Toowoomba is now officially the home of blooms and tunes. The city that is home to the beautiful Carnival of Flowers is about to host an inaugural Summer Tunes program.
Summer Tunes will take over the Southern Queensland city and its surrounds in the most beautiful of ways, with a program of more than 38 FREE unique musical events and experiences for the whole family on each Sunday from 7 January to 28 February 2018.
Musically, the program showcases and celebrates local south-east Queensland musicians from as young as 8 years-old. The line-up covers over four decades of popular music genres including jazz, blues, swing, rock ‘n’ roll, folk, bush ballads, Latin and cabaret, as well as lullabies and Gospel.
Staged across a selection of Toowoomba’s stunning parks including Queens Park; Laurel Bank Park; Picnic Point; Newtown Park State Rose Garden; and additional regional parks. With over 64,000 seedlings planted in Queens Park and Laurel Bank Park for summer, the Summer Tunes program offers FREE entertainment among 25 summer blooms – from petunias and marigolds, through to sunflowers and alyssums.
Summer Tunes 2018 program
SUNDAY 21 JANUARY
SING AUSTRALIA TOOWOOMBA
Where: Queens Park, Toowoomba – children’s play area
When: 10am to 12pm
Info: Be entertained by a network of community singers performing popular songs and be prepared to sing along.
KILLIN TIME
Where: Picnic Point, Toowoomba – band stand When: 12pm to 3pm
Info: Join Andrew Kucks, Phillip Vellacott & Jared & Nathan Walmsley for a rare Toowoomba show, as they play popular songs from 25 years of experiences at the Gympie Music Muster.
TIMELESS
Where: Laurel Bank Park, Toowoomba – shade shelter area
When: 12pm to 3pm
Info: Just like the name, the music is timeless, soothing and relaxing.
BROXBURN MUSIC CLUB OF PITTSWORTH
Where: Newtown Park, Newtown – under the trees
When: 12pm to 3pm
Info: A Variety of music ranging from bush ballads, country and alternative styles.
SUNDAY 28 JANUARY
JULIE WITNEY
Where: Queens Park, Toowoomba – children’s play area
When: 10am to 12pm
Info: Playing a range of well-known songs and tunes from the 60s till today.
SLOW TRAIN COMING
Where: Picnic Point, Toowoomba – band stand
Time: 12pm to 3pm
Info: Slow Train Coming influences include rock, pop, blues, jazz, soul and Memphis.
LET’S DANCE BAND
Where: Laurel Bank Park, Toowoomba – shade shelter area
Time: NOON to 3.00PM
Info: This two-piece group will entertain with scintillating melodies from the 60s and 70’s.
HARRY & SPEED
Where: Newtown Park, Newtown – under the trees
Time: 12pm to 3pm
Info: Enjoy an afternoon of all country favourites from the 50s to 90s, along with special requests.
KILLIN TIME
Where: Arthur Shooter Park – Stanley Street, Oakey
Time: 10am to 1pm
Info: Join Andrew Kucks, Phillip Vellacott & Jared & Nathan Walmsley for a rare Toowoomba show, as they play popular songs from 25 years of experiences at the Gympie Music Muster
SUNDAY 4 FEBRUARY
THE DARLINGTON STRINGS
Where: Queens Park, Toowoomba – children’s play area
When: 10am to 12pm
Info: Enjoy the vibrating sounds of finely tuned strings – perfect for any occasion.
TOOWOOMBA MUNICIPAL BAND
Where: Picnic Point, Toowoomba – band stand
When: 12pm to 3pm
Info: Music of all styles from the traditional to the modern, classic to rock and serious to comedy.
AROUND THE CORNER
Where: Laurel Bank Park, Toowoomba – shade shelter area
When: 12pm to 3pm
Info: Enjoy up-tempo, foot-tapping Irish folk songs played on acoustic guitars, the mandolin, bodhran (Irish drum) and bass guitar.
RONNIE & JOHNNY
Where: Newtown Park, Newtown – under the trees
When: 12pm to 3pm
Info: Husband and wife duo performing middle of the road, easy listening music with a country flavour.
SLOW TRAIN COMING
Where: Centenary Park, Crows Nest
When: 10am to 1pm
Info: Think of a five-piece band with horns! Established last century, this band has performed over 600 live shows at venues across Southern Queensland. Their influences include rock, pop blues, jazz, soul and Memphis. They are a cover band that plays popular hits from the last four decades.
SUNDAY 11 FEBRUARY
TOP GEAR
Where: Queens Park, Toowoomba – children’s play area
When: 10am to 12pm
Info: 50s rock ‘n’ roll and country tunes.
JAZZY CHATS
Where: Picnic Point, Toowoomba – band stand
When: 12pm to 3pm
Info: Mix of jazz, swing and contemporary rock with a big band.
PAUL EDWARDS QUARTET
Where: Laurel Bank Park, Toowoomba – shade shelter area
When: 12pm to 3pm
Info: Playing a broad range from jazz through to blues, cabaret and fusion.
JUNGLE DETOUR
Where: Newtown Park, Newtown – under the tress
When: 12pm to 3pm
Info: A vibrant mix of classical hits and modern music, spiced with some of their original songs.
TUX
Where: ANZAC Park, Millmerran
When: 10am to 1:30pm
Info: Covering swing jazz through to popular rock, Tux showcases some of Toowoomba’s finest musicians in Alison Bryant on piano, Camilo Lazafami on bass, Mark Nuss on drums, Al Skerman on trumpet, Mal Gaydon on trombone, Paul Hendon on sax and Greg Bird – vocalist.
SUNDAY 18 FEBRUARY
TOOWOOMBA VOCAL ENSEMBLE & WOMEN IN HARMONY
Where: Queens Park, Toowoomba – children’s play area
When: 10am to 12pm
Info: Be entertained to a variety of music – think Manhattan Transfer or Idea of North. Add a dash of Michael Jackson, Josh Groban and Enrico Morricone then smooth it all out with Norah Jones and Sting.
JIM MILLER BIG BAND
Where: Picnic Point, Toowoomba – band stand
When: 12pm to 3pm
Info: Big band music featuring arrangements from Glenn Miller, Count Basie and Duke Ellington.
FLASHBACK
Where: Laurel Bank Park – shade shelter area
When: 12pm to 3pm
Info: Songs spanning from Elvis to Jonny Cash, Credence to the Beatles, plus a sprinkling of country greats.
BROXBURN MUSIC CLUB OF PITTSWORTH
Where: Newtown Park, Newtown – under the trees
When: 12pm to 3pm
Info: Variety of music ranging from bush ballads, country and alternative styles.
UNDERCOVER
Where: Pittsworth Historical Village and Folk Museum, Pittsworth
When: 4pm to 6pm
Info: UnderCover produce great live music in combination with quality backing tracks. They play the hits from the Sixties through the Nineties and their motto is: “We keep the hits coming!” UnderCover consists of Martin Paroz on lead vocals and harmonies, Gayle Dixon on lead vocals and harmonies and Ian Dixon on drums.
SUNDAY 25 FEBRUARY
HIGH ALTITUDE HARMONY
Where: Queens Park, Toowoomba – children’s play area
When: 10am to 12pm
Info: Enjoy lullabies, gospel and rock from groups such as the Beatles, Beach Boys and The Drifters through to Queen.
2 TIMING
Where: Picnic Point, Toowoomba – band stand
When: 12pm to 3pm
Info: Songs from the 1950s to current popular hits including rock ‘n’ roll, pop, country, swing and European.
LAUREL BANK PARK – Shade Shelter Area
UNDERCOVER
Where: Laurel Bank Park, Toowoomba – shade shelter area
When: 12pm to 3pm
Info: With a motto of We keep the hits coming, UnderCover will feature hits from the 60s right through to the 90s, with a focus on great live music with quality backing tracks.
YAKETY SAXES
Where: Newtown Park, Newtown – under the trees
When: 12pm to 3pm
Info: Playing pop tunes along with a big band, swing and Dixieland jazz standards. Punters can delight in swings from the 50s to the 90s, with hits from Bill Haley, Billy Joel, Elvis Presley, ABBA, Elton John and Michael Jackson.
BLACK VELVET QUARTET
Where: Mocatta Street by the War Memorial, Goombungee
When: 12pm to 3pm
Info: Toe tapping warm and fuzzy to keep the sun shining and the mood light and happy! African born Deeny Kohler-Caporale will showcase a mix of Latin and traditional jazz numbers accompanied by Carmelo Lanzafame on Double Bass, Graham Muller on keyboard and Neville Jess on drums.
TOP GEAR
Where: Cambooya Recreation Grounds, Cambooya
When: 3pm to 6pm
Info: This four-piece group will delight with 50s rock ‘n’ roll and country tunes.
Summer Tunes
Where – various Toowoomba locations
When – January 7 to February 25, 2018
Website – www.tr.qld.gov.au