Unique ‘Day at the Nest’ festival to help Currumbin Eagles celebrate 50 years

Rugby league clubs don’t typically take on the role of festival organisers, but one creative Gold Coast club is hoping to change that. Details.

Callum Creelman will be performing at Currumbin Eagles' 'Day at the Nest'. Picture: Supplied.

Rugby league clubs don’t typically organise music festivals.

Unless you’re the Currumbin Eagles that is.

When plotting ways to celebrate their 50th year, the Eagles got creative and soon ‘Day at the Nest’ was born.

“We thought to combine a celebration for that and our season launch, we wanted something that could bring everyone together from our under-6s to A-grade,” said Belinda Geyer, one of the festival’s organisers.

Despite boasting over 600 junior players and eight senior teams, Geyer noted that the Eagles are one of the few clubs on the Gold Coast who don’t have their own leagues club.

It poses a significant hurdle when trying to organise club gatherings.

“We have to think outside the box and think of ways that we can bring everybody together,” she said.

“We pretty much have to use the field, we were like ‘oh, what could we do?’

Chang Po Ching performing. Picture: Supplied.

“That’s where the idea of just having some music came, people could put rugs on the fields, the kids will have room to run around them as well, everyone will just be enjoying the atmosphere and each other.”

The festival’s theme will be acoustic, with Geyer hoping for a “chill Saturday afternoon”, and the performers will include Callum Creelman, Myles O’Grady, and Chang Po Ching.

Geyer revealed the Eagles had hoped to secure well known Australian music duo Busby Marou, who have a connection to the club, however the pair is in Nashville recording an album.

“I said to them, ‘if you finish recording your new album and you come back and need some guinea pigs to listen to it we’ll put our hand up’,” Geyer laughed.

The festival will also have past and present NRL and NRLW figures in attendance, headlined by Titans players Keenan Palasia, Keano Kini.

Titans NRL player Keenan Palasia will be at the ‘Day at the Nest’: Picture NRL photos / Scott Davis

Titans NRLW coach Karen Murphy will also be there, as will former NRL players Ben Hannant, Chris Walker, Brett White, and Matt Geyer - who doubles as Belinda’s husband.

Currumbin RSL has offered a helping hand, lending the Eagles a stage to use for the festival.

“If it all goes to plan we’d love to make it an annual event to start our season,” Geyer said.

“I just think it’s a really nice way to bring our community together.

“Fingers crossed the weather’s good and it’ll be an amazing day.”

The ‘Day at the Nest’ will run from 4pm to 9pm on the 13th of April at Merv Craig Recreation Park.