SPONSORED | BIG SKIES FESTIVAL
AN AMPLIFIED rock-blast is calling out from across Queensland’s Western Downs with the 2023 Big Skies Festival to be headlined by Eskimo Joe, The Angels, Diesel, Baby Animals, Rogue Traders, Thirsty Merc and O’SHEA, supported by Sabrina Durante, Katelann Maree and Aloud Out.
Big Skies Festival return on September 28 running until October 2 for its fourth year, staged in the sprawling grounds of Jimbour House near Dalby.
The event sees an annual migration of thousands of Australian music enthusiasts pull up camp and dance the weekend away, under the endless country landscapes encased by the festival’s namesake, big, blue skies by day, and the Milky Way by night.
Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Paul McVeigh said Big Skies Festival was one of the region’s premier events showcasing the unique experiences and people that make the Western Downs a fantastic place to visit.
“Council is proud to present this fantastic event, and this year we’re expecting bigger crowds than ever before,” McVeigh said.
Organisers report that onsite camping is already 73% booked out and festival tickets have been selling faster than ever before.
“In addition to our Big Skies Festival enthusiasts, we’re also welcoming some 700 caravanners from across Australia as part of the CMCA (Caravan & Motorhome Club of Australia) 36th National Rally 2023, directly in the lead up to the festival,” McVeigh said.
“We’re hosting regional bus tours to Bell, Kaimkillenbun and Dalby, as well as the popular Jimbour House tours.”
Jimbour House, a majestic sandstone icon, made famous, starring in several feature films and stories, including Stan’s feature film The Second (2018), was built in 1870. Still a private residence, the Russell family, open their grounds for special events, including Opera Queensland’s “Opera at Jimbour” and of course, Big Skies Festival.
This stunning location, set on the fertile farming lands at the base of the Bunya Mountains, is a twenty-minute drive north of Dalby in Queensland’s Western Downs, 1 hour west of Toowoomba, within 2.5 hours of Brisbane and 3 hours of both the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.
McVeigh said Big Skies Festival offered an opportunity for music lovers to explore the Western Downs and the unique visitor experiences on offer.
“I’m so proud of our team and the volunteers who help to stage the festival, and this year’s line up of incredible alternate rock and true-blue rock legends is testament to their passion and drive to stage an event of this calibre, welcoming visitors to join and celebrate with us in our backyard,” he said.
“Truly honoured and excited to be coming home to play Big Skies! Having grown up in Dalby, it’s going to feel like a massive family reunion!”, says former local boy, Mark O’SHEA, who is now based in Nashville, TN.
Tickets are on sale at www.bigskiesfestival.com.au, with organisers encouraging fans to book ahead, especially to be sure to secure their onsite camping spots, as camping sold out last year.
ESSENTIAL INFO
Date: 28 September to 2 October 2023
Location: Jimbour House, Jimbour, Queensland
Camping: Available onsite Thursday to Sunday nights
Accommodation: Motels, hotels and caravan parks available in nearby towns including Dalby
Regional Bus Tours: Departing Jimbour House 9am Friday 29 September. Choice of two itineraries: Explore Western Downs Bus Tour (Athlone Cottage, Bell’s hidden garden and the “Bun Pub” in Kaimkillenbun, or take the Big Skies Mystery Tour.
Tickets: Available at www.bigskiesfestival.com.au at $189.00 for early bird Adult 2-day Concert Pass until end of August, or $199 at the gate.
Drive: The main drive access route to Big Skies Festival is travelling west of Toowoomba on the Warrego Highway, turning north at Dalby and continuing 28km to Jimbour House.
Fly and Drive: Flights available to Wellcamp (Toowoomba West) Airport with hire cars available for 103km journey to Jimbour House.
Very pleasing to see your publication. Covers lots of interesting subjects and articles, and I particularly like the use of the same font as the former Chinchilla News (bet that wasn’t a coincidence) I am quite confident of your success.
Just have one suggestion, would you consider including Funeral Notices? On the same page every time, as it was in the Chinchilla News. Nothing has managed to cover these, and they are sadly missed.
Thank you very much for your “paper” and listening to my ideas.
Regards,
Pam Thorley