Event Guide

Friday 7 October

Morning Melodies 2022 presents 1954: Ella, Etta & Eartha by Western-Dyer Productions

Friday, 11:00am

Swinging jazz, powerful soul and cheeky kitsch featuring Melissa Western and her band. It's the year 1954. Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Eartha Kitt are all at the dizzy heights of their careers. With swinging jazz, powerful soul and cheeky kitsch these three women broke new ground for all who followed in their footsteps. Melissa Western and her band pay tribute to this magnificent era in music and inspiring trio of pioneering singers. 50s style abounds.

MECC

Public Art Walk

Friday, 4:30pm

Hosted by Artspace Mackay Director Tracey Heathwood, the free city art walk for all ages begins at Artspace Mackay and takes you through the city centre. Along the way, participants will learn about Mackay’s iconic public art installations, and the local, and internationally-acclaimed artists who created them. Whether you’re an artist, art lover, local or visitor to our lovely riverside city, you’ll find this late afternoon public art walk a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Bring friends, family members, or come by yourself - wear a hat, comfortable shoes, bring a bottle of water, and arrive promptly to Artspace Mackay as the group will depart on time.

Artspace Mackay

Friday SUN.sets

Every Friday Evening From 6pm

Knock off drinks, lakeside dinner, good friends, and LIVE MUSIC.

Wake House Australia

Film & Arts Mackay Film Night: Murina

Friday, 7:30pm

Winner of the Caméra d’Or for Best First Feature Film at Cannes in 2021, MURINA is a psychological drama and a coming-of-age tale of a young woman’s struggle for independence.

Cook Lecture Theatre

Hockey Dad

Friday, 7:30pm

With touring stalled for much of 2020 and 2021, Zach and Billy alongside live bass player Steve Bourke have been writing and recording new music for album four, while keeping engaged in alternate ways. When Windang’s favourite sons had to cancel Mackay from a rescheduled tour earlier this year, fans were left disappointed and having to travel to Airlie to catch them play. Being as down-to-earth and true-to-their-word as they are, the boys have made it up to the sugar city and are ready to get back on the stage and deliver new music in 2022.

Seabreeze Hotel

Alex Lloyd

Friday, 8:00pm

This October, Alex Lloyd returns to the stage with his "Live And Amazing" Australian tour and will be hitting the Metropolitan Hotel, Mackay. The multi-platinum ARIA award-winning musician will bring all his hits to the stage for one incredible night of music, singing and nostalgia. Performing his classic songs like Amazing, Black the Sun, Lucky Star, Green, Coming Home & Never Meant To Fail together with some much loved and well-known covers, Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen), Better Be Home Soon (Crowded House). These amazing tunes will come to life through a tapestry of soulful singing, masterful playing and clever arrangements. Join for a very special show, up-close and personal with Alex Lloyd!

The Metropolitan Hotel

Standup Comedy - Mackay - Amy Hetherington & Kel Balnaves

Friday, 8:00pm

Get ready Mackay. Empire has a huge night of stand-up comedy coming your way. A couple of award-winning comedians. A jam-packed show full of side-splitting stand-up, relatable stories and funny jokes. Book early to avoid missing out.

Empire Alternacade

Saturday 8 October

Oktoberfest at Red Dog Brewery

Saturday, 1:00pm to 4:00pm

Be a part of the inaugural Oktoberfest at Red Dog Brewery. Enjoy locally brewed German-inspired beers, feast by Weaners on Wheels, Branded Red Dog half stein, 4x German beer fills, fun games and prizes.

Red Dog Brewery

Cuban Dance Class & Social Night

Saturday, 2:00pm

Cuban Salsa Dance workshops and Party with Australia's pioneer of Cuban Salsa Christina Monneron (Afrekete Australia). Workshop 1: 2-3.30pm – Cuban Salsa Fundamentals. Workshop 2: 3.45-5.15pm - Rueda (Cuban Circle Salsa - Progressive/ Wheel). Each workshop is $30 or $50 for both, pre purchased by Friday 7th October. It will cost extra if purchased at the door. PLUS Party Night from 7.30pm - $20. $70 for both workshops & party.

Palace Hotel

Slowly Slowly

Saturday, 8:00pm

Slowly Slowly are hitting the road again throughout August, September and October, visiting parts of Australia they’ve dearly missed and also making their long-awaited debut in others. Playing a slew of songs from their back catalogue and forthcoming release they will be shaking off the cobwebs from the last few years of silence.

Seabreeze Hotel

The Stone Apes Return

Saturday, 9:00pm

After a big Empire welcome the first time, Rockhampton’s The Stone Apes and Mackay’s Nortica return with Red Veridian in tow. Strap in Mackay and make it another night to remember!

Empire Alternacade

Sunday 9 October

Mackay Annual Gem Show

Sunday, 9:00am to 3:00pm

Mackay Annual Gem Show hosted by Mackay Gem Club, where you will find the club and many other market stall holders showcasing all things crystal, gem and lapidary related products. Join for a great day out. 3 Leisure Court, South Mackay.

Mackay Gem and Craft Society Inc

Sunday Live Music

Sunday, 2:00pm to 5:00pm

Music every Sunday from 2pm - 5pm. Head down to the Seabreeze Hotel this Sunday for some fresh tunes, delicious food, and ice-cold brews.

Seabreeze Hotel

Wednesday 12 October

Mackay Farmers’ Market

Every Wednesday, 6:30am to 10:30am

The market is a showcase of our region’s amazing produce direct from the farmer.

Bluewater Quay

ARTIST’S TALK - Meet ‘Creative Inquiry’ featured artist Sophie Munns

Wednesday, 5:30pm

Sophie Munns melds art and seed science in her Brisbane-based art practice. Her work features as an Art as Lens case study in the Queensland senior secondary visual art resource, Creative Enquiry. Join Artspace Mackay as Sophie makes the case for the wonder and power of curiosity as a learning tool to navigate a changing world. The artist describes a technique she calls ‘bio-cultural mapping’ – offering teachers and students an integrated method for exploring themes of biodiversity and climate change. Sophie uses rare and common seeds as a lens for viewing various aspects of the world including the constant regeneration of life.

Artspace Mackay

Thursday 13 October

WBBL at The Great Barrier Reef Arena - Brisbane Heat v Sydney Sixers

Thursday, 6:00pm to 10:00pm

WBBL IS COMING TO MACKAY. Take the family out to see the Women’s Big Bash League make its return to The Great Barrier Reef Arena this October! Six Professional Games of Big Bash Cricket played across a huge 4 days. Mini Eat Street, Kids Activities & Fireworks!

The Great Barrier Reef Arena

The Grogans

Thursday, 7:00pm

Genre-expanding outfit The Grogans are a trio of best mates from Melbourne who explore nuanced manoeuvres in surf, punk, blues, garage, psych, rockabilly and reggae. With the announce of their forthcoming album Which Way Is Out, The Grogans have dropped the fourth single No Thanks (I’m Going Surfing). This playful track, both lyrically and sonically, showcases the bands plethora of song-writing capabilities yet again, differing from influences displayed in the previous three singles – all wrapped up in a 3-minute anthem.

Seabreeze Hotel

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