the performances was an excerpt of Bleach* highlight, The Spirit of Churaki, an outdoor concept honouring of the Coast’s first lifesaver.

It features music direction by Mona Foma and Violent Femmes’ Brian Ritchie, and collaborators, indigenous cultural identity Kyle Slabb and visual artist Vernon Ah Kee.

Visit the official website for the full program.