This year’s Coolangatta Christmas Carols will have a distinct World Music
flavour with the addition of the very first, Ethno Australia Concert.
December 2011 will be the first time Ethno comes to Australia, making its public debut at the Coolangatta Christmas Carols concert. Drawing participants from around the globe, Ethno is an open space for intercultural learning, friendship, and exchange. Folk musicians meet to teach each other, by ear, traditional folk songs from their cultures. Starting in Europe, Ethno has erupted in Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, England, Estonia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Sweden and Uganda. Ethno Australia is being co-ordinated by the Southern Gold Coast Music Hub, a project based at Southern Cross University’s Centre for Tourism, Leisure and Work.
“This year’s Coolangatta Christmas Carols will definitely be a unique event to not only spread yule-tide cheer but to also preview the various ethnic musical flavours that Southern Gold Coast Music Hub’s Ethno Australia program will be performing at Woodford Folk Festival” said Louise Bezzina, Connecting Southern Gold Coast’s Creative Producer of Events & Festivals.
Ms Bezzina has programmed the event to stand out from the normal flurry of local Carol’s events.
Ms Gail O’Neill, President of SGCCC, said “We are thrilled that the 2011 Coolangatta Christmas Carols is truly going to be a unique event, unlike any other Carols concert we have seen before. We encourage families to make an entire day of the event and experience the amazing talents of the Ethno artists, as well as the traditional Christmas Carols celebration.”
As always, all the family’s favourite carols will be performed and with song sheets for all who attend, this years Carols will be the best Christmas sing-along to be had anywhere on the Gold Coast. Coolangatta Surf Club will be selling refreshments on the day, while the local Coolangatta restaurants and food outlets feed the masses.
The music direction for the Carols will be led by the very talented Southern Gold Coast artist Nadia Sunde and feature local band The Lamplights and Kacey Patrick of Stringmansassy, alongside Michael Fix and Paul Burton.
Coolangatta Christmas Carols is a free event in Queen Elizabeth Park on the 18th December from 3pm and is presented by Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce, Connecting Southern Gold Coast, Southern Cross University, Southern Gold Coast Music Hub and Gold Coast City Council.
Location: Queen Elizabeth Park, Marine Pde Coolangatta
Event Date: 18th December 2011
Event Time: 3pm-4.30pm Ethno Australia Concert
5.30pm-7pm Christmas Carols Concert