Sundown is the festival you knew you needed.
Sundown is the festival you knew you needed.
Ahh the GC. There’s so much to love and don’t we know it. There’s the usual suspects; blissful beaches, heavenly hinterland, awesome attractions, and sunshine for days – 365(ish – give or take a dash of El Niño). Heck, even Margot Robbie grew up here and if that’s not a flex…
But there’s another reason why our hometown is the duck’s nuts and that’s the ever-growing festival and events culture. Leaning into this, City of Gold Coast supported by Live Music Australia (an Australian Government Initiative) has announced the ultimate FREE ticketless pop-up music event, Sundown. Celebrating our homegrown muso’s, Sundown is coming to Southport on Saturday 25 May and yep, it’s a no-brainer for us.
Is this a family event? Yes. A Gen Z, Gen Y, and a boomer event? Yes, yes, and more yes, so grab your granny, partner, besties, and ankle-biters and get ready for a variety of music taking you from arvo to evening. Add a generous helping of tasty eats, sensational sips from Carafe Wines and Young Henry’s, colourful art, AND markets, and you’ll have memories to last a lifetime.
Kicking off in Nerang Street from 2pm, the live music line-up is lit, starting with headliners The Rions and Hope D.
If The Rions are good enough for Sam Worthington to express his heartfelt love for their tunes, then #sold. Citing influence from Arctic Monkeys, Dayglow and The Beatles, they’ve carved out their own sound scoring some 13 million streams worldwide and yes, we said million. Their catalogue includes the Unearthed High winning ‘Night Light’, ‘Anakin’, ‘Disassociation’, ‘Sadie’, ‘Head Still Hurts’ and ‘Halfway Out’, and we are all-the-way-in to see them live and loud at Sundown.
Brissie singer/songwriter and indie pop/rock powerhouse Hope D couldn’t be more ‘headline act’ worthy if she tried. Performing at several festivals including Splendour in the Grass to a legion of fans, she’s supported Boy & Bear at Fortitude Music Hall, co-wrote with close pal G-Flip, and taken out Queensland Music Awards in 2020 and 2021.
Another must-see is indie-pop siren and two x 2024 QMA winner Jem Cassar-Daley. Named ‘the star to watch’ last year by the Queensland Sunday Mail, has taken centre stage with Thelma Plum and sounds like the love child of Missy Higgins, Angus and Julia Stone, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Phoebe Bridgers.
Other equally epic acts include singer/songwriter and producer Lyric, who recently took home two coveted awards at the Gold Coast Music Awards, and opened the mainstage of the SPRINGTIME Festival. Described as a cross between Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish, she’s basically a musical Pegasus.
Also appearing is Buttered, as well as Chutney and no, we’re not listing off condiments. Buttered, formed by duo Scott Dalton and Jackson James Smith, took out Breakout Artist of the Year at the Gold Coast Music Awards in 2022, they’ve had audiences in a chokehold with their soulful sorcery at the likes of Bluesfest and Hidden Lanes.
Sounds from Chutney are spicy, hot, and saucy – just like, well, chutney. Mixing world music with a dash of klezmer, a splash of funk, some middle eastern vibes, not to mention shmultz and the odd blues nod, this awesome foursome is a true treat for your ears. Up the Chut!
And if you’ve been to a supersized event with a cracking DJ, chances are it was Cory Hotline. Forever a crowd favourite, he’s set to do what he does best and that’s spin a kaleidoscope of bangers to get everybody shaking what their mama gave them.
Not ready to go home when the event winds up? Good, you don’t have to, because the many OG live music venues in Southport are ready and waiting to pick up right where Sundown left off.
So block out your calendars and go here for more info, or check it out on FB.
Where: 7 Nerang Street, Southport
When: 2pm – 8.30pm Saturday 25 May
Words by Bianca Trathen.
STORY SPONSORED BY CITY OF GOLD COAST.
