Blues On Broadbeach announces first round of acts
The 19th Blues On Broadbeach, which attracts 220,000 music fans over four days, announced its first round of artists for its May 14-17, 2020 instalment.
Making his Broadbeach debut is guitar maestro Tommy Emmanuel. “Nothing compares to playing at home,” says Emmanuel, who is based in the US.
“I’ve been looking forward to performing at Blues on Broadbeach for so long. My brother Phil used to perform there a lot over the years and he told me all about it.”
Also announced in the multi-generational lineup are Guatemalan born singer-songwriter-producer Gaby Moreno whose Latin-inspired blend of blues, jazz and soul won her a Latin Grammy, blues singer-songwriter Australian Idol winner Karise Eden, “psychedelic whale music” creator Kim Churchill and Bondi Cigars, who’ve been playing 150 shows per year since forming in 1989.
The free Queensland event is held across streets, parks and venues, creating a village ambience, surrounded by the beach and rainforests.
Over half its attendees come from outside the region.
“Bringing in almost $30 million to the Gold Coast economy every year, I’m not surprised to see that the big names keep lining up to be part of this quintessential Gold Coast event,” comments Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate.
“Our calendar of major events continues to grow and Blues on Broadbeach continues to be a favourite among locals and visitors alike.”
Adds festival director Mark Duckworth, “This festival has become part of Broadbeach’s cultural tapestry, the musicians, festival fans and local community all have ownership over how it’s weaved.
“It’s exciting to invite new acts from Australia and around the world to experience the incredible vibe of this event for the first time, whilst still sharing in the history with the artists who have helped us build it from the ground up.”
First staged in 2002, Blues on Broadbeach is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on Its $800 million Live! in Queensland events calendar.
View the full festival schedule here.