The second year of the Cooly Rocks On festival is set to be even bigger and better than last year, according to event CEO Bob Newman – thanks to some major headline acts.
The festival, which relplaced Wintersun last year, is stepping up a notch according to Newman, with the announcement of an up and coming international star and two Australian legends.
UK singing sensation Si Cranstoun and Australian music legends Frankie J Holden and Wilbur Wilde will add their considerable talents to this year’s festival from June 1-11 around Coolangatta Tweed.
Bob said they had cast around to find just the right acts for the event and had chosen the up and coming British performer as headliner while Frankie J (who made a huge splash at the Carols By Candle Light at Salt late last year) and Wilbur Wilde will be the event’s ambassadors this year.
All three will perform and make appearances during the rock and roll festival.
“Combine the uber cool stage presence of Bublé with a high octane dance style that’s a cross between Gene Kelly and Justin Timberlake, and a voice that resonates the golden era of ’50s rock’n’roll. Wrap it all up in a good looking package and you have UK underground rockabilly star, Si Cranstoun,” he said.
“The energetic artist with an infectious voice promises to shake up the streets of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads during Cooly Rocks On, with a number of guest appearances at various venues during the Festival.
“If you don’t know who Si Cranstoun is, you soon will, and you’re not likely to forget him in a hurry!” Bob believes Si is one of the hottest tickets ever to appear at the Festival.
“He’s young, he’s fresh, he does rockabilly in the same vein as legends like Jackie Wilson, and he is quickly building a reputation throughout Europe and America as one of the most exciting finds on the rock’n’roll circuit in decades,” says Bob.
“His age and energy bring a whole new dimension to rock’n’roll and to Cooly Rocks On as we know it.”
Si will be joined by Aussie rock royalty Frankie J Holden and saxophonist extraordinaire Wilbur Wilde.
“They will be doing two shows at the Coolangatta Tweed Golf Club as well as walking through the streets and doing impromptu performances,” Bob said.
The festival got off to a flying start last year with, according to Bob, “only mother nature letting us down”. But despite the rain, the crowds still flocked and with the headliners and a new “Rock and Roll Youth Talent Quest” being added for the Jack Evans Boat Harbour stage, as well as several new dance groups from Northern Queensland and lots and lots of cars again, this year is already looking big.
“We are hoping to make money out of the festival this year – this is a not for profit organisation so all the money made goes back into the festival,” he said.
“Once we build up a bank account then we can start to negotiate with even bigger acts.”
However, he said, with the way Si’s fan base and profile were growing, he expected Si to be the next big thing.
Si Cranstoun will perform two shows at the Cooly Hotel. Tickets go on sale on Monday, April 9 on the website www.coolyrockson.com.
