Gold Coast Bleach Festival
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 3 to 13 August 2023 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 11 days of fun and festivity.
Here is a selection of several acts out of a 33 events for the Gold Coast Bleach Festival 2023 – there is something for everyone.
Burleigh Heads:
#1: First Light – Heartland
As the sun rises on the first morning, and sets on the last evening, share in a special one-off dance performance on the shores of Burleigh Beach by Luther Cora and Yugambeh dancers.
Dates: 3 August 2023 at 6am
Cost: Free
Venue: Ed Hardy Park, The Esplanade
#2: Roller Coaster
Fierce, tender and explosive, Roller Coaster is a new music theatre production with humour, heart, and a propulsive live soundtrack.
Based on real stories, this action-packed skating spectacle celebrates hope and how the rough and tumble ride of life on wheels can save you, just when you need it the most. Created by participatory joy generators Everybody NOW!, this moving performance will have you cheering from the edge of your seat as dozens of local roller skaters, an epic live band and an all-star cast converge on stage.
Dates: 3 – 5 August 2023, 7.30pm
Cost: $35
Venue: HOTA – Home of the Arts
#3: Bliss
Get your eco-tinsel on and dance the night away at the party of the year, curated by the spectacular Tristan Meecham of All The Queens Men. Electronic music, queer performance art, DJs and VJs intersect to create an exhilarating night at BLEACH*.
Dates: 12 August 2023 from 6pm – 10pm
Cost: $45
Venue:
Broadbeach Cultural Precinct,
61 Sunshine BlvdMermaid Waters QLD 4218
#4: Encounter Gold
Discover the indomitable spirit of youth and the world they find themselves in with this visual feast of movement, dance and spoken word.
Directed by award-winning choreographer Emma Saunders, watch in awe as some of the country’s brightest artists converge on the same stage, including writer Felicity Castagna, composers Amanda Brown (The Go-Betweens) and Jodi Phillis (The Clouds), poet Warren Foster, and a cast of 10 dancers. This soul-stirring performance will explore the everyday extraordinariness and energy behind our next generation.
Dates: 5 & 6 August 2023 at 3pm
Cost: Free
Venue: Ed Hardy Park, The Esplanade North Burleigh
#5: Acoustic Life of Sheds
Jump in the car and traverse along winding roads, venturing deep into the lush Currumbin Valley, where this year’s musical adventure awaits. Housed in iconic rural sheds—their unique history embedded into the tapestry of each space—the intimate concerts celebrate the hidden stories of their stage. With site-specific works performed in each of the different sheds, this melodic road trip is a true bucket list experience.
Complete the travelling concert with a gourmet picnic, brimming with local produce, that will be delivered to your final destination. Currumbin Valley Harvest is catering with their delicious Buckwheat Crispy Wraps. Currumbin Valley Harvest stocks chemical-free and organic fresh produce that is seasonal and in support of local farmers and growers.
Location and driving route provided with booking.
Dates: 5 & 6 August 2023 at 11am and 1pm
Cost: $55 per car
Venue: Currumbin Valley QLD 4223
#6: Monster Trucks
Watch in awe as a fleet of Nucon cement mixers transform into works of art and cruise along the streets of the Gold Coast.
The perfect canvas for a kaleidoscope of monstrous paintings, the roving art gallery is inspired by a Stephen King’s horror short story, Trucks, where sentient machinery enslaves humankind.
Cruising on the mainland of Australia for the first time, you’ll do a double take as the leering faces of monsters drive past you in the street—thankfully these machines are human-friendly. This thought-provoking mobile art installation is brought to you by the acclaimed Terrapin Puppet Theatre.
Dates: 3 – 13 August 2023
Cost: Free
Venue: City wide
#7: Live Music Stage
Bless your ears at the Gold Coast’s coolest beachside club. Featuring a stellar line up of live music, workshops and talks, this creative hub is the place to be for an epic time.
The impressive music line-up features nominees from the Gold Coast Music Awards—celebrating the very best in local talent. Open Friday to Sunday for the duration of the festival, with music running back to back, consider this the epicentre of good vibes.
Dates:
| Friday 04 Aug | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Saturday 05 Aug | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Sunday 06 Aug | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Friday 11 Aug | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Saturday 12 Aug | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Sunday 13 Aug | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
Cost: Free
Venue: Ed Hardy Park, The EsplanadeNorth Burleigh
#8: Joni Mitchell’s ‘Blue’ 50th Anniversary
Roll out the picnic rug, and let ARIA-award winning songbird Katie Noonan serenade you into sunset with tunes from Joni Mitchell’s landmark album, Blue.
Accompanied by a five-piece band, this unique concert set amongst a backdrop of gum trees shouldn’t be missed. After selling out shows across the country, Noonan’s stirring performance will showcase songs from what Mitchell describes as the ‘purest emotional record’ of her stellar career.
Meanjin-based artist Jo Davie, kicks off the concert with her blend of folk and jazz, setting the tone for an evening of musical magic.
Dates: 13 August 2023 gates open from 1pm
Cost: $55
Venue:
Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens
230 Ashmore Rd Benowa
#9: Bleach at Broadbeach
Immerse yourself in wonder and delight at our festival garden—a place where no two nights are the same.
Taking place across multiple pop-up venues, explore the magic of burlesque, theatre, stand-up comedy, drag, spoken word and much more. Brimming with incredible displays of creativity, one visit here simply isn’t enough. Running Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights during the second week of BLEACH* only, be sure to clear your calendar for this.
Pro tip: come hungry as there will be a selection of food trucks to enjoy including Cranky Joes dumplings, Samba (Paella), Mr Pulled, OMG Decadent Donuts PLUS there is an open bar!
Dates: 10, 11 & 12 August 2023 from 5pm – 10pm
Cost: Free & ticketed events
Venue:
Broadbeach Hub
Broadbeach Cultural Precinct,
61 Sunshine Blvd Mermaid Waters
#10: Bleach at North Burleigh
It all begins and ends by the beach at the BLEACH* Love Your Local North Burleigh Hub.
Whether it’s getting involved in dance performances with the sand between your toes, learning how to make fire and play traditional drums, or listening to some of the Gold Coast’s best musicians in the sunshine, umbrellaed under the Norfolk pines, the North Burleigh Hub has something for everyone. Hang around for a drink at the BLEACH* Club, stay all day, or just pop in.
Dates:
| Friday 04 Aug | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Saturday 05 Aug | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Sunday 06 Aug | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Friday 11 Aug | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Saturday 12 Aug | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Sunday 13 Aug | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
Cost: $95
Venue: Ed Hardy Park, The Esplanade
When is the Gold Coast Bleach Festival?
3 – 13 August 2023 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 Gold Coast 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.
