beach on his new board he calls Margo. He rides her pretty hard, or so he says. What’s the latest on a full-length? We’re about to release the Change Of Heart EP, the She’s My Baby CD and a new single together all on the same ‘Deluxe’ release. It’s a good way to bridge the gap to our first album which will be out later this year. Everyone is very excited about it, no one more than Alex’s mum! She’s always going on about it, ‘Alex you need to get your full-length out! I can’t wait any longer!’ She is a big fan.
Bleach* has also called on a host of renowned Australian artists to create an artistic response to Harvey’s Longest Wave. The Longest Wave Installation will feature at Queen Elizabeth Park, Coolangatta, from Friday 22 February.
THE SALT OF THE SURFING WORLD Just before the turn of the millennium it was Occy and Layne; two times in the late noughties it was Mick and Steph; now, it’s Parko and Steph. Once again, the men’s and women’s surfing world champions call the Gold Coast home. Throw current ASP junior world title holder Jack Freestone into the mix and it’s a clean sweep for Snapper Rocks Boardriders Club, an unprecedented competitive hat-trick in the surfing world.
WHAT: The Longest Wave Coastal Walk
The Kingswood experience is... Rambunctious climactic bluesplosions of rocktabulous psychedelia!
WHEN & WHERE: Thursday 28 February and Friday 1 March, 9.30am (schools program); Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 March, 8.30am & 5pm (general public), Kirra Hill Community & Cultural Centre TICKETS: $10 (adult), $5 (child) bleachfestival.com.au
For Cooly kids Joel Parkinson and Stephanie Gilmore, their respective journeys to the 2012 ASP crown took on vastly different routes. Parko was taken all the way to the heaving reef of The Banzai Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore by his main rival Kelly Slater before the 31-year-old won the event in a dramatic finale, securing his first ever world title. Meanwhile, ‘Happy’ Gilmore sealed her fifth victory in six years in Biarritz, France with an event still in hand.
WHEN & WHERE: Saturday 2 March, Coolangatta Hotel (with Violent Soho, The Medics, Woe & Flutter and Blonde Bear) How are surf culture and music intertwined do you think? I have no idea, but I guess like any other culture there’s some form of music or sound that’s married to it. Tell us about the band’s surfing prowess... I don’t really know too much about the surf scene, but it seems the people in the scene are very passionate. To them it’s an art form. I’ve been talking to a young kid by the name of Dillon Nikolai – a young kid starting up his own line, Divine Bodyboards – about his passion for the scene. He reminds me a lot of us when we first started.
With these victories, the Gold Coast has once again become the beating heart of the surfing universe. Riding the waves isn’t merely a pastime if you grow up on the Sunshine Strip; it’s a way of life and runs blood deep for many. And why wouldn’t it? The GC is a veritable playground for all things ocean. Face east and you’ll find world-class breaks up and down the coastline. From Duranbah and Snapper Rocks through Currumbin Alley and Burleigh Point; Nobby Beach all the way to Narrowneck, The Spit and South Straddie. There is no shortage of point, beach and (artificial) reef breaks to keep surfers busy 365 days a year, so it’s no wonder our professional crop makes up the finest on the planet.
What’s your history with the Gold Coast? We nearly didn’t make it to a show in Cooly one day – the three non-surfers, including myself, got swept out in a rip. These three legends who I remember well – Charlie, John and Frank – came up behind us with their long boards and saved the day. And that was that.
This art will tie in with The Longest Wave Coastal Walk, a stimulating guided tour of the area where Harvey’s ride took place. With Coolangatta surfing identities, artists and musicians assisting the storytelling, the history and folklore of one of the most colourful parts of the Gold Coast will be brought to life.
LOON LAKE Simon Nolan – guitar/vocals Why does your music channel the vibes of the beach? We all like to surf so that probably finds itself seeping into our music. Sam has stated previously that three songs he really enjoyed writing happened directly after good surfs. There is something in that isn’t there? Maybe if we surfed more there would be more hits! How are surf and musical culture intertwined? You only have to watch surf movies to see and hear how much the soundtrack plays a significant role. The surf has long been iconically linked to music – take a band like The Beach Boys. Their sound is synonymous with surfing and I don’t think one of them even surfed [Ed’s note: Dennis Wilson surfed a bit].
What are the biggest positives from your second record Pocket Full Of Dreams? I would have to say how supportive our fans have been. We worked hard on this album and the great feedback we’ve been getting from fans and media is a blessing. That’s priceless. What’s your history with the Gold Coast? Sunshine all around and amazing beaches. Looking forward to playing this gig and experiencing more of Gold Coast. The Diafrix experience is: A feel-good high-energy experience. We like to think that each time we play we’re having a party! WHEN & WHERE: Saturday 23 February, Bleach* Festival Hip Hop Party, Coolangatta Hotel (with Urthboy and Seven)
The focal point for the 2013 Bleach* Festival is The Longest Wave, a conceptual journey with themes drawn from the legendary Super Bank ride of Damon Harvey, which took the local surfer from Snapper Rocks north to Kirra in autumn 2002, his ride, just shy of 2km, regarded as one of the longest ever ridden in the ocean. Long relegated to the annals of history, surf author Tim Baker and Festival Director Louise Bezzina have returned to the legend and worked together to add a whole new dimension to the tale. The Longest Wave Historical Photographic Exhibition sees Baker and curator Michael Aird blend newspaper and library images, treasured family album memories and video interviews with Harvey, Joel Parkinson and more, all examining the history of the Super Bank area. This free art display runs from Saturday 23 February to Sunday 3 March at Kirra Hill Community & Cultural Centre.
How is the debut record coming along? It’s coming along nicely; we’ve just finished recording the first single. We’ve written a bunch of new songs which we’re happy with and just need to keep working hard. I really hope we can have it out towards the end of this year. What’s your history with the Gold Coast? Sam lived there and returns most years to sign write the GC 600. He really loves surfing at South Straddie. We’ve all had our family fun park holidays there; it’s what you do as an Australian. I reckon it would be hard to top a day at Wet’n’Wild. The Loon Lake experience is: A shitload of guitars. WHEN & WHERE: Friday 22 February, Coolangatta Hotel (with Oh Mercy and Oceanics)
DIAFRIX MoMO – MC/vocals/producer Where have your summertime sounds stemmed from? That was a cold winter, we couldn’t wait for summer. But more so that was the mood we were in while working our LP so it channelled through the music.
44 • For more news/announcements go to themusic.com.au/news
Like any wave rolling through the Pacific, the Bleach* Festival unfortunately but inevitably has to conclude. The finale washing up on the Snapper Rocks’ shore comes in the way of the Last Wave, an evening event where music and cinema combine in spectacular fashion. After earning his stripes as the heart and soul of much loved coastal roots collective Beautiful Girls, Mat McHugh is now standing on his own two feet. Backed by the tight grooves of The Seperatista Sound System, the Sydney songwriter will be delivering raw and honest jams on stage, no doubt channel the surrounding beauty of the southerly Queensland tip and the ocean that he holds so dear.
Tell us about the band’s surfing prowess... We all enjoy it a lot. I wouldn’t say we are rippers or chargers or anything, but it’s our favourite pastime. We all try and surf every spare moment we have. I love the whole experience of it: the water, hanging out with mates and enjoying the outdoors. It’s healthy.
THE LONGEST WAVE
LAST WAVE
KINGSWOOD Fergus Linacre – vocals How do Kingswood tie in with summertime vibes? We spent most of last year on the road in our wonderful van affectionately known as Conny, driving around the country listening to great music, and although we never pump our own tunes inside Conny (well maybe Justin would), I’m sure our music would be great for a drive along the coast. Talk about the connection between music and the surf... The surf and the beach towns always have good vibes. People are there to relax, be free and party. What better nest is there for music to thrive? Tell us about the band’s surfing prowess... Mango is the only one of us who can surf. He is always up early and off to the
Following McHugh will be the world premiere launch of Spirit Of Akasha, a new film and soundtrack created to celebrate the iconic gamechanging surf film Morning Of The Earth. The new movie features local world-beaters like Stephanie Gilmore and Mick Fanning, and documents a time when perfection was gliding on a single fin. Relax and enjoy a 40-minute preview screening with musical accompaniment courtesy of filmmaker Andrew Kidman and The Windy Hills. As well as toasting the concluding Bleach* Festival, the evening is also a celebration to mark the beginning of the Quiksilver Pro, with Novocastrian surf hero Matt Hoy lined-up to deliver The Hoy Show. The everentertaining Hoyo will be holding court, conducting interviews with your favourite surfers, musicians and some special guests that the big man has roped in. So come together, celebrate Gold Coast wave culture and let’s make this one a night to remember! WHAT: Bleach* Last Wave WHEN & WHERE: Sunday 3 March, The Quiksilver Pro Surfers Deck, Snapper Rocks TICKETS: $40+BF: bleachfestival.com.au