'Roll On' September as three big names hit town

Promoter Rick Szabo said Mackay music lovers were in for the time of their lives.

“Last time we [Q Live] brought you Kiss, Mötley Crüe and Thin Lizzy, and now we are back with an all-Aussie line-up that’s just as exciting,” Szabo said.

Billed as Sugar City Sounds Mackay 2018, Mayor Greg Williamson said council was thrilled to have attracted three huge rock acts hot on the heels of Elton John.

Council is supporting the concert through its Invest Mackay Events Attraction Fund and the MECC.

“Mackay is a destination now – we are on the music industry’s map,” Cr Williamson said.

“Promoters know we can pack a stadium, run an event smoothly and deliver a pumped-up crowd,’’ he said.

“This is going to be massive.”

Szabo said not only were these some of Australia and the world’s best-known rock acts, their live performances were out of this world.

“The Living End hold the record for the most consecutive entries in Triple J's Hottest 100 and are widely regarded as some of the best live performers to come out of Australia in the last 20 years,” he said.

“They have released seven studio albums, with two debuting at number one on the ARIA chart.

“Four of their albums have achieved platinum sales, with two more achieving gold sales in Australia. They’ve won five ARIAs and been nominated 27 times.

“With singles like Prisoner of Society, Second Solution, Roll On, West End Riot, White Noise, What’s on your Radio and Wake Up, they have been regulars on Australian radios since 1997.  

“These guys go all out on stage – you don’t see many bands with a double bass, and you never see a band use one like The Living End do.  They jump on top of it every chance they get.”

Szabo said Perth rockers Birds of Tokyo had a depth of repertoire that few, if any, of their peers could match.

“Songs like Plans and Lanterns have ruled Australian airwaves over the last decade.\

“Their self-titled album Birds of Tokyo took out the ARIA in 2010 for Best Rock Album and the title track from their latest album, Brace, took out the 2018 APRA Award for the Rock Work of the Year.

“Their insistent, bittersweet, rock anthems send chills down your spine, especially when you hear stadium crowds singing along to them.

“Last, but not least, Pete Murray is a quiet achiever and a gentleman of the Australia rock industry who has sold more than one million albums.

“Three of his albums, Feeler, See the Sun and Summer at Eureka, hit number one on the Australian charts, and songs like So Beautiful and Better Days are instantly recognisable.

“He’s one of the few artists who can hold a large crowd enraptured, whether playing a solo acoustic set or with a full band.”

Cr Williamson said the headline acts would share the stage with a yet-to-be-announced local act.

“We’ve partnered with Triple M to launch ‘The Search’, a three-week on-air competition to narrow down our search to a small group of finalists,” he said.

“We will then have a live event in late August where the finalists can battle it out and the winner will go on to play at Sugar City Sounds in front of thousands of people."

For further information, contact:

Lee Brake
Communications and Marketing Officer

Mackay Regional Council
Phone: 07 4961 9409
Email: Lee.Brake@mackay.qld.gov.au