Cooly Rocks On™ is back in 2018!

WORDS: PHOTOGRAPHY

Celebrating cars and culture from the ’50s, ’60s and now the ’70s, Cooly Rocks On™ bigger and better than ever, June 6 to 10, 2018 and it is all completely free.

 

 

No longer simply a nostalgia festival celebrating the
 ’50s and ’60s era, from 2018, Cooly Rocks On™ will become immersed in cars and culture up to and including the defining elements of the ’70s.

There is so much to savour at Cooly Rocks On™ 2018 with a host of incredible enhancements and changes, making the event even more enticing, such as cars, period-specific race cars, live music, dance displays, parades and markets, all set on stages, streets, parks and venues within the iconic Coolangatta and Tweed.

One of the key features of 2018 is the traditional festival heart, Queen Elizabeth Park, will not be available as it is being seconded as a main Commonwealth Games venue and won’t be ready for use for the event. 

With this change comes four entertainment stages in a similar footprint, these being Greenmount Beach, Warner Street, Dutton Street and an activation at Jack Evans Boat Harbour.

Live entertainment will rock continually delivering rock ‘n’ roll, swing and rockabilly from the ’50s, ’60s and early ’70s, and of course, the dance floors will be pumping! There will be kids carnivals, feature markets and food vendors activated in an event site that is all within walking distance. 

The culture will ooze from every corner with roving entertainment adding to the festival atmosphere.

Cars underpin the classic culture and from this year, the cars displayed can be manufactured up to 1978 which now incorporates the heady days of the ultimate muscle car era; the Holden Monaro, the XY GT Falcon, the XU1 Torana and the Trans Am bringing the streets to life with memories of 40 years ago and beyond.

For the first time ever, there will be a Touring Car Masters display featuring race cars from the ’60s and ’70s when household names Bond, Moffat and Beachy all tamed the Bathurst mountain.

The Sandman Jamboree delivers the best of Aussie beach culture of old with a Holden Sandman display fringing a weekend of longboard surfing competitions and live music. 

 

Adding to the must-see program is the world first release of never before seen restoration and build-ups of custom cars and hot rods, the ultimate big boy’s toys for the car enthusiast. 

Speaking of toys, Cooly Rocks On™ will host the incredible Billy Cart Grand Prix through the streets, with the opportunity for everyone to be involved, which commence the weekend before the festival and conclude with a Grand Final and celebrity race during the event.

General Manager, Events at Connecting Southern Gold Coast, Matt Cousins says that what is in store for 2018 is incredibly exciting.

“We listen to our festival goers and are proud that this year we can deliver the best jam-packed celebration of cars and culture to date.” 

He adds: “The extension in the ’70s only adds to our audience’s experience, and what we are assembling will certainly make us a not-to-be-missed festival.  What makes Cooly Rocks On™ so special, is our incredible beachside location. You can stay right in the heart of the action, everything is within walking distance and proudly, it is all completely free to attend!”

While there are so many new pieces to Cooly Rocks On™, all the favourite elements are still there cementing the festival as a signature event in Queensland.

Car Cruises, the Cooly Rocks Street Parade, Poodle and Pug Parade, Miss Cooly Rocks On™ and Miss Rockabilly pageants, sky diving displays, fireworks, market stalls and food vendors are all prominent features of the 2018 program.

There will be a whole range of nostalgia merchandise available this year to complement the incredible entertainment.

The Queensland Government, via Tourism and Events Queensland, is proud to support Cooly Rocks On™ which features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar. Queensland, just the place to experience Australia’s best live events.

There are more reasons than ever before to mark your diary – June 6 to 10, 2018 – and taste and feel the best the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s has to offer with Cooly Rocks On™.

 

    Head to www.coolyrockson.com for all the information.

 

ABOUT COOLY ROCKS ON™

Established in 2011, Cooly Rocks On™ has evolved to become Australia’s premier rock ‘n’ roll and nostalgia festival celebrating cars and culture of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s and a signature event on Queensland and Australia’s event calendar.

From June 6 to 10, 2018, the annual five-day festival is set within a combination of outdoor stages, venues, streets and parks of the beachside streetscape of iconic Coolangatta.

The highlight of Cooly Rocks On™ is undoubtedly the destination; the spectacular beaches, the relaxed and friendly hospitality and family-friendly atmosphere for which the Southern Gold Coast is renowned.

In 2018, everyone’s favourite events will be back, including the rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly and swing artists and entertainment, dance displays, workshops and championships, Poodle and Pug Parade, Retro Markets, Miss Cooly Rocks On™, Miss Rockabilly and the signature Street Parade.

Want to be part of Cooly Rocks On™2018? Keep an eye on their website and Facebook for car entry details, vendor applications and entertainment expressions of interest.