Stellar line-up announced for this year’s Horizon Festival
Horizon Festival, the Sunshine Coast’s premier arts and cultural celebration, is back in 2021, with ten inspirational days and nights of music, visual art, theatre, dance, film, spoken word, comedy and much more.
The iconic festival runs from Friday 27 August to Sunday 5 September bringing together local and national artists to offer vibrant, immersive and entertaining experiences for all ages.
The full program and tickets are now available at www.horizonfestival.com.au
Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said the festival was an exciting celebration of the arts.
“Horizon is a great example of Sunshine Coast Council and our community working together to create a festival that pushes boundaries and surprises and delights all in attendance,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“Our region’s arts and cultural sector is thriving and, in its sixth year, Horizon Festival is well on its way to becoming a cultural highlight on the national arts calendar.”
Horizon Festival Artistic Director Dr Lynne Bradleysaid this year’s festival shone a spotlight on the extraordinary talents of our local Sunshine Coast and Queensland-based artists.
“The all-Queensland line-up offers local audiences and visitors to the Coast the chance to experience a high quality and accessible artistic program, set against the spectacular backdrop of the region,” Dr Bradley said.
“The natural environment and issues such as climate change feature throughout the program, with many projects inspired by, and set within, this region’s very special landscape including Lake Baroon, Glass House Mountains, Chambers Island and Happy Valley.
“Deeply connected to Country and community, local Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) and Jinibara artists are central to this year’s festival.
“The First Nations’ program includes the much-celebrated ceremonial performance, Dawn Awakening, at Stumers Creek on Sunday 5 September, large-scale outdoor visual arts projections, Kabi Kabi Connections, and an array of rich cultural offerings throughout the region."
This year, Horizon Festival cranks the lever on excitement with a festival hub like no other.
The Wonderland Spiegeltent will take centre-stage overlooking the water at Cotton Tree Park, bringing with it a program of world-class cabaret, comedy, circus, dance and theatre.
Never-before seen on the Coast, the Wonderland Spiegeltent, built in the 1920s, is an opulent travelling pavilion boasting ballooning velvet canopies, ornate stained-glass windows and an intimate interior that will charm and delight audiences.
The Spiegeltent program will host a hugely diverse range of shows from the adults-only Club Briefs by Briefs Factory International and stand-up comedy Black Out featuring Ydinji comedian Steph Tisdell and friends, to Circus Wonderland - A Mermaid’s Tale, a heart-warming circus show for the whole family.
Sunshine Coast dance gladiators will battle it out on the Wonderland Spiegeltent stage in an over-the-top explosion of sequins, sweat and spandex, in Common People Dance Eisteddfod.
Dr Bradley said the team came together in March and, over the next few months, are rehearsing ’80s-inspired dance routines that pay homage to the Rock Eisteddfods of decades past.
“Common People Dance Eisteddfod is an amazing project hailing from Brisbane that brings people of all ages and abilities together through dance and performance. Common People will be a highlight of the program and really speaks to our commitment to creating opportunities for the community to get involved and to connect with each other through art,” Dr Bradley said.
“The Spiegeltent program also includes hands-on workshops led by local artists, a poetry slam-night with The Bunker Spoken Word Series and a Disco Rainbow Sparkle Dance Party for kids.”
Each afternoon audiences can enjoy the sunset in the Wonderland Spiegeltent Garden with a free nightly program of Live + Local music accompanied by tasty local brews and eats.
Community Portfolio Councillor Rick Baberowski said the festival also had an interesting and consciously thought-provoking youth program.
“One show I’m particularly looking forward to is a unique performance where 9 – 13 year olds ask challenging questions of grown-ups,” Cr Baberowski said.
“I’ve Been Meaning To Ask You is a fantastic way to give our youth a voice and to introduce them to the performing arts all at the same time.
“It’s also a much-needed opportunity to showcase some of our emerging local talent who may go onto decide their calling is a career on the screen and stage.”
Horizon Festival will operate in line with full COVID-safe protocols and with patron and artist safety a priority. More information about COVID protocols can be found on horizonfestival.com.au
View the full program and book your tickets now at www.horizonfestival.com.au.
Get social and share your festival experience using #horizonartfest
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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
WONDERLAND SPIEGELTENT**
The Wonderland Spiegeltent, is an opulent travelling pavilion and this year’s Festival Hub. It brings with it a program of world-class cabaret, comedy, circus, dance and theatre. Friday 27 August to Sunday 5 September
DAWN AWAKENING
As the first light rises on the banks of Stumers Creek in Coolum, we gather to connect to Country and culture through a moving ceremony and performance, directed by Gubbi Gubbi Songman Lyndon Davis. Sunday 5 September
OPEN AIR CONCERT SERIES
A beautiful collision of music, people and place, Open Air features some of Australia’s most loved musicians in intimate outdoor concerts. The Open Air experience is not to be missed. Artists include: Yirinda, Sarah McLeod, Louise King and Monika Koerner. Various times and locations
FINAL CALL
Six leading contemporary visual artists respond to the global emergency of our time - Climate Change - with major new artworks presented in the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden.Saturday 28 August – Sunday 5 September
SUNSHINE COAST ART PRIZE
Presented by Caloundra Regional Gallery, the Sunshine Coast Art Prize exhibition captures a diverse snapshot of Australia’s finest contemporary visual arts practice. Friday 27 August – Sunday 5 September
EUMUNDI SCHOOL OF ROCK
Now in its sixth year, the Eumundi School of Rock is thrilled to present its epic annual concert featuring 20 young rockers from the class of 2021 as they play alongside five-time ARIA winning and seven-time platinum selling school founder Katie Noonan and the all-star teacher band! Sunday 29 August
SIREN
Gogi Dance Collective brings you SIREN, a short pop-up performance unfolding across six of the Sunshine Coast’s breathtaking beaches during Horizon Festival. Various times and locations
SONGS OF GAIA (a twilight gathering)
As the sun sets over Mount Tibrogargan, experience a poignant cross-cultural music performance on the grounds of Bankfoot House that is an ode to Gaia (Mother Earth) at this time of environmental crisis. Saturday 28 August
WORKSHOPS
Learn traditional First Nations weaving techniques of the Daintree region; explore poetry as a form of political activism; join fellow music makers in an 18-person marimba band; or connect your mind and body in an earth-focused movement experience. Horizon’s Workshop program invites people of all backgrounds and interests to explore their creative side.