Roving performers visit Gold Coast Airport during 2019 Blues on Broadbeach

Have you seen this? Travellers arriving at Gold Coast Airport this week are being surprised by a very unusual welcome. Here’s why.

VISITORS will get an extra warm welcome at Gold Coast Airport this week with live music to enliven the arrivals terminal during Blues on Broadbeach.

The festival is set to attract more than 180,000 people over a massive four days of free live jazz entertainment, with many guests expected to flood through the airport.

One-man-band Uptown Brown will greet visitors with his unique theatrical style of music.

His whimsical, 1920s-inspired performance drew gleeful crowds yesterday as he sang and danced around the surprised passengers.

“I mostly get a good reaction!” he laughed.

“One of the things I realised when I started doing this is on stage you’re often quite removed from the audience so something like this is quite special, someone’s reaction can really make a difference.”

One man band, Uptown Brown, is performing at the Gold Coast Airport over the next few days welcoming crowds to Blues on Broadbeach. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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Gosford’s David Winiata joined the Melbourne musician for an impromptu duet after flying into the city for a cricket convention.

Mr Winiata said live music was a great idea for the city: “it’s awesome to see when you’re hanging around waiting to get your baggage — it’s great fun, everyone’s laughing and dancing.”

Uptown Brown’s 25 kilogram antique-inspired musical contraption houses six instruments including a guitar, drums and clarinet along with a variety of quirky sound effects.

“The microphone is an old telephone exchange operator’s microphone which is probably close to 100 years old and some of the handles I’m using are from an old pianola,” he said.

David Winiata from Gosford joins in a sing-a-long with Uptown Brown. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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It’s the fourth year he has appeared at Blues on Broadbeach, after also performing outside Carrara Stadium during last year’s Commonwealth Games.

He will be at the airport tomorrow, along with stage shows and roving performances in Broadbeach as part of Blues on Broadbeach.

Broachbeach Alliance CEO Jan McCormick said it’s the first year the festival has teamed up with Gold Coast Airport.

“We wanted to extend the experience for the fans … having live music here sets the energy of the festival as soon as people arrive,” she said.

Uptown Brown will be performing at the Gold Coast Airport on Friday and Saturday. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Organisers are expecting massive crowds with hotel bookings in the precinct currently sitting around 87 per cent.

Ms McCormick said these days the majority of music fans come from interstate.

“Last year approximately 68 per cent of people were from Sydney, Melbourne or New Zealand,” she said.

“When people experience the festival they come back the next year with friends — we have a group from New Zealand who have been coming for 15 years and this year they’re a group of 30 which is great.”

Blues on Broadbeach officially kicks off today, with free performances on multiple stages all weekend long.

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ROAD CLOSURES

Conditions changed until 11am Monday May 20

• Surf Pde, from Victoria Ave to Queensland Ave and Victoria Ave to Charles Ave.

• Queensland Ave, from Jubilee Ave to Federation Ave

• Victoria Ave, from Gold Coast Hwy to Surf Pde

Local access only on:

• Albert Ave

• Surf Pde

Taxi rank relocated to Surf Pde, between Victoria Ave and Charles Ave

Access to the Oasis Shopping Centre via Charles Avenue from 6pm today to 2am on Monday.