Kingscliff Beach Hotel announce massive live music line-up

A Northern NSW live music hotspot is getting ready to host 1000 people gigs again while Coast venues are left silenced.

A NSW live music venue 15 minutes from Queensland’s border is gearing up to host gigs with up to 1000 people.

Yet Queensland venues have been left silenced, with advice they will be “very unlikely” to have any live bands play this year.

Kingscliff Beach Hotel have seven crowd-favourite Australian acts – including ARIA-award winners Boy & Bear, Holy Holy and Thelma Plum – playing from October.

Kingscliff Hotel manager Amber Jones said ‘The Tweed area are really missing our QLD crowd’. Picture: Scott Powick

“If all goes to plan, we hope to be back to 1000-plus before our first big show in October,” venue manager Amber Jones said. “It’s a huge relief to be trading once again, and particularly to be able to ease some of the uncertainty and stress for our large team of staff and suppliers returning to work.

“It’s been an extremely difficult time for those in the hospitality and entertainment. We’re lucky we have such a large footprint and bright, airy, open beer garden.

“Based on space, our conservative starting point is still several hundred patrons and we aim to add extra tickets to our allocations as restrictions ease.”

Headline acts at the Kingscliff Beach Hotel will include Thelma Plum in December.

The last act to play the Kingscliff Beach Hotel was ARIA award winner Conrad Sewell in early March. Since announcing the return of live music, Mrs Jones said there had been a “huge jump” in ticket sales: “We’ve also been thrilled with the number of fans keeping their tickets for our rescheduled events.”

Up to 50 can be within a bar or restaurant in NSW in each section, but it’s expected to ease more when Australia enters stage three of restrictions on July 10.

Just 20 people can be in venue “areas” in Queensland. It is expected to lift to 50 people in stage three, depending on health advice.

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The Bulletin understands Brisbane and Gold Coast live music venues met a medical officer last month who said it was “very unlikely” they could host live acts in 2020.

Miami Marketta’s Emma Milikins said: “Queensland Health have given no indication the relaxation of social distancing is in their sights.

“Until this is relaxed, we would not try standing gigs. We are hoping to test the waters with bingo and maybe also cabaret shows.”

Emma Milikins, Creative Director of Miami Marketta, Picture Glenn Hampson

Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week forecast Queensland borders would reopen July 10, depending on medical advice.

“A significant number of our ticket holders are Queenslanders down for a quick and easy weekend getaway,” Mrs Jones said.

“I’m sure most businesses within the wider Tweed area would agree we are really missing our QLD crowd.”