Gold Coast Council eyes off new Riverstage-style music venue

A major move has been made to ensure more top live music acts come to the Gold Coast, including an offer to fund half the cost of a new 10,000-seater venue.

LIVE music is set to get a whole lot louder in the city.

Gold Coast City Council have announced today they will be forming a new Music Advisory Group in a bid to get the city hosting more live music.

Council are hoping to find eight members to join the group.

“We are interviewing for people in the industry to make sure our offering in the music industry will grow,” Cr Tate said.

“Looking at it with BIGSOUND, as I sit there and listen to some of the music and songs coming out of it, I thought ‘has anyone made it’ and I thought ‘of course’. There has been more than $2 million sales out of our local Gold Coast music.

“For your creatives out there, rest assured the cultural revolution on the Gold Coast will continue.

“We want to know (about) the next event and how you would plan that and how to get our artists to get out there in front of punters.

Mayor Tom Tate speaks to the media to announce a new music advisory group is being formed. Picture: Emily Halloran.

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“The advisory group will have a big job — they will need to have their finger on the pulse about live music trends, galvanise industry support and connect the city’s artists and music businesses and national opportunities.”

Cr Tate believes their first task will be seeing what venues the city needs.

“We’ve done an audit of music venues throughout the city and from there you can see which venues can be upgraded, made better and what can be used by who because different sizes will give different offerings,” he said.

“My attitude is when some of these venues get upgraded, if it’s free, let them use it. I’d love to see Sunday sessions happening throughout out city.”

Lee Kerneghan playing at the Groundwater Country Festival in Broadbeach earlier this year.

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The Bulletin reported last Saturday the city was being overlooked by major national and international artists due to not having appropriate music venues.

At the time Tourism Minister Kate Jones said she wanted to have a boutique music venue, similar to somewhere like Brisbane’s River Stage, which would fit 10,000 people, built on the Gold Coast.

Asked if council are discussing the idea, Cr Tate said: “Even for me, I’m looking around all the time at various parks for somewhere we can have an outdoor experience.

“If you go to Chevron Island and go east over the bridge on the left hand side there is a beautiful park there. I can’t see why we can’t modify that and have an outdoor stage.

“If the Queensland government are keen on the boutique 10,000 person stadium, I would say put out your hand. It’s a deal. We will go 50-50.”

Performers at the Groundwater Country Music Festival in Broadbeach. Photo: Luke Marsden.

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The news follows performances from three Gold Coast artists — IVEY, Donny Love and DVNA — at BIGSOUND, in Brisbane yesterday.

Leading Gold Coast artists Amy Shark and DJ Fisher made their break after performing at the annual festival, which showcases up-and-coming artists.

It is largest music conference in the Southern Hemisphere.

“The pool of talent coming out of the city is on par with any other Australian city,” Cr Tate said.

“The Gold Coast Music Action Plan 2021 has already assisted more than 400 local music industry professionals since it was launched in March.

“Six months in and we are already reaping the benefits.

“We know that embracing the local sector will lead to meaningful and sustainable careers, attracting and retaining a key creative workforce on the Gold Coast.”

Asked who he would like to attract to the city next Cr Tate said Pink, followed by Ed Sheeran.