Ball Park Music, Paul Dempsey, Pierce Brothers among artists at Outback Sounds in Charleville
Hundreds of punters braved the cold out west to revel in the music at the Outback Sounds concert in Charleville. SEE THE PHOTOS.
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With an additional rendition of Stars In My Eyesafter popular request, Ball Park Music was the star of the show as they played to an enthusiastic crowd at the Charleville Showgrounds for the Outback Sounds spectacular.
The mosh pit might have been small, but it was mighty and though the temperature plummeted as the sun set over the showgrounds, revellers braved the cold to enjoy hours of exceptional music performances.
The artists included Paul Dempsey, the Pierce Brothers, Wade Forster, Taylor Moss, Tori Forsyth, William Barton, and of course, headliner Ball Park Music.
The attraction drew crowds from towns across the state’s southwest, and even some incredibly devoted fans who drove all the way from Brisbane.
Ball Park Music fans from Brisbane Brooke, Aisi and Jake said they drove all the way to Charleville, traversing hundreds of kilometres to see their favourite band live again.
“They’re probably the best live music gig in Australia,” Jake said.
Aisi said the distance almost made the experience more worthwhile.
“A few months ago we saw on Instagram that Outback Sounds was coming, and we saw that Ball Park was gonna play, and we were just like ‘we have to be there’,” Aisi said.
Queensland Music Festivals chief executive, Daryl Raven, said having an Outback Trail was an important part of promoting tourism outside of peak times in the region.
“We’re trying to utilise music events and the arts, to promote destinations, to promote out of peak season times, and to really highlight places throughout the state where people should go, and should go exploring,” Mr Raven said.
Mr Raven said each year the Outback Trail brings tourists into the region and puts on big music events in rural towns, the connections with the communities grows deeper.
“It’s starting to make a real difference and we notice the impact its having,” Mr Raven said.
“We work on a triple bottom line; We look at economic impact, social impact and cultural impact.”
Mr Raven said the social impact includes initiatives like performances from a local dance school and a healthy ageing group, to involve kids and older residents in the spectacle.
Mr Raven also said it was important to QMF to conscientiously involve the First Nations communities, and any other Indigenous groups in the area, to be respectful, but also to give those groups a platform through which to celebrate their culture, and allow their culture to be celebrated by others.
“We’re very privileged to be a not-for-profit,” he said.
“We’re here basically as a representative of Arts Queensland and the Department of Tourism, and we are really trying to drive many more outcomes.”
Murweh Shire mayor Shaun Radnedge said the day was particularly special, given it was exactly 34 years after the devastating flood of 1990.
“We have a great partnership with QMF,” Mr Radnedge said.
“It’s a great partnership and a great investment for the Murweh Shire to bring this cultural event to the community.”
The evening was MC’d by Sam Thaiday. As the evening drew to a close, Mr Thaiday, with the help of Wade Forster, auctioned off a bottle of gin signed by all the musical acts. Through the auction, $1000 was raised for the Drought Angels charity.
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