North Australia Festival of Arts: Tones and I announced for new Tropic Sounds concert

A multi-Aria winning Australian artist will get Townsville dancing this year as the headline act for a new concert at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

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A MULTI-Aria winning Australian artist will get Townsville dancing in July as the headline act for a new concert at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Tones and I will headline the new Tropic Sounds as part of the North Australian Festival of Arts in July.

Tones and I shot to fame with her hit track Dance Monkey, which spent 24 weeks at number one.

The song reached number one in more than 30 countries.

Tones and I will headline a new Tropic Sounds concert at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Popcorn Underground, Tim Ferguson and Dungarri Nya Nya Ngarri Bi Nya have also been named as headline acts for NAFA.

Townsville City Council will partner with CQUniversity and The Ville Resort-Casino to present NAFA in 2021.

Last year, the festival was forced to operate under COVID-19 safe protocols, but restrictions having now eased.

Council community and cultural development committee chairwoman Ann-Maree Greaney said NAFA had a stellar line up.

“I can’t wait to head along to as many shows as possible during NAFA. Tropic Sounds is going to be an incredible show, with local talent taking the same stage as ARIA award-winner Tones and I,” Cr Greaney said.

“But there’s so much more to experience across the four weeks of NAFA. I will definitely be getting in early to grab tickets for POSE, High Tea with BOOFF and Comedy Hypnotist Matt Hale’s show Bonkers!.

“Because there are so many incredible acts and shows across the four weeks of NAFA, I would recommend taking a look at the NAFA website and booking tickets early to avoid disappointment.”

Tones and I will headline a new Tropic Sounds concert at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Mayor Jenny Hill said the award-winning festival brought the best of Australia’s arts and cultural scene to the heart of North Queensland.

“Council is thrilled to be able to bring NAFA to the Townsville community. There is no doubt that artists and performers across the country have felt the impact of COVID-19 which is just one standout reason we are so pleased to be able to present another iteration of NAFA,” Cr Hill said.

Wonderland Circus is one of the acts performing at NAFA. Picture: Nicole Cleary

“In its inaugural year NAFA sold more than 23,000 tickets across Townsville, with hundreds of thousands more experiencing free events and activations across NAFA.

“These numbers were extremely heartening, not only for performers and artists, but also for the local tourism and hospitality industry that experiences the follow-on effect from the festival.”

Popcorn Underground’s Reuben Kaye. Picture: Supplied.

Mundingburra MP Les Walker said with the All Stars and the Horn versus Tszyu fight under the city’s belt, and Kiss coming later in the year, it was wonderful to have another major event on the line-up.

“We know events like Tropic Sounds bring people into the city which is important for businesses and tourism operators as we deal with the global COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said it was wonderful to see NAFA evolve with more arts, culture and entertainment.

“We know events like Tropic Sounds bring people into the city which is important for businesses and tourism operators as we deal with the global COVID-19 pandemic.”

Don't Mess With The Dummies.

CQUniversity Townsville Campus associate vice-president Professor Pierre Viljoen said the university was proud to be NAFA’s major education partner and to work with the council to bring Townsville events like this.

“Now, more than ever, it is important to provide opportunities for our communities to come together and to support the arts and creative industries.”

NAFA runs from July 2 to August 1 across Townsville.

For more information and to book tickets, head to nafa-tsv.com.au.

Comedy Hypnotist Matt Hale – Bonkers!

Headline shows & events

The White Rose & The Red, Theatre iNQ | June 30 to July 11

100 Years Ago, Circus Wonderland | July 1-11

Popcorn Underground, Wonderland Spiegeltent | July 1-4, 6-11 and 13-18

Dungarri Nya Nya Ngarri Bi Nya, Wulgurukaba Walkabouts, Big Eye

Theatre Dancers, Komet Dancers, Obery Sambo, Meriam Dancers,

Bindal Dancers, Dancenorth Australia | July 3-4

Brass Monkeys, Circus Trick Tease and Nicholas Clark Management |

July 3-6

Tim Ferguson, A Fast Life on Wheels. Picture: Supplied by Adelaide Fringe

High Tea with BOOFF, Homunculus Theatre Company | July 6-11, 14-

18

Don’t Mess with the Dummies, Dummies Corp | July 14-18

Comedy Hypnotist Matt Hale: Bonkers!, Matt Hale Comedy Hypnotist

| July 30-31, August 1

Tropic Sounds featuring Tones and I & Pierce Brothers | July 31

Eden, Legs on the Wall | July 22-25

A Fast Life on Wheels, Tim Ferguson | July 23-24

POSE | August 1

Strand Ephemera Hand in the Sea by Karl Meyer

Originally published as North Australia Festival of Arts: Tones and I announced for new Tropic Sounds concert