Rev your engines for the most thrilling blast from the past! Cooly Rocks On is bringing five days of rock ‘n’ roll energyand vintage aesthetic to the Gold Coast!
This nostalgic retro fest brings toe-tappin’, hip-shakin’ energy, with a chrome-coated program chock-full of amazing events and activities, most of them free!
What to expect
Across five amazing days, the iconic Show ‘N’ Shine parade will line the streets with over 900 stunning classic cars, from hot rods to vintage wonders. And, at night, Marine Parade will light up with the purring of engines and the gleam of chrome, with cars to rival Greased Lightnin’ in Saturday Night Car Cruise. If you want a closer look, though, Kustomville will showcase the best of lowbrow art, retro culture and Kustom Kulture.
But possibly the greatest highlight of the whole festival is the music: with an unbeatable mix of rockabilly, swing, and rock ‘n’ roll, from some of Australia’s best retro and tribute acts, you’ll be on your feet the whole time!
From the raw early rock, blues and roots of Bang! Bang!, Ezra Lee’s electrifying boogie woogie piano, and tributes like Tusk – The Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show, The Bee Gees Revival Tribute Show, The Queen Rhapsody Tribute Show and The Joe Cocker Express Tribute Show, the line-up will keep your hips a-shakin’ all festival long.
Speaking of hips, the world’s most famous hips will also make an appearance, with the preliminary rounds of the internationally recognised Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest happening during the festival.
The winner of this sequin-clad, big-haired competition will have plenty to say “thank you, thank you very much” for, as they will win a place at the legendary Elvis Week in Memphis!
And on top of that, there’s all the lifestyle events, such as the Pin-up Pageant, where you can admire retro fashion, vintage glamour, and elaborate hairstyles. If you want to participate in the festival yourself, swing by the Moonlight Swing Dance and dance the night away, or find a vintage one-of-a-kind treasure at one of the amazing markets!
Practical information
Cooly Rocks On will take place from Wednesday, June 3 to Sunday, June 7.
You can see the full program here.
The festival is free to attend, but some of the events are ticketed. You can get your tickets here.
📍Coolangatta