Easterfest 08 - An Overview
Monday, March 3rd, 2008During the last ten years Australian Gospel Music Festival grew to become one of the biggest regional festivals in Australia. A regional city the size of Toowoomba doesn’t often host more than 30 000 Australian and international visitors.
Now Easterfest will be the largest celebration of Easter in this country, bringing art, music, drama, debate and extreme games to an amazing complex of stages and arenas.
Toowoomba’s beautiful Queen’s Park, in the CBD, becomes a camping ground with acres of tents surrounding the multi-stage compound. The council, churches and businesses have grown the event together, so there’s no shortage of stories and interviews. Possibilities are everywhere you point a microphone or camera: the tent city, extreme sport arenas or the main street stages. On Sunday night the open-air worship service closes the city’s churches and draws more than 10 000 people.
And can they sing? If there were a roof it would lift.
Musically, Easterfest ranks alongside Tamworth. Easterfest bills classical to metal, punk to jazz, with bands from around Australia and overseas. On stages there are local bands trying to make it big and platinum-selling international acts including The Newsboys. Australian Idol’s Matt Corby will take to the main stage.
The range of discussion is endless. The chai tent looks like a throw back to the Jesus Freak Seventies. In the coffee shops folk will discuss Jesus and politics, God and gender issues, salvation and sexuality.
Guest speakers will include Australian Christian Lobby’s Brigadier Jim Wallace, former Commander SAS. The XXX Porn Church’s pastor Craig Gross will be fresh from ABC America’s national televised debate on the impact of pornography. Biker preacher and social commentator Dr. John Smith will stir the possum.
Easterfest is a rare community festival, taking place on the streets, in the shopping malls and the gardens. That’s why Toowoomba at Easter attracts people from all over Australia and the world.
Go to www.easterfest.com.au to begin planning your coverage.
For further information contact:
Phil Smith. Easterfest Media Centre Coordinator. 0414 823125 or 61 7 3882 3490
Easterfest Office. 61 7 4632 6921
