Entertainment
1 May, 2024
Rock ‘n roll in the rainforest
A $320,000 concert featuring legendary Aussie rock band Spiderbait will be included in this year’s Crankworx Cairns later next month.
Using joint federal and state government disaster recovery funding, the ‘Party in Paradise’ entertainment program has been added to its schedule, aiming to attract even more visitors to the May event.
Spiderbait will headline Sunday’s schedule, with indie rock band Beddy Rays on the Friday and DJ sets scheduled throughout the festival at Smithfield from May 22-26.
Queensland Senator Nita Green said the tourism sector had been hit hard by Tropical Cyclone Jasper and its aftermath, and “investing in events such as Crankworx Cairns, not only supports the local economy, but an industry that has national significance”.
State Tourism and Sport Minister Michael Healy said Crankworx Cairns had quickly built a strong reputation “for thrilling competition and a great time in paradise”. “It is wonderful to be able to support this event to expand its appeal even further and attract more visitors, which in turn supports local businesses here in Cairns,” he said.
Crankworx Cairns event director Nathan Bassett said the event was “one of the most loved mountain bike events on the Australian and international calendar, so to bring together the world’s best mountain bikers and Australia’s best music to the stage in Smithfield is going to be very special”.
“This Party in Paradise also brings a whole new audience to the event, and we want to further grow that opportunity this year and create a festival for everyone,” he said.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive officer Mark Olsen said the event recovery funding would add an extra dimension to Crankworx Cairns to help drive more visitors to the region after a slow start to the year.
“Live music will add to the electric atmosphere of Crankworx, drawing in a bigger crowd who will want to stay and explore the region’s Reef and rainforest, and relax with our extensive tropical food and beverage scene.”
The event is bringing some of the world’s best athletes, amateurs, CWNEXT and Kidsworx competitors to Cairns to weave through spectacular rainforest, supported by a skatepark jam session and jaw-dropping ‘whip off’ competition which sees bikers defy gravity at the Smithfield track.
The event is worth $7 million to the local economy.
