Sunshine Sounds Festival returns for 2023 featuring Frente! Elixir, Abby Dobson and more

*Frente! will headline this year’s Sunshine Sounds Festival in Eumundi. Photo by Sarah Walker*

If you need a little sunshine in your life, put the weekend of September 2 and 3 in your diary because Eumundi’s all-ages family-friendly music festival SUNSHINE SOUNDS is back for 2023 as part of the Horizon Festival.

Tickets are now on sale for this boutique two-day festival taking place at The Eumundi School of Arts Hall, and features a phenomenal home-grown line-up including Frente, Elixir with Michael Leunig, Katie Noonan and string quartet, Abby Dobson (Leonardo’s Bride), Deline Briscoe, Clea, Eliott, Sue Ray, Cigány Weaver, Jungaji, Fred Leone, Louise King, Sugarbag Blonde, Mark Moroney, Frank and Louis, Layla Barnett and more!

Festival Director (and 5 x ARIA-Award winning local songstress) Katie Noonan says she cannot wait to bring this special community festival back for its third year.

“At its heart, Sunshine Sounds Festival uses the power of music to bring people together – and what better time to celebrate than the first weekend of Spring and Father’s Day weekend!,” Katie says.

“Our line-up for 2023 is incredible, with a real mix of artists with something for everyone. Indie-pop darlings Frente - who have recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of their 2 x ARIA award winning record ‘Marvin The Album’, some of our country’s finest First Nation’s artists including the legendary Fred Leone who recently performed to a live audience of 100,000 for the AFL Dreamtime at the MCG, and poet laureate and official National Living Treasure Michael Leunig, with his folk-jazz band mates Zac and Ben (and myself!) from ARIA winning band elixir, in our second album collaboration ’A Small Shy Truth’. As a Sunshine Sounds exclusive, this will be Frente’s first ever performance on the Sunny Coast!

“Alongside these household names, we will be presenting some of the finest up and coming artists from around Australia and the Sunshine Coast, including 26-year-old Triple J darlings Clea and Eliott, festival favourites Cigány Weaver, the delightful Abby Dobson of Leonardo’s Bride fame and up and coming local artists Frank and Louis and Layla Barnett.

“One of the absolute highlights on the program is the inclusion of the Eumundi School of Music, our mentorship program for young musos from 8 to 17 years. These little rockers will be strutting their stuff alongside top notch Aussie musicians - I promise this will be a heart filling and inspiring performance for all generations, from 8 to 80!,” she says.

The program will also include a performance by the Sunshine Sounds Community Choir, giving festival-goers the opportunity to join a group sing-song for all ages and abilities. Pre-festival choir rehearsals will be held in the Eumundi CWA Hall on July 13 and 27 and August 9 and 23 from 7pm - 9pm for those keen to get involved.

Sunshine Sounds Festival 2023 major sponsor is Live Music Australia – an Australian Government initiative, alongside local support from the Eumundi District Community Association, the Eumundi Historical Association and KIN Music.

Festival doors open Saturday 2 September 12noon – 10pm, and on Sunday 3 September 12noon – 8pm.

There are daily and full weekend tickets available for Youth (7 yrs+) and Adults (18+) for purchase via Oztix. Kids under 7 are free with numbers strictly limited.

Saturday tix are $80 Adults / $60 Concession/ $40 Youth/Family pass $200

Sunday tix are $70 Adults / $50 Concession/ $30 Youth/ Family pass $160

Weekend passes are $130 Adults / $90 Concession/ $60 Youth / Family pass $350

For further festival info, visit www.sunshinesoundsfestival.com