WA rockers Birds of Tokyo headlining ‘Rock the Ranges’ festival in Quorn

One of Australia’s biggest music drawcards will play a huge regional show in a small SA town this weekend. Here’s how it will help boost the local economy.

A town with the population of just 1223 will play host this weekend to one of the biggest music events the surrounding region has ever seen.

Rock the Ranges, a two-day rural live music festival at Quorn Oval, is expected to attract thousands of revellers to the town and stimulate the Flinders Ranges tourism economy this weekend.

The event is run by SA company Revive the Regions with Music, a dedicated team of concert promoters focused on bringing big name music acts to smaller outback towns.

The gig will be headlined by WA stadium-fillers Birds of Tokyo and ARIA-award winners End of Fashion.

The line-up also includes Hussy Hicks, Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute act Funky Monks, The Blues Brothers Rebooted and local supports Andy Seymour + the Rockits.

Festival director John Simpson hopes towns surrounding Quorn will also receive a boost in tourism. Picture: Isaac Selby

The event was originally slated for October last year at Pichi Richi park, also in Quorn, but had to be cancelled due to bushfire concerns.

Festival director and Quorn local John Simpson said this weekend’s event will bring crucial tourism to the region.

“To my memory this is one of the largest ever events to take place in the Flinders Ranges,” he said.

“Birds of Tokyo are definitely the biggest band we’ve ever had in Quorn and it’s exciting because they’ve never performed in such a small regional location.”

Mr Simpson said that the town’s available accommodation options had been fully booked for months in the lead up to the concerts.

“Events like this are great for tourism and we hope people will hang around and explore the region afterwards.”

Perth rock band End of Fashion have been a staple of the Australia scene since the early 2000s.

The Pichi Richi Railway is one of Quorn's biggest tourist draws. Picture: Isaac Selby

End of Fashion lead singer Justin Burford said the band couldn’t wait to head over for the rural gig.

“It’s been far too long between visits and the SA crowds always bring the love.

“Massive kudos to the organisers for bringing an event like this to a more regional audience.

“I know they’re going to love it and we’ll bloody well give them everything we’ve got.”

Within the arts sphere Quorn is also a popular film location that has been used for some of Australia’s most iconic films including Wolf Creek, Gallipoli and The Sundowners.

Rock the Ranges takes place Feb 24-25 at Quorn Oval.