Gold Coast Bleach Festival 2020 – updated Nov 2020

Calling all contemporary art lovers, or just fun lovers in general. Gold Coast Bleach Festival celebrates the city’s most dynamic and adventurous artists, welcomes renowned local Australian collaborators and engages a broad audience through a range of events. Gold Coast Bleach Festival starts 12 to 22 November 2020 inclusive.

Gold Coast Bleach Festival uses the Gold Coast’s world-famous natural landscape as unconventional venues to showcase incredible arts and cultural experiences that challenge expectations, change perceptions and provide a unique and authentic sense of place. It’s the biggest arts and culture extravaganza on the Gold Coast, welcoming a vast audience of all ages to 17 days of fun and festivity.

This year’s Gold Coast Bleach Festival expect three main locations for the arts and festivities – Burleigh Heads, Chevron Island and Botanic Gardens.

Here is a list of program of 34 events for the Gold Coast Bleach Festival 2020 – there is something for everyone.

Burleigh Heads:

#1: First Light Last Light

Dates: 12 November 2020 at 5am & 22 November 2020 at 6.20pm

Cost: Free

Venue: Justins Park, The Esplanade

#2: Morning Star & Evening Star

Let’s gather on the sand to experience the spellbinding premiere performance of Morning Star. Evening Star, a Yugambeh Yarrabil Gaureima song and story – the conversation between two stars.

Demonstrating ecological knowledge and the relationship between the land, sea and sky in the Yugambeh language region, this song, passed on by Kombumerri and Ngugi Elder, Lottie Eaton (Levinge), is retold by Candace Kruger, Isobella Kruger and Lann Levinge, and performed by the Yugambeh Youth Choir. Sit with us in the sand circle for this special cultural moment in time and celebrate the magic of First Nations’ storytelling, shared through song.

Dates: 12 November 2020 at 7am & 22 November 2020 at 5.30pm

Cost: Free

Venue: Justins Park, The Esplanade

#3: Gathering

Cost: Free

Venue: Justins Park, The Esplanade

#4: Story-Teller-In-Residence

Join cultural keeper and BLEACH* artist-in-residence Mark Cora in the Burleigh Bora for a storytelling session every afternoon of the Festival. Bring the family and settle in for a yarn, rich in cultural wisdom about this special place we call home.

Dates: 12 to 22 November 2020

Cost: Free

Venue: Justins Park, The Esplanade

#5: Dabilbung (Brokenwater)

Dive into DABILBUNG (brokenwater) by Libby Harward, a durational, immersive black feminist installation and one-woman construction site about broken water-ways and Indigenous water sovereignty. The work responds to Harward’s journey through freshwater nations listening to the stories of Aboriginal Custodians.

Dates: 12 to 22 November 2020 from 7am to 9pm

Cost: Free

Venue: Justins Park, The Esplanade

#6: Dreamtime Travellers

Wander Justins Park to encounter artist Rick Roser’s giant spirit figures, seemingly existing in another dimension, yet visible for a time across the parkland.

Six decorated trees, upside down –– branches underground, roots in the air –– point to a magical time: a Dreamtime. These mammoth, mystical beings are like the figures we fleetingly see in the shadows during long walks on tribal country to learn about cultural heritage. Take time to recline under the floating ceiling and watch as strips of hibiscus bark, weighted with shells and painted with ochre, sway in the seaside breeze –– a tribute to giant spirits passed.

Dates: 12 to 22 November 2020 from 7am to 9pm

Cost: Free

Venue: Justins Park, The Esplanade

#7: Skyweave

Dates: 12 to 22 November 2020 from 7am to 9pm

Cost: Free

Venue: Justins Park, The Esplanade

#8: Talgnai Light (To Shine)

#9: Gold Coast City Futures Forum: Kiosk of the Future

#10: Music Industry Mingle

The Gold Coast Music Awards, Blank and Gold Coast City Council present a face to face industry mingle. As part of BLEACH*  the topic RESPECT will be discussed by an industry panel.

The conversation and networking event will cover diverse representation across race, culture and ability, we’ll look at it all and why addressing diversity in the music industry is so important.  How we can influence equal opportunity and diversity on a personal level and at an industry scale.

Hosted by CEO and Artistic Director of BLEACH* , Rosie Dennis. Speaking with a panel of diverse musicians and industry professionals.

The event will commence at 6pm with live entertainment. The conversation starting at 6.45pm.

Dates: 17 November 2020 6pm

Cost: Free

Venue: Justins Park, The Esplanade

#11: Dusk Recitals

#12: Bleach Club

Head to the BLEACH* Club under the trees and watch as the waves roll in. Stop by for a sundowner, catch local DJ sets, and float away to some ambient tunes and killer beats.

Dates: 12 to 22 November 2020 from 12pm

Cost: Free

Venue: Justins Park, The Esplanade

#13: Done & Dappered

Our pop-up barbershop will move to the tunes of an all teenage DJ crew from the Audio-G project. Parent or Guardian permission required – persons under 18 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian.

The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and the City of Gold Coast Council to support
local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

Dates:

Cost: Free

Venue: Justins Park, The Esplanade

#14: Sparks at Bleach

#15: In Conversation with…

Join Daniel Browning in conversation with a range of special guests including his 101 year old Nan, Aunty Mary Browning and well respected architect Kevin O’Brien as they share their stories of place.

Dates: 14 & 15 November 2020 at 10am

Cost: Free

Venue: Justins Park, The Esplanade

#16: Block Party

Headlined by powerhouse female rapper Jesswar, a strong voice for First Nations culture and a pioneer for the new wave of Australian hip-hop, your Sunday arvo is set to scorching! Five hours, five super acts. We’ll hear an energetic set from hardcore melodic band WildHeart; positive vibes from cultural-based band Kinship Collective; rootsy, mountainy tunes from acoustic singer-songwriter Kelsey Iris; and spine-tingling, heart-melting songs from singer-songwriter Robbie Miller. Slap on your sunscreen and meet us under the trees for this deadly party in Burleigh.

Dates: 15 November 2020 SOLD OUT

Cost: Free

Venue: Justins Park, The Esplanade

#17: Musical Stories

Cost: Free

Venue: Justins Park, The Esplanade

Chevron Island

#18: CHEZ NOUS ON CHEVRON – ONE TICKET, NINE EXPERIENCES

Rendezvous with us for a night of electrifying live performance, sweet cabaret, Queerstories, classical music, jazz and more staged from balconies and backyards. Bliss out to opera, or simply sit back with a drink and soak up the vibe. It’s electrifying, toe-curling and a little irreverent too. Brave the dark, bring your friends and join the party.

Dates:

Cost: $45 per person

Venue:

Chez Nous on Chevron

Mawarra St, Surfers Paradise

#19: Intermezzo

Surrender to the soothing sounds of The 7 Sopranos, who will draw you into the soft embrace of Chez Nous On Chevron.

Be swept away by Massenet’s Meditation, a hypnotic symphonic intermezzo from the opera Thaïs, arranged by Tarita Botsman and Craig Allister Young; and Sleep, a hauntingly beautiful atmospheric piece by Ivor Gurney from Five Elizabethan Songs, arranged by Glenn Amer. Swoon as angelic harmonies ring from windows and balconies, over Chevron Island into the warm spring air. Close your eyes and drift away on a sweet melodic voyage, and let the heavenly lullabies transport you dreamily into the night.

Dates:

Cost:

This event is part of another event.

To register for this event, please purchase tickets to Chez Nous on Chevron – One Ticket, Nine Experiences.

Venue:

Chez Nous on Chevron

Mawarra St, Surfers Paradise

#20: Baartzy’s Blues

A salty breeze blows in from the sea … Time to head to Chez Nous On Chevron, grab a cool drink and kick back to some classy tunes. Alto saxophonist Martha Baartz joins forces with Stephen Russell on piano, David Sanders on drums and Helen Russell on double bass to play a program of energetic and spirited jazz. Hear a heart-pumping rendition of finely selected and arranged music by Eddie Harris, Hank Mobely, Ernest Ranglin, Baartz herself and more. Join us for a night that’s bound to have you falling under the spell cast by Baarty’z Brew.

Dates:

Cost:

This event is part of another event.

To register for this event, please purchase tickets to Chez Nous on Chevron – One Ticket, Nine Experiences.

Venue:

Chez Nous on Chevron

Mawarra St, Surfers Paradise

#21: Ostoorah

Celebrated vocalist Samira invites you to her Australian premiere at Chez Nous on Chevron. Samira and her band, Ostoorah (meaning ‘legend’), present Arabic classical, folk and original songs from Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine and Egypt. Ostoorah’s virtuosic ud (fretless lute), bell-like santur (Persian hammered dulcimer), soulful shah kaman (Persian spike-fiddle), intricate riq (Arabic tambourine) are each perfectly paired with Samira’s rich, passionate and nuanced voice. Spice up your night and join these musicians from Lebanon, Iran and Australia for a musical carpet ride. Raqs sharki and dabke dancers … now’s your time!

Dates:

Cost:

This event is part of another event.

To register for this event, please purchase tickets to Chez Nous on Chevron – One Ticket, Nine Experiences.

Venue:

Chez Nous on Chevron

Mawarra St, Surfers Paradise

#22: Bubble Girl

Will she re-emerge or will she be swallowed whole? Join the crew at Chez Nous On Chevron as local entertainer J’aiMime charms us with her charisma and comedic timing. Let this seasoned cabaret performer, skilled in circus arts, enchant you with her astonishing acts and have a chuckle or three along the way. Step into the party this sultry springtime evening and be dazzled as our acrobatic comedienne lights up like a star.

Dates:

Cost:

This event is part of another event.

To register for this event, please purchase tickets to Chez Nous on Chevron – One Ticket, Nine Experiences.

Venue:

Chez Nous on Chevron

Mawarra St, Surfers Paradise

#23: Bullseye

Step right up for a taste of the slightly bizarre! See the phenomenal, the spectacular, the incredible, the elastic, the entirely pliable Shannen Jones, a mind-boggling contortionist and acrobatic archer. Watch with wonder as our topsy-turvy, supple star picks up a bow and arrow with her feet and fires at her target – sometimes held by a willing volunteer! Her act has it all: skill, strength, suspense and awe. She’s able to twist, manipulate and dislocate her body in ways that are by no means ordinary. See the girl without bones – Shannen Jones!

Dates:

Cost:

This event is part of another event.

To register for this event, please purchase tickets to Chez Nous on Chevron – One Ticket, Nine Experiences.

Venue:

Chez Nous on Chevron

Mawarra St, Surfers Paradise

#24: DNA

A triptych, using the building facades as canvases, will wrap around the architecture, connecting our spaces. Harnessing motifs, iconography, metaphors and allegories, Glennys’ visual storytelling asks us to acknowledge the stories of our shared history to gain a true understanding of this place. This powerful and ambitious work will remain until the near-derelict buildings of Chez Nous are demolished. View this ephemeral piece while you can. When it’s gone, it’s gone.

Dates:

Cost:

This event is part of another event.

To register for this event, please purchase tickets to Chez Nous on Chevron – One Ticket, Nine Experiences.

Venue:

Chez Nous on Chevron

Mawarra St, Surfers Paradise

#25: Light House

Waves of colour wake up a house at sundown…enter the garden and the aura of Light House. Both a guiding light and a life-size lava lamp, Light House forms a cocktail of enquiries into site, situation and sensation, all mixed-up on the Club Chez Nous corner block.

Dates:

Cost:

This event is part of another event.

To register for this event, please purchase tickets to Chez Nous on Chevron – One Ticket, Nine Experiences.

Venue:

Chez Nous on Chevron

Mawarra St, Surfers Paradise

#26: House Party

The Mintie Crew come together to unify collective voices, taking over an abandoned house in Chevron and turning it into an immersive installation.

Moving between playful aesthetics to the absurd, the surreal and hypnotic, see how they cut loose on this derelict house, and turn it into an otherworldly experience.

Dates:

Cost:

This event is part of another event.

To register for this event, please purchase tickets to Chez Nous on Chevron – One Ticket, Nine Experiences.

Venue:

Chez Nous on Chevron

Mawarra St, Surfers Paradise

#27: Orchid House

Now, every time it floods, inland from the beach, the Coast attempts to turn back into a swamp, with submerged lowlands reminding us what, beneath the layers of glass, concrete and steel, always was and always will be here. Join us for Orchid House, a story told by a cohort of selected non-human others – orchids, ferns, lilies and palms – those rare, endangered and extinct local species who once populated The Great Swamp, and whose return is written on the scent of rain.

Dates:

Cost:

This event is part of another event.

To register for this event, please purchase tickets to Chez Nous on Chevron – One Ticket, Nine Experiences.

Venue:

Chez Nous on Chevron

Mawarra St, Surfers Paradise

#28: Avant Yard

Come to the party for Avant Yard, a spoken-word showcase from the community stronghold of the suburban front yard, where good fences make good neighbours.

Date: 13 & 20 November 2020 at 7pm

Cost: $20 per person

Venue: Chevron Island Hub, Stanhill Drive

#29: Queer Stories

Join some of the Gold Coast’s best LGBTQI+ storytellers for an evening of Queerstories – reflections on lives well lived and battles fought, pride, prejudice, love and humour.

Date: 14 November 2020 sold out & 21 November 2020 at 7pm

Cost: $20 per person

Venue: Chevron Island Hub, Stanhill Drive

#30: Strings & Beats

Join us for an afternoon of shimmering melodies with super septet Nonsemble, whose music ranges from obscure electronica and instrumental math-rock to early baroque music.

Relax with a drink and embark on a musical voyage into post-genre aural bliss with arrangements of Bjork, Radiohead and Sia.

Date: 15 November 2020 at 3pm

Cost: $30 per person

Venue: Chevron Island Hub, Stanhill Drive

#31: Honky Tonk Town

Hang with us 1970s style – around the Hills hoist: the ubiquitous centre of every suburban block and, boy, did it get a workout.

Whack a sheet on it, grab the mozzie spray and – BOOM! – an instant backyard cinema. The session kicks off with darkly comedic, short claymation film Brother (PG) by animator Adam Elliot. Settle in with your stubbie for our feature, Swinging Safari (M), a crazy ride through 70s family life, lava lamps and all. We’re taking you on one nostalgic trip back to the glory days of 70s Australia. Hills Hoist Cinema on Chevron – it’s retro, baby!

Date: 19 November 2020 at 5pm

Cost: $20 per person

Venue: Chevron Island Hub, Stanhill Drive

#33: The Goat Show

Chevron Island, (fortuitously once known as Goat Island) is proud to present The G.O.A.T. Show, an off-the-wall, immersive, absurdist cabaret.

Two wheeling and dealing show biz producers, long past their prime, are trying to stage an illegal show in an abandoned house. After losing most of their cast at late notice, they have called in favours and slapped together a backup cast for their great opus. Things constantly go awry, but these two hustlers know the show must go on. Laugh along as Shock Therapy Productions act the giddy goat and delight us with their antics.

Date: 20 & 21 November 2020 at 9pm

Cost: $15 per person

Venue: Chevron Island Hub, Stanhill Drive

Botanic Gardens

#34: Botanic Gardens – Sounds Like Spring

Featuring the work of Elena Kats-Chernin played by Southern Cross Soloists.

Revel in the rich sounds of the Southern Cross Soloists as they fill the Botanic Gardens with a specially curated program of songs for the season. The concert highlights the works of Australia’s finest female composer, Elena Kats-Cherninwho has been dubbed Australia’s answer to Mozart.

Date: 22 November 2020 at 3pm

Cost: Free

Venue:

East Wing

Gold Coast Regional Botanical Gardens, 230 Ashmore Road

When is the Gold Coast Bleach Festival?

12 – 22 November 2020 inclusive

Where is Gold Coast Bleach Festival Held?

Various locations on the Gold Coast with a lot of beach fun action.

Where to Stay for the Gold Coast Bleach Festival?

Why not make it a family holiday during the Gold Coast Bleach Festival? Holiday Holiday has some amazing accommodation within easy travelling distance to various Gold Coast Bleach Festival events.

Stay in the heart of Surfers Paradise at some highly recommended family accommodation in Chevron Renaissance, Sun City or Crown Towers Gold Coast, all within close walking distance to the beach and tram stations.

Alternatively, stay at our Broadbeach accommodation the Oracle Gold Coast, and a short hop on the tram station, you will be at the Pacific Fair Shopping Centre.