Entertainment

Mackay Welcomes Pete Murray’s Exclusive Solo Acoustic Show

Mackay Welcomes Pete Murray’s Exclusive Solo Acoustic Show

Live music fans have much to anticipate as acclaimed Australian singer-songwriter Pete Murray brings his eagerly awaited new tour to Mackay for a single performance on Wednesday, 18 June, at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC). Murray’s most extensive tour to date will take him to numerous regional markets across Australia, many of which he has never previously visited, with a total of 56 shows scheduled throughout 2025. While Murray needs little introduction as one of

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Rhythm And The Reef 2025 Lineup Announced

Rhythm And The Reef 2025 Lineup Announced

Celebrating their 5-year anniversary, Rhythm and the Reef brings a 5-star lineup for the 2025 event – with presale tickets going live 4pm, May 28. Held in Mackay, Queensland, Rhythm and the Reef will play out over the August 22-23 weekend – including an exclusive VIP pre-party at McGuires Hotel on the Friday night, all ages music festival at Meadowlands Amphitheatre (Botanic Gardens) on the Saturday from 1-10pm and more to be announced. Thanks to Naming Rights Partner FMS Group and radio

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Event Guide 23 May

Event Guide 23 May

Friday 23rd May Mackay Outdoor Adventure Expo 8am The Mackay Expo returns in May 2025, promising three action-packed days as the region’s largest event of its kind. Featuring everything from caravans and 4x4s to camping gear, boats, and home improvement products, it’s a must for outdoor adventurers and home enthusiasts alike. With live demos, expert advice, and exclusive deals, it’s the ultimate showcase of lifestyle, leisure, and living. Mackay Showgrounds Crochet & Conversation 9am Jo

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Reality Optional: Auditions Open

Reality Optional: Auditions Open

Imagine living in a world where reality is constantly shifting – where the past and the present mix with the imagination, and paranoia creeps in. Based on a play by French writer Florian Zeller, The Father was released as a film in 2020, featuring Anthony Hopkins as an elderly father in the advanced stages of dementia. The film was nominated for six academy awards, as well as best actor (Hopkins) and best supporting actress (Olivia Colman). The stage play is now coming to Kucom Theatre i

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Mika rec

Dog Walk For Change

August 24, 2023

Help fight animal cruelty at the upcoming Million Paws Walk, Sunday May 28.

Million Paws Walk is an RSPCA initiative, raising funds and awareness for animal cruelty.

In this national event, almost 4,000 dogs and their owners have participated, with over $185 thousand raised to fight animal cruelty, funding over 5,000 days of shelter care for dogs in need.

The Whitsunday Marine Club has signed up for the challenge, calling for local dog-lovers to bring their pooch down to the Whitsunday Marine Club for a walk along the boardwalk to Cannonvale Beach, to help a good cause.

Keeping every member of the family happy, there will also be food vans, market stalls, raffles, and competitions following the walk, all supporting the RSCPA and Million Paws Walk cause.

Money raised will go towards funding community outreach programs, ending animal cruelty, and maintaining RSPCA shelters and care homes.

Registration is open, with the walk kicking off from 8am on Saturday, May 28.

WHAT: Million Paws Walk

WHERE: Whitsunday Marine Club

WHEN: Sunday, May 28, from 8am

REGISTRATION: millionpawswalk.com.au

Walk your dog and fight animal cruelty. Photo supplied

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“If We Screen It, They Will Come”: Movies At The PEC An Early Success

August 24, 2023

A growing audience of locals have enjoyed ‘the pictures’ at The Proserpine Entertainment Centre (PEC) over the first three months of the site’s cinema operations.

Movie screenings returned to Proserpine for the first time in almost four decades when The PEC officially launched its cinema arm on December 12, 2022 - the first-time relatively new releases played in Proserpine since the El Dorado Picture Theatre’s closure in 1984.

Manager at Proserpine Entertainment Centre, Kate Boyd, said the cinema has been a budding success, and is offering the Whitsunday town something extraordinarily special.

“To have a cinema, living in small town, it can be a huge thing,” Ms Boyd said.

“Having something else to do, to be able to get out, it has huge benefits. And people are coming more often, they’re realising that we’re back and functioning, that we have state of the art facilities, and a full front of house.”

With more support, The PEC hopes to receive newer releases from distributors.

Movie sessions have been held weekly - with a small break in February – on Sundays and Mondays and have included new releases and Nostalgia Screenings of films like Back to the Future, E.T., and The Goonies.

“It’s part of our plan to be continually trialling things, trying to give people what they ask for,” Ms Boyd said.

“What we’re seeing is a building of momentum that we’re hoping to continue.”

The Proserpine Entertainment Centre is building a budding audience of cinemagoers and hopes to continue the growth with more support from the town

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Local Markets Support Cancer Crusader

August 24, 2023

Just in time for Mother’s Day, head down to the Proserpine Community Markets (PCM) on Sunday, April 30, and grab some handmade goodies.

Taking place on the old St Catherine’s Campus, the Proserpine Community Markets is home to a diverse range of local and handmade stalls, with food vans galore, face painting, raffles, local buskers, and live music and so much more, always supporting a local charity or cause.

The upcoming markets, on Sunday, April 30, will be supporting local Proserpine mum, Jenn Johnson, a breast cancer battler.

Jenn is a 30-year-old single mother, and she was diagnosed with grade three breast cancer in her right breast and lymph nodes in late January, after finding a lump in her breast back in November.

Currently, Jenn is undergoing her second round of chemotherapy, and proceeds will go towards supporting her lengthy journey.

The upcoming market is a great opportunity to support a local family and also many small businesses in the region.

There will be a sun catcher making workshop with Whitsunday Creations, and a Mr Poppas Balloon making workshop and much more so make sure you have the markets on your radar for Sunday.

PCM is held quarterly and open for all local makers to participate in.

WHAT: Proserpine Community Markets

WHERE: 69 Marathon Street

WHEN: April 30, from 8.30am to 12.30pm

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Airlie Beach Hotel Or ‘Morrison Hotel’?

August 24, 2023

For two nights at the end of April, the poetic and eclectic sound of one of the biggest bands of all time will revive in two back-to-back tribute shows setting “the night on fire” at The Pub.

Unlocking The Doors, a mesmeric, hedonistic tribute to the provocative music of Jim Morrison and The Doors, will play on the Bar Top Stage at local’s favourite local on April 29 and 30 in two free shows.

The Airlie Beach Hotel is bringing one of Australia’s most authentic tribute shows to audiences for a second year running – what The Pub is calling a ‘Full Circle’ return of The Doors mayhem and psychedelic ‘60s aura.

The renowned tribute runs through a select repertoire of the Rock Hall of Famer’s 50-year history, right back to their self-titled debut album up to the post-Jim Morrison years of An American Prayer, all for free at the Airlie Beach Hotel.

Unlocking The Doors is led by Wollongong musician Richie Mikic, a long-time apostle of the American-band, who delivers a heartfelt performance in channelling the mystical command once held by the man at the iconic heart of the band – Jim Morrison.

“We take people back in time to when ‘The Lizard King’ ruled,” Richie said.

“Showing people how brilliant The Doors were and how intoxicating Jim Morrison was on stage drives us.”

Formed in Wollongong, the tribute band has travelled across the country to an ever-growing legion of fans and critical acclaim, with each member expertly reproducing the unique sound.

“Capturing the shamanistic presence of Jim Morrison, the hypnotic bass lines and swirling keys of Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger’s legato blues inspired guitar modality and John Densmore eclectic fusion of jazz, rock and Latin drumbeats, is our absolute pleasure,” Richie said.

There’s Sandy on organ and keyboard bass, who holds the key to reproducing the authentic live sound of Ray Manzarek. While fellow band-member Mick draws on his classical guitar and rock background to play his Gibson SG standard in finger-picking style to emulate Robbie Krieger’s beautiful legato tone.

And completing the line-up on drums is Lee, who unlocks John Densmore’s original style, providing the backbeat so vital when paying tribute to their signature melodies.

Unlocking the Doors reprise the energy from the band’s catalogue of classics - ‘People Are Strange’, ‘Break On Through (To The Other Side)’, ‘Riders On The Storm’ – and their back catalogue like ‘Spanish Caravan’ and ‘Hyacinth House’.

It’s a celebration of the band which marked an age when the American rock underground of the ‘60s came crashing into the mainstream. One which changed music forever – and it will have you singing “I’d really like to stay here all night”.

What: Unlocking The Doors

When: Saturday and Sunday, April 29 and April 30, 2.00pm to 5.30pm both days

Where: The Airlie Beach Hotel

The Airlie Beach Hotel is bringing back one of its favourite shows, Unlocking The Doors, a tribute to one of America’s biggest bands

Richie Mikic takes on the role of Jim Morrison in this revival show for the ages coming to the Whitsundays in late April

Unlocking The Doors is a perfect capsulation of the energy of the band that changed music forever

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The Super Mario Bros. Movie

August 24, 2023

To the outsider – that being anyone who hasn’t played a thousand hours of Super Mario Galaxy 2, at least - nothing in The Super Mario Bros. Movie makes any sense. Is that a problem for mainstream audiences? Apparently not.

It has scored the most successful global opening ever for an animated film. I suppose everyone knows Nintendo, everyone knows Mario - and especially kids know Mario. But, although it’s been a financial success, have directors Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath made a filmic success? Can anyone turn to anyone else in their plush cinema seats and say: “You know that Mario thing? Pretty darn good in a filmmaking sense.”

Certainly, The Super Mario Bros. Movie has the look down pat. If you were to bring in your handheld Nintendo DS to the theatre, flick your eyes from the small screen to the big and back, you’d be impressed by the acuity.

If it looks like a Mario, jumps like a Mario… does it quack like a Mario?  It might be a Mario if it does. On voice performances, the internet was broiling with sarcasm when Chris Pratt was announced as voicing the eponymous character – but the Jurassic Park and Marvel star has managed to portray Mario in surprising fashion; he’s genuinely done a stand-up job.

And so do the rest of the cast: Jack Black as chief antagonist Bowser, comedian Charlie Day as Luigi, and Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong. Audiences seem to have been asking for a joyful adaptation with references galore, which is what The Super Mario Bros. Movie delivers. It may lack in a meaningful thematic throughline, but it’s Mario, after all – we’re not here for Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite.

It’s fun. Let’s hope for a bit more than just fun next time – let’s get Mario doing an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House or something insane like that. I’d pay to see it.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is playing now at the Bowen Summergarden Cinema.

Review by Declan Durrant

Let’s-a-go! Mario and Luigi hit the big screen in The Super Mario Bros. Movie

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Bourbon-Soaked Blues Live, Juke Joint comes to Proserpine Golf Club

August 24, 2023

Describing their sound as ‘bourbon-soaked blues’, it is not hard to see the appeal of Juke Joint’s music.

With an eclectic sound and energetic stage presence, Juke Joint performs with music that hits right on a barmy Wednesday Autumn afternoon.

Juke Joint will be on stage 6:30pm, Wednesday April 26, at the Proserpine Golf Club, starting the first leg of their North Queensland Tour.

Darren Griffis leads the charge, on lead guitar and vocals, with Gary Schieve on drums, Roy Bentham on guitar, banjo and slide guitar, and Gary Graham on bass and the harmonica.

This rag-tag range of instruments lends itself to a Southern American blues inspiration, with Gary Graham often playing the bass and harmonica at the same time.

Headlining the show will be their most recent release, Swivel Neck Boy, plus other original music, and everything from blues to classical rock and funk.

The Club looks forward to promoting more events in the future, as well as promoting their facilities for private functions. Affordable and inviting function facilities, with perfect photo opportunity locations on the beautiful Golf course.

Juke Joint will be performing at the Clubhouse courtyard, overlooking the course in the cool twilight of the evening.

Juke Joint is open for all ages, with tickets only $10, available at the door, at Whitsunday Computers and Stationery and online at Try booking.  A curtesy bus is available, ring 049 834 0848 to organise pick up.

WHAT: Juke Joint – Bourbon Soaked Blues – North Queensland Tour

WHERE: Proserpine Golf Club

WHEN: Wednesday, April 26, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm

TICKETS: trybooking.com

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Event Guide

August 24, 2023

Friday 14 April

Reece Mastin and Jonte at The Metropolitan

Friday, 7:30pm

Celebrating his 10-year anniversary X-Factor winner, Reece Mastin, is in Mackay, performing at The Metropolitan. Mackay local artist, Jonte, will be supporting Reece, with a 45-minute opening. Reece will hit the stage, performing all his best hits from 9pm, making this a night not to miss. Tickets $39.90. Doors open at 7:30pm.

The Metropolitan Hotel Mackay

Saturday 15 April

Sarina 4B Rodeo

Saturday, 3:00pm

The annual Sarina Rodeo is back for 2023 and has fun for the whole family, including Open Bull Ride, Open Saddle Bronc, Open Bareback, and Pee Wee Barrel Race. Gates open at 3pm.

Sarina Showgrounds

Learn2Run 5k

Saturday, 5:45am

Want to learn to run 5 kilometres in 13 weeks? This program will run through core running skills to avoid injury and let you enjoy running with a group. The first Saturday of the month will start at Mantra Mackay Carpark and every other Saturday will start from Laffos Caneland. Start time is strictly 5:45am every Saturday. Tuesday and Thursday are from City Fitness at 5:30am sharp.

Mantra Mackay Carpark

Elvis Presley Tribute Show

Saturday, 7:15pm

All Elvis Presley fans, heads up! Elvis will be performing at the Souths Leagues Club Mackay this Saturday, performing all his best hits. General admission $35, with doors opening from 7:15pm.

South Leagues Club Mackay

Tuesday 18 April

BMA Kidspace

Tuesday, 10:00am to 12:12pm

Join local artists and performers for creative art activities for toddlers and their parents. Activities include creative play, live musical entertainment and so much more.

Artspace Mackay

Imagine Kids Wellbeing Program

Tuesday, 4:00pm to 5:00pm

Imagine Kids is a wellbeing program for children, aged 5 to 9, that builds confidence, healthy self-esteem, and emotional resilience in creative, fun, and engaging classes. The Term 2 program includes mindfulness, managing big emotions, and music and dress up. $180 per child per term, and with limited spaces, contact Kylee on krystallinekreations111@gmail.com.

The Neighbourhood Hub, South Mackay

Wednesday 19 April

Night Nav MapRun

Wednesday, 5:30pm to 6:30pm

Get involved with this evening running event. For all ages and fitness levels, meet at John Breen Park and walk, jog, or run through local parks and streets in the cool of the evening. BYO: MapRunn6 app, water bottle, footwear, and a torch or head lamp. $5 per person or $12 per family. To register, email 21degreessouth@gmail.com with your name, contact number and number of participates in your team.

John Breen Park, Mackay

Thursday 20 April

Gin Appreciation

Thursday, 6:30pm

If gin is your drink of choice this is one event you don't want to miss. The evening will feature 5 gin tastings with a 3-course menu designed by The Dispensary head chef, Alex.

The Dispensary Mackay

Cocktails and Karaoke

Every Thursday, 8:00pm to 11:45pm

Come on down for cocktails and karaoke, with the best amateur singers of Mackay showing their stuff. This night is always a hit with locals!

Empire Alternacade and Events Mackay

Reece Mastin

Elvis

BMA Kidspace

Sarina Rodeo

Gin Appreciation

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The Easter Bunny Came To The Wake House

August 24, 2023

Easter eggs could be found scattered around Lake Poco for Wake House Australia's annual Family Easter Egg Hunt.

Dozens of children walked away with sugar highs, sticky fingers and chocolate-covered mouths, with all money raised going directly to local charity All Abilities Inc - Summer House Mackay.

A beautiful day of wakeboarding ensued as the sun shined on a stunning Easter Sunday.

Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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A Pop Orchestral Masterpiece With Karen Jacobsen

August 24, 2023

Marking a moment in history, the upcoming performance of the Misogyny Opus at the MECC later this month is a world premiere of an important pop orchestral piece, written and delivered by local musician Karen Jacobsen.

It was August 2021, when Karen was watching Ms Represnted on television and inspiration hit her “like a bolt from the blue”.

The show was hosted by Annabel Crabb and had been detailing the history of Australian women in politics.

When Julia Gillard’s famous Misogyny Speech was recounted, the words deeply impacted Karen, and she found herself racing to the computer.

“There was an urgency in what I was doing,” said Karen.

“I started to set the speech to music word for word – I put my hands to the keyboard and the music was all there.”

“Over 10 years has passed since the iconic speech by the 27th Prime Minister of Australia and as predicted by those attending parliament that day, history was made.

“Julia Gillard’s justifiable anger at the shocking misogyny she had experienced during her leadership, exploded into a speech which has survived the test of time.”

When she started writing the orchestral piece two years ago, Karen already knew that the project was bigger than her and had the potential to start conversations all over the world.

Engaging with famous and inspiring women right across Australia, Karen put faces to the passionate words within the music by filming a music video.

The result was an impressively powerful visual that heightened the important message she was driven to deliver.

“Casual sexism is a constant,” said Karen.

“Until every woman is safe in their own home, workplace and walking down the street, we do not have equality.”

Karen, who is also known as the voice of Siri, was born and raised in Mackay.

She moved to America to launch her music career and spent many years successfully performing in the New York music scene.

At the onset of COVID, Karen moved back to the region with her husband and their teenage son.

Since then, she has been dedicating herself to furthering the local cultural offering.

“To have the opportunity to do a world premiere of an original orchestral work is a big moment for the arts in Mackay and shows how much the local arts and culture seen has grown,” she said.

“The audience will experience the entire speech for an hour-long performance.”

The Premiere of the Misogyny Opus will take place at the MECC on the April 28 and 29.

The pop orchestral masterpiece is 55 minutes, split into 18 sections.

Karen’s stunning vocals will be accompanied by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in this ground-breaking performance that is expected to create conversations all over the world.

“Let’s get behind this momentous occasion,” said Karen.

“Share the message of the importance of equality, while experiencing an exceptional original musical work in concert.”

WHAT: The Misogyny Opus

WHERE: The MECC

WHEN: April 28-29

Karen Jacobsen will perform her pop orchestral masterpiece at the MECC

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One Night In Vegas

August 24, 2023

The sensational Mark Anthony is back by popular demand, bringing his enthralling Elvis experience to the MECC in May.

The internationally renowned performer, who has been regarded as the very best Elvis Presley Tribute artist in the world today, will transport you to that very time when Elvis Presley ruled the world and dominated the record charts.

With his unique raw energy, dynamic voice and sensational stage presence, Mr Anthony recreates the Elvis experience with unbelievable accuracy, taking audiences back to the 50s.

All the glamour, all the costumes, all the greatest hits, all on one big night to remember as “The Chosen One” Mr Anthony takes you on a journey with a full live band to prove why Elvis Presley was known as The White King Of Rock n Roll.

“Mark Anthony is one of today’s best Elvis Tribute artists,” said Joe Moscheo of The Imperials, the band who toured with Elvis from 1969 to 1972 and recorded two Gospel albums with him.

“It’s fun for me to watch Mark perform, because he reminds me, so much, of my old friend Elvis Presley – the Greatest Entertainer this world has ever known!

“Mark’s show pays tribute to Elvis for all the right reasons, and brings back memories of when we were there on stage with the Man Himself!

“Keep up the great work Mark… your friend in Nashville.”

WHAT: Elvis – One Night In Vegas

WHEN: Friday, March 5 from 7:30pm

WHERE: MECC

TICKETS: mecc.com.au

Experience what it would have been like to see Elvis Presley live in concert. Photo supplied: Ben Maiorana Entertainment

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Musical Festival Announces First Line-Up

August 24, 2023

Music lovers across the region will be excited to discover that the first line-up for this year’s Airlie Beach Festival of Music has been announced.

Now in its 11th year, the award-winning festival will take place at the Whitsunday Sailing Club from November 9-12.

The four-day festival extravaganza will feature some new and exciting acts but will also include some of the crowd favourites who have been invited back to perform.

The first release for 2023 sees the announcement of Ian Moss, Frenzal Rhomb, The Superjesus and the Pierce Brothers.

Ian Moss is respected as one of Australia’s most iconic musicians, delivering an unforgettable sound, he is a talented soloist on guitar with a silken voice, ringing with clarity and resonating with pure soul.

Meanwhile, Frenzal Rhomb formed in the early nineties and has gone on to bless stages everywhere over countless world tours where they performed alongside the likes of NOFX and Nickleback.

Next up, are twin brothers Jack and Patrick Pierce who are returning to the festival for a second year.

The Pierce Brothers are a high-energy duo who have captivated festival goers and headlined sold-out venues the world over, including most recently a sold-out European and UK tour in 2022.

The Superjesus are also returning this year - one of Australia’s most respected rock outfits, this band won three ARIA Awards and released three platinum albums.

Frontwoman, Sarah Mcleod, will also be the festival ambassador for the second year in a row.

Completing the first line-up announcement for 2023 are festival favourite Matty Rogers, last year's Passport to Airlie winners Perry Street Park and Buskers by the Lake winner Tanya George.

WHAT: Airlie Beach Festival of Music

WHERE: Whitsunday Sailing Club

WHEN: November 9-11

TICKETS: airliebeachfestivalofmusic.com.au

Ian Moss will be performing at the Airlie Beach Festival of Music this year. Photo supplied

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Country’s Top Comedian Coming To Your Favourite Local

August 24, 2023

One of Australia’s funniest comedians is coming to The Pub for a gut-busting session of incisive and derisive, cynical, and sardonic comedy at the beginning of next month.

Lawrence Mooney – renowned Aussie stand-up comic, radio broadcaster, and television host – will perform at The Airlie Beach Hotel in a once-in-a-lifetime show on Wednesday, May 3.

The seasoned stage performer has regularly toured the country to packed houses, been nominated for The Barry Award at The Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and won Best Show at The Sydney Comedy Festival, as well as being named as Best National Act at the Perth Comedy Festival and Best Comedy Act at the Melbourne Fringe Festival.

Called the funniest comedian in Australia by New Idea, Mooney is a familiar voice to Queensland audiences, having taken Triple M Brisbane’s breakfast radio show to number one and winning an Australian Commercial Radio Award (ACRA) for Best Entertainment Presenter in a metro market.

And he’s no stranger to television: Mooney is well known for hosting Dirty Laundry Live that ran for three seasons on ABC, as well as his work on ‘Agony Uncles,’ ‘Agony of Life’ and ‘Modern Manners.’

To have him bringing the laughs at the Airlie Beach Hotel – when his touring circuit usually sees him fill up major theatres – is an extraordinary boon for the Whitsundays.

He’s been a regular on ‘The Back Page,’ and as a hand-picked host for the new comedy-driven footy show, Up The Guts, on Fox Sports following on from Friday Night Footy.

The regularly touring humourist will be joined on the Sports Bar Stage by Andrew Barnett, the Fox-Sports-famous comedian and presenter on Sunday Night with Matty Johns and The Back Page.

Barnett, with his relaxed, affable style which belies a razor sharp wit, has a comedic ability brimming with insightful observations and witty anecdotes – he’s an absolute crowd favourite wherever he performs.

With Mooney as the main act, he’ll be pulling material from his anti-self-help book, Embracing Your Limitations, coming fresh off the back of the Brisbane Comedy Festival – he’s ready to transform you through laughter.

“The world is full of self-styled gurus, Svengalis, mind coaches and horrific influencers. Are you sick of the world? Are you tired of your own bulls**t?” Mooney said.

“I’m here to help you to quit, embrace your inner loser and win at life.”

The Airlie Beach Hotel will turn into a barrel of laughs courtesy of one of the country’s top comedians in May – don’t miss your chance for a festival of laughter.

What: A Night of Comedy with Lawrence Mooney

When: Wednesday, May 3.

Where: The Airlie Beach Hotel

Aussie comedian Lawrence Mooney is coming to The Airlie Beach Hotel on May 3 for an evening of laughs

He’ll be joined by Andrew Barnett, the famed Fox Sports stand up comic

Mooney will be running through his playbook of hilarious jokes from his “anti-self-help” book

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Cocaine Bear

August 24, 2023

On a pleasant day in 1985 outside Tennessee in the United States, within the confines of the Chattahoochee National Forest, a 175-pound black bear, having literally packed his stomach “to the brim” with cocaine, died.

You read correctly: The 2023 horror-comedy Cocaine Bear is based on a real event – well, loosely. Cocaine bear existed, though fleetingly. He never rampaged, as he fictitiously does in the Elizabeth Banks film. Instead, he burned bright and quickly, overdosing on $2 million worth of 40 kilograms (roughly $55 million USD) of pure, white, Columbian marching powder. What a way to go. To quote Shakespeare: “Out, out, brief candle!”

For all that, he earnt him an immortal place in Kentucky folklore -- and a prime spot in Lexington mall. Taxedermied in an eternal vigil between vending machines and mechanical rocking horses. Locals dance between the nicknames of ‘Pablo Eskobear’ or ‘Cokey the Bear’.

Now, his legacy has transcended to the big screen. This time, he’s 500-pounds, this time, he doesn’t die when he consumes an ‘80s Stephen King’s helping worth of cocaine, he goes on a drug-fuelled riot. Much like predecessors of its kind (Snakes on A Plane comes most clearly to mind), the film is an excuse for gory ultraviolence, but unlike the 2006 film it shares a high concept with, Cocaine Bear is here for the laughs.

The bear stumbles across a cartel’s lost packages of cocaine and goes manic -- it’s pure B-Movie (bear movie, perhaps?) schlock, and it’s outrageously fun for it. Head to the cinema expecting a massive animal on cocaine and you’ll leave with expectations met. It fulfills its title promise with aplomb.

Cocaine Bear (MA15+) will begin screening at The Bowen Summergarden Cinema on April 22.

Director Elizabeth Banks’ film Cocaine Bear is majestically absurd and how couldn’t it be?

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Open Air Cinema For Families

August 24, 2023

Bring your friends and family to the Airlie Beach Foreshore for the upcoming outdoor cinema screening, this Friday, April 14, from 6pm.

Showcasing a double feature, this evening will be fun for the whole family, with various food vans offering delicious meals and treats throughout the evening, to keep families well fed.

The first film is ‘Shark Tale’, which follows the story of a bluestreak cleaner wrasse, Oscar, as he struggles to become ‘top of the reef’ and becomes tangled in messy gangster business.

This is followed by ‘Oddball’, an Australian film about a chicken farmer who trains his dog, Oddball, to protect a penguin sanctuary from foxes, saving the small town in the process.

From 4pm, the Foreshore will also have various pre-event activities on offer, for families to enjoy prior to the screening.

The Whitsunday Lions Cruise Ship Markets are also being held on the Airlie Beach Foreshore on Friday, April 14, from 8am.

So, make a day of it at the Airlie Beach Foreshore, exploring the Cruise Ship Markets, before enjoying the sunset with free, fun, family entertainment.

Don’t forget your picnic blanket!

In the event of poor weather, the outdoor cinema will be postponed.

Please note, this is an alcohol-free event.

WHAT: Outdoor Cinema

WHERE: Airlie Beach Foreshore

WHEN: Friday, April 14, from 4pm

TICKETS: Free

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Mr Stink Comes To The PEC

August 24, 2023

Prolific children’s author and comedian, David Walliams’ masterful creation, ‘Mr Stink’, is coming to the Proserpine stage.

As part of the show’s national tour, this Australian adaption will be in the Proserpine Entertainment Centre (PEC) on May 2 and 3.

Mr Stink follows the tale of Chloe, one of the loneliest girls in the world, who makes unlikely friends with Mr Stink, the local tramp.

Yes, he smells, but he is the only person who has ever been nice to Chloe. And when he needs a place to stay, Chloe offers him her families garden shed.

However, Chloe must now keep Mr Stink a secret in her garden shed, while learning that some secrets have a way of leading to disaster.

“Boisterous fun…the young audience…thoroughly enjoy[ed] this quality production,” The Daily Telegraph said.

‘Mr Stink’ comes off the back of extensive renovations to the PEC, having been left damaged by Cyclone Debbie in March 2017.

Now, newly renovated, and open to the public, the PEC is quickly becoming the landmark community facility for Proserpine once again.

‘Mr Stink’ is brought to the PEC by CDP Theatre Producers, who are behind other award-winning productions including David Walliams’ ‘The Midnight Gang’ and ‘The 91-Storey Treehouse’, as well as Australian productions of ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show’ and ‘The Gruffalo’.

This charming and hilarious adaption is fun for the whole family.

WHAT: ‘Mr Stink’ – Live on Stage

WHEN: May 2 and 3

WHEN: Proserpine Entertainment Centre

TICKETS: proserpineentertainmentcentre.com

‘Mr Stink’ Live on Stage

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