From August 1st – 11th, BLEACH* 2024 will see live music, pop up venues, concerts, dance performances, installations and workshops happening all over the Gold Coast. The city’s annual arts festival presents an incredible 11-day program of free and ticketed events, highlighting our rich and diverse creative culture.
From North Burleigh headland to the rolling green hills of Tallebudgera Valley; from the ebb and flow of Nerang River to the rooftop of HOTA, the 13th BLEACH* is yours to experience. Here are some highlights from the jam-packed program.
Be inspired, enetertained and moved by music of all genres, community gatherings, First Nations culture, outdoor venues, natural beauty, creative exploration and a festival that connects people to place.
North Burleigh Hub
Located beachside at Ed Hardy Park, with an array of free and eclectic events, stay for the day at the North Burleigh Hub or drop by throughout the festival.
Be there on the dawn of the first day of the festival for First Light, where things kick off with stirring songs from First Nations performers as the sun rises out of the ocean. A beautiful celebration and coming together of the community to begin the festivities.
Enjoy a drink at the Burleigh Brewing BLEACH* Bar where some of Gold Coast’s best musical acts will be playing live including Lyric, Elska, Birren and more.
Or witness local contemporary dance legends, The Farm, creating a brand new work, TEN, during the festival. Watch the show come to life as the ensemble choreograph, write, film and rehearse in public, with the premiere of the complete performance happening on the last night of BLEACH* (August 10th).
Broadbeach Hub
Kick back on the shoreline of the Nerang River for family-friendly and free events at the Broadbeach Hub including sunset concerts performed atop a floating stage. Enjoy the sonorous symphony of brass and percussion from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University Brass Ensemble and Trombone Choir. Or let the soulful voices of a vibrant community choir transport you on a musical journey. The Pasifika choir performing Wayfinders: A Pacific Journey, includes participants from Samoa, the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Māori communities from across South East Queensland.
There’s also an intimate speakeasy bar with soulful live music from Mohini Cox, mesmeric acrobatics from Gravity & Other Myths and a meditative dance performance reminding us of our shared humanity.
The Broadbeach Hub is centrally located at 61 Sunshine Blvd in Mermaid Waters (next to the Broadbeach library).
HOTA Hub
The HOTA Hub is the epicentre of the festival’s dance and theatre program. Across the first three days of BLEACH* (Aug 1 - 4) performances from two of Australia’s award-winning ensembles – Lucy Guerin Inc and the internationally acclaimed Gravity and Other Myths ensemble, a 24-hour dance marathon staged on the HOTA lake, immersive installations and rooftop soirees. There are also some incredible plays happening as part of the arts festival and theatre fans will be moved by some gut-wrenching, thought provoking productions.
For three nights during BLEACH*, the rooftop Exhibitionist Bar at HOTA will become ARTBAR. You can enjoy the incredible views from this sky high venue with a special guest performer each evening, and a signature BLEACH* cocktail to sip on. From 8pm, August 1 - 4.
Bring the Kids
There’s a wonderful array of family-friendly Gold Coast events to enjoy at BLEACH* so be sure to bring the kids for a cool cultural experience.
HEXADECA is an immersive musical installation - a melodic playground made up of custom-constructed fibreglass seats that activate a portion of a musical score when you sit on them. Only when all the seats are occupied, will the entire track play, turning the installation into a magical sound garden. Join in the collaborative fun on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the festival at the North Burleigh Hub.
Fever Dream is an enchanting display of giant, illuminated puppets, and kids can be part of the performance with handheld stingray lanterns they’ll create in pre-show workshops.You’re invited to dive into the depths of the aquatic realm and become a part of this moving art and light installation, where a colossal eight-metre stingray takes centre stage. As twilight descends, join the enchanting parade with your miniature stingrays gliding alongside a gathering of majestic giants, soaring pelicans and sea creatures. This is a free workshop, suitable for kids 7+. Performance on Saturday August 10th, North Burleigh Hub, 5.30pm.
First Nations Celebrations
The opening event of BLEACH*, First Light is an experience like no other in the festival. Gather at North Burleigh Beach at dawn on Thursday August 1st for a soul stirring didgeridoo solo by the remarkable William Barton. Be moved by songs from the Pacific performed by the Wayfinders Choir led by Rubina Kimiia before losing yourself in warm, soulful vocals of Mohini Cox and the Sunrises. Sounds of the ocean, the smell of a fire, sea mist and salty air, music and the moment; there’s no better way to start your day.
Live Music in the Valley
Set on a 20-acre rural property deep in Tallebudgera Valley, Slow Art - Sounds of the Valley is a melodic exploration where you’ll experience four unique mini concerts by award-winning musicians against a backdrop of lush green hills. The audience will take a journey on foot to four different locations on the property for each mesmerising performance. Complete the experience with a gourmet picnic from HOTA’s award-winning restaurant, Palette. Tickets are strictly limited to this experience - book now.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Experience Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.