Airlie Beach Festival of Music brings fans the ‘best part’
‘Days like this’ are about to take a new slant at the Airlie Beach Festival of Music, where three-day-ticket-holders are now in the running to win a backstage meet and greet with headline artists Busby Marou.
Festival founder, Gavin Butlin, said anyone who bought a three-day pass before midnight on November 2 – including all existing three-day-pass-holders – would automatically be entered into the draw, with the winner to be announced on Wednesday, November 3.
“With its idyllic main stage setting at the Whitsunday Sailing Club, the festival already has a reputation for being a more intimate experience for our artists and their fans, but we’re always looking for ways we can make it even more memorable,” Mr Butlin said.
“Giving one lucky music fan and a mate the chance to meet their idols at our party in paradise is something I feel privileged to be able to do, and I couldn’t think of a better fit from this year’s line-up than Busby Marou.”
Tom Busby and Jeremy Marou have been playing music together for over a decade and are fast becoming a national Australian treasure.
Renowned for their distinctly Australian storytelling and gifted musicianship, their success includes millions of global streams, top 20 airplay, three ARIA-charting albums, and well-known hits such as Best Part of Me and their unique spin on the Van Morrison classic Days Like This.
Late additions to the 2021 Airlie Beach Festival of Music line-up, Jeremy Marou, said the last year had been tough for touring artists but he and Tom were looking forward to performing in the Whitsundays.
“Regional Queensland fans have always been incredibly supportive throughout our career, and we can’t wait to give back to them with a great show,” he said.
“The live show is better than ever – we’ll be bringing the four-piece band and playing a cross-section of tunes from our first four albums, with a couple of familiar surprises.”
As a Torres Strait Islander with a deep love of the ocean, the festival’s waterfront location and proximity to the reef are not lost on Marou.
“Our songs have always been inspired by our environment and we always feel at home when we are close to natural beauty,” he said.
Tourism Whitsundays Chief Executive Officer, Rick Hamilton, said it was an honour to welcome artists of Busby Marou’s calibre to The Whitsundays.
“Each year the festival team works hard on creating the perfect line-up for our unique location and I congratulate them on doing so once again in 2021,” he said.
“My key message to music fans is: make sure you’ve got your tickets and don’t miss out on this incredible event in the Heart of the Great Barrier Reef.”
To further enhance the relationship between the event and home destination, the festival’s three-day ticket-holders are also eligible for $50 off select Whitsunday tours, booked through online travel agency Travello before November 1.
The Airlie Beach Festival of Music runs from November 5-7 and other headline acts include The Angels, Sarah McLeod (Superjesus), Russell Morris, Butterfingers, Toni Childs, Troy Cassar-Daley, and Australian icons John Schumann (Redgum), and Shane Howard (Goanna).
Headline acts play the main stage at the Whitsunday Sailing Club, with a ticketed artist program also running throughout participating venues in Airlie Beach.
Finals to the festival’s national ‘Passport to Airlie’ competition will be held at Magnums Hotel on Thursday, November 4, with an official After Party, featuring Sarah McLeod from the Superjesus, to be hosted by Northerlies Beach Bar and Grill on Monday, November 8.
