Noosa Alive! More Than 30 Events To Excite The Senses
Excite the senses, kick up your heels and enjoy a world-class razzle dazzle cocktail of over 30 events, writes Helen Flanagan.
It’s a promise. With the sun in your heart, you’ll be stayin’ alive and ready to love cabaret, music, comedy, dance, musical theatre, ballet, poetry, opera and arias, literary moments, workshops, heritage walks, fireworks, food with film and on a different note, artistic excellence in hair, make-up, fashion food and wine set against a backdrop of art.
NOOSA alive! producer Tim Loydell says this year’s festival will hit fever pitch from Friday 19 to Sunday 28 July and have art and culture lovers spoilt for choice.
“It’s truly a thrill to offer locals and visitors; a veritable smorgasbord of local, national and international talent, with a really broad spectrum of arts experiences,” he said. “It’s a program with something for everyone and it’s a privilege to engage such talent.”
NOOSA alive! brings world-class musicians, authors, dancers, artists, food events and more to Noosa for an amazing 10 days of arts and culture.
Tickets are now on sale for performances including:
MODERN MĀORI QUARTET – THAT’S US! | Friday 19 July: Inspired by New Zealand’s show-bands of the 60s and 70s, MMQ merge soul classics with the Māori tradition of heartwarming and humorous storytelling.
ONE-ACT PLAY FESTIVAL | Friday 19 & Saturday 20 July: Join us for a fabulous feast of theatre with three one-act plays: Black Matter; Little Angels; and A Messy Engagement.
KERRY O’BRIEN – IN CONVERSATION WITH ANNIE GAFFNEY | Saturday 20 July: Join one of Australia’s most distinguished and respected journalists (Kerry has six Walkley Awards for excellence in journalism) over a special two-course lunch at View Restaurant by Matt Golinski.
TIM FREEDMAN – LIVE AND INTIMATE | Saturday 20 July: Lead singer and songwriter of The Whitlams, Tim Freedman takes to the stage for a special solo performance sharing his songs of well-crafted charming cynicism – a wonderful mix of caustic wit and delicate piano.
YOUR WRITING LIFE – WORKSHOP | Sunday 21 July: An interactive sleeves-rolled-up workshop to hone your writing skills, sharpen your interest and set you on a pathway to practise and improvement. You’ll come away energised and inspired!
FROM STORIES TO MARKET – DISCUSSION PANEL & BOOK LAUNCH | Sunday 21 July: A sensational panel of publishing and writing experts will discuss the opportunities and challenges facing today’s writers, readers and publishers, followed by the launch of Shelley Davidow’s High Infidelity – a ‘fab forties’ romantic comedy about mid-life, infidelity and finding happily-ever-after.
MICHAELA BURGER – A MIGRANT’S SON | Sunday 21 July: Award-winning cabaret star Michaela Burger and her riveting true story, A Migrant’s Son appearing for the first time in Queensland before she tours London. This special show will be performed with Noosa’s own amazing community choir, Noosa Chorale.
SLOW FOOD WITH FILM – CHOCOLAT | Monday 22 July: Chefs Aden Moriarty from Noosa Springs, Matt Golinski from View Restaurant and Lisa Mahar from Makepeace Island will provide a three-course feast for the senses while you sit back and enjoy Chocolat, a most delicious comic film.
AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM | Tuesday 23 July: Get ready for Australia’s biggest spoken word competition! Australian Poetry Slam is a live performance program where the audience decides the champion.
BEST MEDICINE – STAND-UP COMEDY | Wednesday 24 July: Four top stand-up comedians take to the microphone at Land & Sea Brewery for a special laugh-out-loud performance.
SAHARA BECK | Wednesday 24 July: Bombshell Sahara Beck returns home to the Sunshine Coast for a special all-ages performance. After taking off with her soaring single Here We Go Again, she returns with her new red-hot release I Haven’t Done A Thing Today.
THOMAS E.S. KELLY – (MIS)CONCEIVE | Thursday 25 & Friday 26 July: High energy mash-up of traditional and contemporary dance style choreographed by the incredible Thomas E.S. Kelly. A fusion of hip hop, physical percussion and rhythmic cultural pattern.
GANZ A CAPELLA – HOME IS CALLING | Thursday 25 July: Direct from Berlin, the classical six-piece vocal group GANZ A Capella stop in to Noosa as part of their world tour to showcase the power of voice.
THE UMBILICAL BROTHERS – SPEEDMOUSE | Friday 26 July: Comedic royalty, The Umbilical Brothers perform their multi-award-winning, high-performance show.
OPERA FUNK | Saturday 27 July: Award-winning Bel Canto Soprano singer/songwriter Emma Bridget Tomlinson presents her own production accompanied by two of Australia’s finest musicians/ composers, Sean Peter Ross and Peter Koppes (The Church).
NOOSA ORCHESTRA | Saturday 27 July: Conducted by maestro Antoni Bonetti and starring virtuoso clarinettist Sacha Gibbs-McPhee, along with soloists Cassandra Wright, Kristian Scott and Sarah Winn – who will be sharing famous opera arias.
MORPHE NOOSA | Saturday 27 July: An avant-garde immersion of hair, art, fashion and food! Enjoy runway creations from the region’s best hair and make-up stylists, fashion and costume designers with fine food and wine amongst an exhibition of thought-provoking artworks by Raquel Ormella.
QUEENSLAND BALLET | Saturday 27 July: Witness the mastery of Queensland Ballet with two special performances produced specifically for the festival, including a Q&A session.
STARS OF TOMORROW | Sunday 28 July: Discover how dancers are made – from the first moves at the barre to the first pointe shoes and dancing Swan Lake. Experience the energy and ambition of these dynamic, passionate and talented young dancers.
OTHER EVENTS: There will be 12 free hosted Heritage walks such as Mill Point, Pomona, Gubbi Gubbi, Eumundi, Noosa Botanic Gardens and Hastings Street. Take your family and friends to Fire in the Sky in the Lions Park at Noosaville for live entertainment, food stalls and of course, fireworks. Mingle with performers and make friends at Hop & Vine in Hastings Street from 3pm until late on 19-21 July; and at Eddie Cheeba’s, Noosa Junction from 3pm until late on 25-27 July.
This year’s NOOSA alive! builds on the 15-year legacy established by its founding members, now current patrons, David and Kristin Williamson.
“The festival vision for 2019 is really focused on individual performances and how each one contributes to the vivid tapestry of the festival,” says Producer Tim Loydell. “Showcasing this diverse line-up of international flavours, established and emerging artists plus the very best local stars in intimate venues is a true thrill.”
It’s obvious and deserving NOOSA alive! receives countless accolades but when Blake Bowden, who currently plays the showstopping role of Elder Price in Book of Mormon, was asked about the shows he presented in the past, his effusiveness was unstoppable: “I loved coming both years I was fortunate to be part of the festival. I was always drawn to Noosa by the sheer number and quality of the artists also, the variety of genres the festival curated. It really has such a great standing reputation among all the artists I respect and admire. The location also makes it very special.”
Take Blake’s word as gospel, check out the program and book before it’s too late.
