Entertainment
10 September, 2023
Annual festival wrapped up
FROM the first world premiere performance to the closing concert by the Harry Angus Duo, there’s no doubt the 61st Cairns Festival was bigger and definitely brighter than ever before.
The 10 days of sold-out concerts, live music and performances, culture, carnivals, exhibitions, film and brilliant light shows started on August 25 and continued with a packed program until last Sunday, September 3.
Thousands of locals and visitors were drawn to Cairns Esplanade every night of the festival for the awe-inspiring Reef Lights – where the rainforest meets the Reef, to nearby City Lights where a cascade of colours lit up the Cairns City Library and on one night to Light Moves – By Bonemap, the light show at Lake Placid.
The final nights saw a mix of cultural events from the sold-out Bite Club at Tanks Arts Centre, the Soweto Gospel Choir at Cairns Performing Arts Centre and the Moving Picture Nights’ Blueback at Gordonvale on Friday.
On Saturday, Jazz Under The Stars wowed fans at the Cairns Botanic Gardens while The Jungle Giants hit the Munro Martin Parklands stage fresh from a tour of Canada and the United States with a dance-inspiring, high-energy performance.
The ever-popular Carnival on Collins annual street party got things started on the final day, Father’s Day, at the Tanks Arts Centre and Cairns Botanic Gardens precinct at Edge Hill.
This year the festivities extended across to Greenslopes Street with the Cominos House Open Day and The Green Space education food garden in Jess Mitchell Park.
Pop-up dance acts, street performers and multi-cultural rhythms on the main stage combined with market stalls and free workshops to make Carnival on Collins a Cairns Father’s Day tradition and a Cairns Festival closing day favourite.
On Sunday night the curtains to this year’s Cairns Festival drew to a final close at Festival HQ Stage at the Court House Gallery with the Harry Angus Duo – Harry James Angus from The Cat Empire and Australian drumming prodigy Freyja Hooper.
This final concert saw Harry’s signature eclectic rhythms bringing jazz, funk and world music elements together.
For Angus, returning to Cairns, one of his favourites on the Australian touring circuit, to close out the City’s biggest event of the year, has been “a real honour”.
“Cairns draws a great crowd and the Festival HQ Stage has been no different – it is great to see people genuinely showing up for live music events,” he said.
Roz Pappalardo, artistic director for Cairns Festival, said the lively atmosphere, coupled with the mix of cultures and artistic expressions, showcased Cairns’ unique character and the festival’s commitment to celebrating community and fostering connections.
