The ANZAC Day Australian Rock Tribute Festival at The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel, promises to be a captivating homage to four legendary Australian bands - INXS, Cold Chisel, the Divinyls and AC/DC.

Featuring local favourite, Dellacoma Rio who will be channelling the spirit of INXS, Adam Spizzo who is from the High Voltage Show, Richard Champion who sings with Filthy Animals and is an ex-AFL football legend, and Tara Graham from Captain Thunderbolt Band and the All About Gwen Tribute. 

With this all-star cast of performers this is a rock-tacular weekend to put in your calendar and it’s all live, loud and totally free at your favourite local.

In an exclusive interview, we caught up with the Australian INXS show’s lead singer Dellacoma Rio, who will be front and centre as he embodies the essence of INXS's Michael Hutchence.

Dell also fronts his own band called Dellacoma Rio, and he will be bringing the Festival of Rock to a close on the Sunday by performing his original music, with some of his favourite covers sure to be included.

The rest of his band are flying up from Melbourne for the event and to celebrate what is expected to be an incredible weekend of rock.

Dell's journey into music was deeply rooted in his upbringing, with a familial passion for singing. Despite initially exploring acting during his time in the US, he ultimately gravitated towards performing and singing.

It wasn't until his mid-twenties that Dell decided to pursue music professionally.

Dell said, “it’s something that’s just always been in my blood”.

“The band was born out of a belief and an inner knowing that I wasn’t done playing music yet.”

For Dell, paying homage to INXS comes as a natural progression, encouraged by audiences, both in the industry as well as regular punters over the years who would often point out a resemblance between him and Michael Hutchence.

Dell says it can be challenging from the standpoint that “everyone has a preconceived notion of who the legendary performer Michael was”, however, Dell says he finds freedom in helping people unlock memories through this music, or from when they were watching the original band back in the day.

“It’s about paying tribute to the music and the legacy that he left behind for audiences to enjoy,” he remarked.

The tribute shows often have audiences in tears as they reconnect with the timeless melodies of INXS. Through the immersive experience of live performances, Dell and his band transport listeners back in time, capturing the essence of the original band's heyday.

Dell is looking forward to showcasing the INXS Tribute Show alongside other legendary tribute acts over the four-day festival.

Get ready for an action-packed event which includes four days of entertainment, beginning with the ANZAC Day Australia Rock Tribute Festival, followed by Cold Chisel and ACDC on the Friday, and then INXS and the Divinyls on Saturday and culminating with the Dellacoma Rio show on the Sunday.

FOUR DAYS OF AUSSIE ROCK!

WHAT: Australia Rock Tribute Festival
WHEN: ANZAC Day Thursday 25th April – 12 Noon till 6pm

WHAT: Cold Chisel vs AC/DC
WHEN: Friday 26th April, 2PM – 5.30PM

WHAT: INXS vs DIVINYLS
WHEN: Saturday 27th April 2pm-5.30pm

WHAT: Dellacoma
WHEN:  Sunday 28th April, 2pm–5.30pm

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At the Airlie Beach Hotel, next weekend, get transported back to the 70’s with The Australian Eagles Show.

Usually playing in front of sold-out theatres, the Airlie Beach Hotel is extremely lucky to have this rocking act perform live from its bar-top stage.

Everyone in town is invited to come on down and enjoy this unforgettable show for free!

The group have travelled Australia-wide and are often called the country’s most authentic Eagles experience.

As part of their ‘Life in the Fast Lane’ tour, Airlie Beach Hotel is thrilled to host them and are excited for patrons to ‘Take It Easy’.

Whether that’s sitting back with a wine, beer or a ‘Tequila Sunrise’.

It’s a classic for Eagles fans of any age and it can’t be missed.

Founding member, Shayne Browne is on lead vocals and guitar, the heart of the band that leads us into belting out the lyrics with him.

Michael Thompson is beside the founder and on vocals and guitar. He knows just when to belt out, and when to mellow the tune away.

Next up is Paul Kerin, on guitar and vocals as well, he dominates with beats, and they hit just right.

Beside him is Colin Grimley, on drums and vocals. Keeping the boys in check and on beat, Colin is sure to be a hidden gem in the music.

Jason Chandler brings the rhythmic beats of the bass guitar, the steady streams of music that take the audience to new places.

With authentic reproductions, and intimate performances, you will be transported to a jampacked Eagles show in the 70s, with the swaying soft rock music just washing over you.

At the free two-hour show you’ll hear some classic Eagles hits from, ‘Take It Easy’, to ‘One Of These Nights’, to the much loved and widely know ‘Hotel California’.

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What: The Australian Eagles Show

Where: The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel

When: Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 April, 2pm-5:30pm

Tickets: Completely free, but reserving a table is recommended

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Photos supplied

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Inspector Sun and the Curse of the Black Widow
Spider Inspector Sun boards what seems to be normal plane for a much-needed vacation, but when a millionaire receives a threat for his life, Sun is back in action. Trapped in a web of lies, Sun must find the offender before it’s too late.

Running Time: 88 minutes
Price: $10-$12.50

Peter Rabbit 2
In an Easter Sunday special screening catch Peter Rabbit in his second big screen adventure. Peter now has a family, but he can’t help falling back into his mischievous ways. Peter adventures out of the garden and finds himself in a world where mischief is appreciated, but when his family risk everything to come looking for him, he must decide what type of rabbit he wants to be.

Running Time: 93 minutes
Price: $5

Kung Fu Panda 4
It’s been eight years since we last saw Po the Dragon Warrior on our screens. In that time, he has defeated legendary villains and saved countless civilians. In this adventure, Po is set to become the new spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace but can he do it before he chooses his Dragon Warrior successor?

Running Time: TBC
Price: $10-$12.50

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Close off your school holidays in style with a special child friendly Come and Try Golf Day which is open to all families across the region.

This event is the first time Cannonvale State School P&C and Whitsunday Green have come together to create a special day of this type, and P&C President, Sabrina Mitchell, says she is hoping it could become annual.

All proceeds from the event are directed straight back into Cannonvale State School and will be used to purchase E reader pens.

These clever devises help children with dyslexia or other learning difficulties understand what they have written, as the pen speaks the written words out loud.

Any additional money raised will be given to the school sports department and used to buy new equipment for all the children to enjoy.

During the day, families and other groups are welcome to sign-up to the Ambrose Competition in order to be in the running for some terrific prizes.

There will also be trophies and prizes for participants placed in first, second or third place.

KC’s Bar and Grill are a major sponsor of the event and will be on-site with food and drink throughout the day.

There will also be live entertainment over lunch.

A range of raffle prizes are there to be won, with some lucky winners receiving meat trays by Master Butchers and speciality platters from Fishi Seafood.

For those not playing golf, there is free face painting throughout the day, and the bar is also open for food and drinks.

If you wish to become an event sponsor please contact Sabrina through the school.

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What: Come & Try Golf Fun Day
Where: Whitsunday Green Club
When: Sunday 14 April

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Families from across the region are invited to the Reef Gateway Hotel in Cannonvale this Easter Monday for a fun and interactive night of bingo where everyone, whether they be big or small, will have the chance to get involved.

Airlie Beach Bingo Whitsundays and Cannonvale State School P&C welcome you to this special Easter Family Bingo event, with a grand prize of $500, this is a bingo night that cannot be missed.

There will also be a mega raffle on the evening.

For the past 11 years Airlie Beach Bingo Whitsundays has been hosting fun evenings like this, so you know you’ll be in good hands and are guaranteed some fantastic family fun.

Organiser Sabrina Mitchell expressed that this is an event for the entire family and said that there may even be an appearance by the Easter Bunny who will be leaving gifts.

“I’m sure the Easter Bunny will leave presents and choccies,” she said.

The Reef Gateway is also home to two playgrounds which are the perfect way for kids to expend their energy.

They can head to the indoor soft play centre or outside to the fully enclosed play park, both are located safely within the complex and close to the bistro area.

At this special event, families are encouraged to get in the Easter spirit and dress up for the evening.

There will also be an Easter Bonnet competition.

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What: Easter Family Bingo

Where: Reef Gateway Hotel

When: Monday 1 April
 6:30pm-8:30pm

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From singing in a church to singing on stage, homegrown Central Queensland talent Mackenzie May is making her way up in the music arts world at just seventeen years old as she released her first debut single ‘Little Things’ on Friday, the 1st of March.

Mackenzie wrote the bittersweet song back in July last year at the junior academy of country music in Tamworth, where she co-wrote the song with Sarah Buckley from ‘The Buckleys.’

Mackenzie says she wrote the song about the small joys in life, acknowledging the little things as she memorises the minor, but significant moments her close friends will leave behind after they move onto university and into a new life outside of their hometown.

“A lot of my friends are moving away to uni, the song is about little things in life that get left behind and the little things that are big things to me.”

Growing up, Mackenzie would often sing with her pop. As her passion for singing developed over the years of her youth, she began singing for her local church, which expanded into her performing her first ever open mic at just thirteen-years-old. At fifteen, she then realised she would be able to make a career out of her harmonic vocal cords and acoustic guitar skills.

“Pop used to sing, I used to sit on his lap and sing with him.

“I think I was about twelve years old when I started singing in church. When I was thirteen, I did my first ever proper open mic.

“Then when I was about fifteen that’s when I realised, I could probably make a career out of this.”

Mackenzie shared her thoughts on exploring other musical genres, commenting: “Country music is definitely my genre; I don’t think I could go down any other pathway.”

She won the award for Novice Songwriter of the year in January 2024 at the Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) where she was given the opportunity to write another upcoming song in April.

“I’m going down to Hervey Bay in April to produce my second song so I’m really looking forward to that.”

“I’ll have to make an appearance up in Mackay sometime soon,” she says.

With a passion for singing mixed with her friendly charm, she will make a great artist throughout Central Queensland. Mackay looks forward to welcoming Mackenzie May in the near future.

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Seventeen-year-old country singer-songwriter Mackenzie May. Photo supplied

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This Easter long weekend, head to Airlie Beach Hotel to catch some X Factor action with Andrew Wishart, star of the 2011 series.

Against the odds and as the crowd favourite, Andrew made it to the Grand Final of X-Factor Australia; to be placed runner-up in the series, missing out on winning by 1 per cent of the national vote.

Before his X Factor success Andrew worked as a sales manager for 30 years but that all changed when his children made him audition for X Factor Australia.

Despite being away from his family throughout X Factor he thoroughly enjoyed it, he added that it was pretty cool making it that far and being on national television, watched by an audience of millions.

Andrew beat more than 30,000 hopefuls to be Runner Up on the show and has since used his fame to continue the success.

Since X Factor, Andrew has started doing music full time and has been performing gigs and shows Australia wide and even playing internationally.

He has performed with the likes of Kylie Minogue, Michael Bolton, George Benson, Stevie Nicks, Delta Goodrem, Darryl Braithwaite, Adam Thompson, Glenn Shorrock, Ross Wilson, Brian Cadd, and many more

He loves performing, and although he doesn’t have a favourite song as such, he said anything with “good messages and good vocals, something people to sing along to.”

Armed with little more than his acoustic guitar and his powerfully unique voice, Andrew possesses a resonance in his performances that transcends generations.

Andrew has visited the Whitsundays before and is looking forward to coming back, he loves the blue waters and weather.

When Andrew isn’t performing, he loves to read in his spare time.

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Last Song you listened to - We Close Our Eyes by Go West

‘Cracking song’

Favourite to perform - Dakota by Stereophonics

Favourite song - Collingwood Football song

Least favourite song - Carlton Football song

What: Andrew Wishart

When: Thursday 28 March 6.30pm – 9.30p

Friday 29 March 7pm – 10pm

Saturday 30 March 6pm – 8pm

Sunday 31 March 6:30pm to 9:30pm

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Where: The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel

Tickets: Absolutely free but It’s Recommended To Reserve A Table!

Photos Supplied

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The line-up for the 2024 Whitsundays Writers Festival continues to generate excitement with the addition of three highly-acclaimed authors.

The Whitsundays Writers Festival proudly expands its schedule of literary luminaries with the addition of three authors: Karina Kilmore, Melissa Ashley, and Jack Roney.

President Karen Jacobsen expressed her delight and excitement.

"We have built a substantial list of authors this year as we are focused on writing excellence," Karen commented.

"This Festival will be a joy for readers, writers, and thinkers."

Karina Kilmore, Chair of the Australian Crime Writers Association, brings a wealth of experience from her background in finance journalism and extensive literary contributions. Her crime fiction debut, Where the Truth Lies, has garnered critical acclaim and nominations for various awards, showcasing her prowess as a storyteller.

Award winning Queenslander, Dr Melissa Ashley, is known for her multifaceted talents as a writer, poet, and academic. She enriches the Festival line-up with her poetic sensibilities and historical insights. Her novel The Birdman's Wife, inspired by the life of Elizabeth Gould, reflects Melissa’s dedication to meticulous research and literary craftsmanship.

Queenslander Jack Roney, drawing from his remarkable 33-year career in law enforcement, infuses his crime fiction with unparalleled authenticity and gripping realism. As a former police officer turned full-time author, Jack’s novels offer readers an immersive experience into the gritty world of crime and investigation.

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WHAT: Whitsundays Writers Festival

WHEN: Friday, September 6, to Sunday, September 8, 2024

SUBSCRIBE: whitsundayswriters.com

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Highly hilarious and extremely popular English comedian Ross Noble is coming to the Proserpine Entertainment Centre this August.

Marking his 21st solo stand up tour, Noble is launching a bunch of fresh comedy with the ‘Jibber Jabber Jamboree’.

Audiences can expect Noble to display his expertise in improv and audience participation, guaranteed to get the audiences laughing in hysterics.

Noble’s Jibber Jabber Jamboree is taking him all around Australia, from Alice Springs, to Wollongong, Mackay, and Proserpine.

Throughout his career Noble has been nominated for and won awards and he has also become the biggest selling act at Edinburgh and Melbourne comedy festivals.  

Noble’s career fame came from his television appearances, in particular interviews, and his appearances on celebrity quiz shows.

In 2007 he was voted the 10th greatest stand-up comic on Channel 4’s 100 Greatest Stand-Ups.

Also in 2007, Noble toured around Australia on his motorbike, travelling more than 26,000 kilometres and filming it on the way. The show was later aired in 2009.

Noble has also ventured from comedy and has starred in films and plays.

In 2012, he made his film debut in the comedy horror movie ‘Stitches’, where he starred as Stitches, the killer clown.

In 2015 he made his musical theatre debut in The Producers and in 2018 was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for his performance in Mel Brooks Young Frankenstein musical in the West End.

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Melbourne’s own Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band is checking into Airlie Beach for a mammoth weekend of non-stop Creedence, which will leave us cross tie walking.

Ramble Tamble was born in 1989, from a need to celebrate the unforgettable beats of Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Still led by the three who started the band, Ramble Tamble encompasses the values that fuelled Creedence Clearwater Revival during their hay day.

Known for their impeccable stage presence, unbelievable recreation of the original sound and spot-on attention to detail, no Creedence fan will be disappointed with the calibre of this show.

With all band members having professionally toured international stages, this is sure to be a rock show like no other.

“Creedence undoubtedly changed the landscape of rock and roll forever in both the late sixties and early seventies,” Ramble Tamble front man Brendan Meyers explained.

“And cemented themselves into a commercial zenith whose legacy remains to this very day.”

Following this unbelievable legacy, Ramble Tamble invites audiences to just close your eyes and let the near prefect recreation of the classics wash over you on this weekend of non-stop rock tunes.

“It's a Creedence tribute that no die-hard Creedence fan would be disappointed with,” Brendan explained.

Sunday will be a special show, depicting and performing Creedence Clearwater Revival’s hottest album, Cosmo’s Factory, the band’s fifth studio album, with six of the 11 tracks charting in the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Ramble Tamble will also be sure to throw in key tracks from artists and bands that influenced these rockers, with their The Creedence Influence set list.

This commonly sold-out show will check into Airlie Beach for one powerful weekend, as part of their national tour across Australia.

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WHAT: Australian Creedence Show with Ramble Tamble
WHERE: The Pub, Airlie beach Hotel
WHEN: Saturday March 23 and Sunday March 24, from 2pm to 5.30pm
TICKETS: Absolutely Free! But Best To Reserve A Table

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Photos supplied

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The Easter Bunny is about to come hopping through our region with both children and chocolate-loving adults excited for his arrival.

To celebrate the Easter weekend, two of our favourite family-friendly locals are putting on special events which are sure to entertain the kids while giving the parents time to relax with a nice cool bevvy.

Reef Gateway Hotel has created a special event – the Easter Family Fun Weekend which is due to take place on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 March.

There will be free face-painting on Saturday from 11.30am and live music from 6pm that evening.

On Sunday kids eat free from 12pm, terms and conditions apply.

All-day dining is available throughout the weekend but please note: the venue will be closed on Easter Friday.

Bring the family to The Reef for a weekend of eating, face-painting and live music!

Meanwhile at the Jubilee Tavern there is more fun to be had over the Easter long weekend.

Face-painting will take place on Sunday from 12pm-3pm and the kids colouring competition will be drawn at 3pm.

The venue will be closed on good Friday but will re-open Saturday and Sunday for all day dining with kids eat free for Sunday lunch (terms and conditions apply).

Ellie Goulding, Senior Operations Manager Mackay and Whitsundays said she is really excited about Easter and is looking forward to seeing the community come along to enjoy the free activities at both venues.

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WHAT: Easter Long Weekend

WHERE: Jubilee Tavern
WHEN: 30-31 March

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WHAT: Easter Fun Weekend

WHERE: Reef Gateway Hotel

WHEN: 30-31 March

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