Biggest live music on the Gold Coast: Ranking the 10 biggest acts to play in the city

The Gold Coast has a long and rich history of hosting major concerts and big artists. Here are 10 of the most famous and memorable gigs. SEE THE FULL LIST

The Gold Coast has a long and rich history of hosting major concerts and big artists. Here are 10 of the most famous and memorable gigs.

10: Farewell to Fishos (1998)

Fisherman’s Wharf was demolished in 1998 to make way for Sunland’s Palazzo Versace. But before it went, a final concert was held featuring Jimmy Barnes and James Reyne.

9: New Order (1987)

New Order in the late 1980s.

The famous UK rock group played at Surfers Paradise’s Bombay Rock in 1987 in one of the era’s best-remembered concerts.

8: Marilyn Manson (1999)

Singer Marilyn Manson performing during Big Day Out Concert 17/01/99 on Queensland's Gold Coast.

The controversial shock rocker was announced as the headline act of the 1999 Big Day Out and led to unsuccessful attempts by the Gold Coast City Council to ban him from appearing on stage.

7: Neil Young (2009)

Neil Young performs at the Big Day Out at the Parklands on the Gold Coast.

The 1970s rocker played a well-remembered set on a sweltering Sunday night appearance at the Big Day Out as part of its 2009 tour.

6: Simple Minds (2011)

Simple Minds during the Armor All Gold Coast 600, Saturday, October 22, 2011.

The famous Scottish band best-known for its mid-1980s hits played GC600 in 2011, reviving the energy it showed during its 1985 Live Aid set.

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5: Foo Fighters (2011)

The Foo Fighters at Metricon Stadium

Dave Grohl’s post-Nirvana group played one of the Gold Coast’s biggest-ever gigs at the newly opened Metricon stadium, setting the stage for Queen’s concert nearly a decade later.

4: Nirvana (1992)

Nirvana performing played the Gold Coast in 1992 (AP Photo/Robert Sorbo, File)

The iconic grunge rock outfit played to a crowd of more than 13,000 people at Fisherman’s Wharf in an Australia Day double-header with the Violent Femmes a handful of months after the release of its famous Nevermind album.

3: KISS (2001)

KISS performing their final concert in Australia at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast. Picture: Richard Webb

The famed US rock group played an epic gig at the old Carrara Stadium in April 2001 on what was supposed to be its final tour.

2: Queen + Adam Lambert (2020)

Queen at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

The last major event the Gold Coast hosted before COVID-19 shut everything down was a memorable affair which packed Metricon Stadium with more than 50,000 fans.

1: The Ultimate Event (1988)

Frank Sinatra on stage at Gold Coast Sanctuary Cove Ultimate Event concert.

Frank Sinatra and Whitney Houston headlined this gig in January 1988 that marked the opening of Sanctuary Cove and was by far the biggest concert ever held on the Gold Coast.