Break out your poodles and your poodle skirts and shine up the car – Cooly Rocks On is back in town.Break out your poodles and your poodle skirts and shine up the car – Cooly Rocks On is back in town.Beginning last week with a bit of a wash-out last weekend, the Rock and Roll festival, which last year replaced Wintersun, is revving into high gear over the next five days.And although it’s called Cooly Rocks – Tweed Heads is set to rock on too, with the Tweed Heads Bowls Club, South Tweed Sports, Coolangatta-Tweed Golf Club, the Ivory, Tweed Heads PCYC, Tweed Civic Centre, Twin Towns Jack Evans Boat Harbour and Seagulls all about to come alive to the sound of rock and roll music! There’ll be performances by UK Rockabilly star Si Cranstoun over at the Coolangatta Hotel, and a myriad of other acts as well as the ever popular car cruises and dancing and performing in the streets. Organisers are hoping for the event to be bigger and better than last year.According to research, more than 50,000 visitors rocked into Coolangatta-Tweed last year, bringing an economic boost of $18,157,655.This year it’s all back again as Cooly gets set to rock on with a little help from official ambassadors Wilbur Wilde and Frankie J Holden.And while all eyes will be on the big venues, don’t forget the smaller places.Back on the NSW side of the border, Tweed Heads PCYC has a weekend of entertainment lined up that’s sure to please 50s and 60s rock and roll enthusiasts.Friday night, June 8 features two unique talents, Dennis Cuthel and Jon’o Nicholson, who will rock your socks off.Dennis is a Tweed local who played with Billy Thorpe’s Aztecs as a drummer before switching to guitar. Last year he took out the busking competitions at the annual Parkes Elvis Festival, where he seems to be a permanent fixture.Joining Dennis on stage is Wellington (that’s Aus not New Zealand) sensation Jon’o Nicholson.The 19-year-old who wowed audiences at the Tamworth Country Music Festival this year will give his take on Roy Orbison and Elvis songs as well as other classics of the era.
While some of the money goes back to Cooly Rocks, the event is a major fundraiser for the PCYC.
“It helps provide much-needed funds for club,” PCYC manager Mark Madden said of the event.
“This is the third year we’ve run shows, starting with the last year of Wintersun and then in 2011 as part of Cooly Rocks On. This year is much more of a partnership.”
Other events to watch out for will be the Rockabilly Rampage at Rockabilly House, the Cooly Hotel tonight, Thursday, at 8pm, featuring the Atomic Hi Tones, Flying Saucers, Quick Draw McGraws and DJ Bernie Kline.
COOLY ROCKS ON – QUICK FACTS
- COOLY ROCKS ON is a ’50s and ’60s inspired nostalgia festival, held in the streets of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads on the Queen’s Birthday June long weekend every year.
- In 2012, the festival will run from June 1-11, culminating in the long weekend festivities on June 9 and 10.
- UK Rockabilly star, Si Cranstoun, will headline this year’s Cooly Rocks On.
- Venues throughout the border towns (clubs, pubs, restaurants, shops, etc) join in the spirit of COOLY ROCKS ON, with dancing, music, bands, ’50s and ’60s themed clothes and events.
- COOLY ROCKS ON relives the ‘Happy Days’ culture of rock ’n’ roll, rockabilly and swing music, classic cars and hot rods, retro hairstyles and clothes, and hangin’’ five.
- Coolangatta’s main streets – Griffith Street and Marine Parade – close down from midnight Friday night and reopen at 10pm on Sunday night.
- Dancing in the streets is mandatory!
- A street parade will be held on Saturday, June 9. This is a major drawcard for families.
- In 2012, around 1300+ hot rods, custom and classic cars will be on display. Based on an average of $40,000 per car (some are worth over $200,000), this display is estimated to be valued at around $52 million.
- Many of the classic cars and hot rods will participate in the spectacle of the Shannons Super Cruise through the streets on Saturday and Sunday nights between 5 and 7pm.
- All cars on display at COOLY ROCKS ON must have been manufactured between 1923 and 1973 to be eligible.
- In 2012, COOLY ROCKS ON will introduce a surf precinct in Kirra Beach, which will be a celebration of the surfing scene of the Southern Gold Coast of the ’50s and ’60s. It will include a music stage and dancing, with music from the era, such as Beach Boys and Atlantics.
- All cars will compete in the Shannons Show ’n’ Shine competition on Saturday and Sunday, June 8 and 9, with the winners announced on Sunday afternoon.
- Shannons are giving away a Hot Lap with Jim Richards.
Research undertaken by Destination Research & Development at last year’s festival revealed:
- 36 per cent of visitors were aged 40-55 years (babyboomers).
- Visitors stayed in the region for an average of 5.7 nights, with over 22 per cent staying longer than seven days.
- This research also showed an estimated economic impact to the region of $18,157,655.
What to watch out for:
- Rock ’n’ Roll Dance Championships
- Miss Pinup Australia competition
- Classic Cars and Hot Rods Show ’n’ Shine (1,300+ vehicles)
- Queensland Old Mal Championships
- Nostalgia markets
- Surfing precinct at Kirra and surf themed markets
- Youth Talent Quest
- Classic Car Cruises
- Live Rock ’n’ Roll, Rockabilly and Swing concerts in the streets
- Street Parade (14,500+ audience)
- ’50s and ’60s dance classes
- Poodle Parade
- Fashion Parade
