General News
15 July, 2020
New live music event set to rock the region
AFTER the postponement of the highly anticipated ‘Savannah in the Round’ music festival this October, a smaller scale live music event is set to fill the void.
AFTER the postponement of the highly anticipated ‘Savannah in the Round’ music festival this October, a smaller scale live music event is set to fill the void.
The all new ‘Savannah Summer Series’, a COVID-safe mini-festival, will now take place over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, giving locals a taste of what’s to come for ‘Savannah in the Round’ 2021.
Savannah in the Round was announced early this year and was to become one of the biggest country music festivals across the country with both national and international star acts set to grace its stage.
The three day festival was going to fall across the Queen’s Birthday weekend; however with the effects of COVID-19 still rattling the world, the festival was cancelled.
Now from the ashes rises the new miniseries headed up by the same team behind ‘Savannah in the Round’, Sound Australia.
The event will bring the community together and celebrate the return of live music after 2020’s challenges.
Local Nipper Brown was at the helm of ‘Savannah in The Round’ and worked closely with Sound Australia’s CEO James Dein as their Community Liaison Officer to help develop the festival.
Now with it being postponed and the Savannah Summer Series to fill its shoes, Nipper is excited to see that the weekend will see some live music action.
“The Savannah Summer Series is just a taste of what could have been if the main event, Savannah in The Round went ahead which will now be next year,” he said.
“We have got a top line of Australia artists and up and coming artists, it is very exciting to know that we are going to have the calibre of these artists here in Mareeba.
“All of the Australian artists have been booked in for Savannah in The Round next year but we won’t know about the international artists until about June next year.”
The ‘Savannah Summer Series’ will come to both Cairns and Mareeba on October first and second respectively and will feature Aussie country star Casey Barnes along with a superstar line-up.
“I can’t wait to get up to Cairns and Mareeba this October to welcome back live music to the region,” Casey said.
“Savannah in the Round is one of the most exciting things to happen for country music in Tropical North Queensland.
“To be a part of the Savannah Summer Series and to show that live music is alive and kicking post-COVID will be a big highlight after a tough year for all of us.”
Casey Barnes kicked off the year with his hit single ‘Sparks Fly’ which held number one at radio for seven weeks followed by the first number one Australian Country ARIA album during covid-era, ‘Town of A Million Dreams’.
The Buckleys, Saltbush Six, The Roadtrippers and The Ayres Rockettes will all join Casey as they spread a taste of what’s to come for ‘Savannah in the Round’ in 2021.
Teenage sibling trio The Buckleys are also a band that is on the tip on everyone’s tongue with their Golden Guitar nomi- nation for Best New Talent and a Country Radio number one with their hit single ‘Daydream’ which currently sits at number 10 in the Country Music Charts.
Sound Australia’s James Dein believes that the new mini festival will help to jump start the heart of Tropical North Queensland.
“As gatherings and the regulations around social distancing are relaxed in a measured way it’s important to us and to the economy of the region that we keep the music playing,” he said.
The Queensland tourism industry welcomes the ‘Savannah Summer Series’ with open arms and hopes it will relight the dwindling spark of the industry.
Queensland Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the Savannah Summer Series couldn’t come at a better time.
“Major events like this pump millions of dollars into the local economy and support local jobs, the festival will deliver a great boost for local businesses at a time where everyone is doing it rough,” she said.
“Because Queenslanders have done such a great job fighting COVID-19 we can now start welcoming tourists back into our state.
“With the continual easing of travel restrictions the Savannah Summer Series will hopefully give Queenslanders and hopefully all Australians another reason to explore Tropical North Queensland.”
After the opening of the Queensland border on Friday, July 10, a huge influx of cabin fevered tourist are excited to get out and about and see something other than their TV or bedroom ceiling.
“Savannah in the Round was always conceived as an event to bring the Tropical North Queensland community together as well as to drive interstate tourism,” Ms Jones said.
“It has never been more important to us to deliver this goal which is why we are committed not to just our spectacular large-scale 2021 event but also to make sure the community is not forgotten this year with the Savannah Summer Series.
“As Aussies holiday at home for the remainder of 2020 the Savannah Summer Series gives visitors not only a great country music experience but also the perfect launching pad to explore the natural beauty of the Tablelands through to the reef.”
Closely following the Savannah Summer Series on October first and second is the Great Northern Bull riding Series which will take place on the last day of the weekend, October third.
Tickets for the Savannah Summer Series go on sale next Tuesday, July 21. To register your interest head to www.savannahintheround.com.au and secure your ticket before it’s too late.
