Electronic music festival hits the Coast for the first time in five years

An annual music festival featuring international artists will soon arrive on the Gold Coast, the first since crowd-drawers Big Day Out, Future Music and Stereosonic were wound up.

AN electronic music festival featuring international artists will hit the Gold Coast in March.

It will be the first major festival in the city since the likes of Big Day Out, Future Music and Stereosonic wound up in the past five years.

Circus Paradise will mark a major return for the organiser, Mark James, who also organised Future Music and Summerfield Dayze in the heyday of the Gold Coast festival scene.

Mr James returned to the Gold Coast about a year ago after he took a break from the industry and lived in Thailand for four years.

Charlotte de Witte performing. Photo: Facebook — Charlotte de Witte

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Performing on the day are some of the biggest international electronic acts including Charlotte de Witte, Oliver Huntemann, and Motez, along with Australian acts CTRL ALT DEL and Peach Fur, and DJs from Coolangatta nightclub Rattlesnake.

The boutique music event will be held at the Broadwater Parklands on March 10 and is expected to draw a crowd of up to 5000 people.

Mortez will be performing at Circus Paradise festival at Broadwater Parklands.

Mr James said the festival would have a “unique vibe’’.

“We are creating a wonderland theme with artists, DJs and a circus,” he said.

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“We’re trying to make it super interactive and have lots of performers and acrobats.

“We want the festival to be more boutique-y and keep ticket prices reasonable. I think it’s about time the Gold Coast has a great festival.”

Ctrl Alt Del will one of the many acts performing at Circus Paradise.

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There is also talk that the Coast could see something similar to the beloved Big Day Out again.

“We are catching up with the launch of Circus Paradise at the moment, but I would love to do both electronic and live bands,” he said.

Mr James said Circus Paradise would be a test of whether the Gold Coast was ready to start hosting major festivals with large international acts again, competing against the likes of Splendour in the Grass and BluesFest at Byron Bay.

Circus Paradise is expected to have about 5,000 people attend at Broadwater Parklands.

“We are looking to do something around 2020, in the New Year period. Then, two to three more festivals a year if things go well,” he said.

“Within the first two and three years we hope to have lots of bookings internationally.

“We have sponsorship with Air Asia and we are close working with a European company Fest Tix for flight packages.”

Popular DJ's Bag Raiders are set to perform at Circus Paradise at Broadwater Parklands on March 10.

Mr James said he hoped the reintroduction of electronic music festivals would bring money back to the economy.

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“It’s accessible to transport. It’s right on the tram line which can take you to the main rail to Brisbane.

“It ticks all of the boxes as people can go into Surfers to head to the restaurants or clubs.”

Coast entertainment king Billy Cross would be organising the bar at the event.

With talk of more festivals coming to the Coast, Mr Cross said he was “100 per cent for it” and planned to work on potential festivals to come.

Tickets to the event are on sale for $85, or $105 for a VIP ticket.