Cricks… it’s all action

WHILE much of the action at the Cricks Noosa Festival of Surfing takes place in the water, an incredible lineup of entertainment will be on offer as the sun goes down.
Adjoining the XXXX Summer Beach Bar, the Zinc 96 Stage is the perfect venue to enjoy a drink and some live music with your toes still in the sand.
Kicking things off in style on Saturday 7 March will be the Cheap Fakes, the Brisbane-based six-piece filling the night air with their blend of up-beat ska. The party will then migrate to the festival’s off-beach entertainment venue, Café Le Monde, with the Cheap Fakes jamming again, entertaining the opening night crowds with selections from their new LP, ‘Modern Vintage’.
Making its debut this year, ‘Surf Unearthed’ will showcase surf-oriented musicians of tomorrow who are already making waves in the entertainment scene. Fin Wegener and the The GoGetters, Tea Society and Hobo Magic will be stretching their musical legs, giving the festival crowd a taste of some exceptional talent, from psychedelic rock to upbeat surf punk to get the hips wiggling and party pumping.
The Band of Frequencies also return to the Cricks Noosa Festival of Surfing for a collection of shows throughout the week. Kicking off on Wednesday night, ‘The Freqs’, as they are affectionately known, will present George Greenough’s short film, Deep Tube Riding, providing the live soundtrack to George’s breathtaking visuals and keeping the good vibes rolling at Café Le Monde.
Returning to the Zinc Stage on Friday 13, the Band of Frequencies will unleash their own set, a little bit dub, a little bit rock, with sprinklings of reggae and roots. The Freqs will later step back from the beach, returning to Café Le Monde to keep the party pumping until late.
Tom Carroll’s favourite band, ‘Expand & Surrender’ will be joining the festivities from Sydney’s northern beaches, the band featuring Graeme ‘Gravy’ Davey on lead vocals and former Beautiful Girls member Patrick Pollnow on drums. Evoking the surfing culture of yesteryear, mixing drums, guitar and brass with oceanic inspiration and zen-like melodies, Expand & Surrender are the perfect fit for the Cricks Noosa Festival of Surfing. They’ll play the Zinc Stage on festival eve, Friday 6, and again on Monday 9, plus rock the Noosa Surf Club with a late gig on Friday 6.
With the beautiful backdrop of First Point providing the perfect setting for an open air movie screening, an all-ages audience will be able to enjoy new offerings and classics.
The world premiere of ‘8 Days of Pure Stoke’ will take place on Monday 8, with seven-times world champion Layne Beachley presenting the festival documentary from Panga Productions.
If you’re a festival regular, you might be in it!
Thomas Campbell will be joined by Joel Tudor to present Campbell’s seminal surf movie, ‘The Seedling’ on Thursday 12. The 2000 film set the stage for the resurgence in traditional log riding, shining a light on the likes of Tudor, Devon Howard and Dane Peterson as the figureheads of the contemporary genre of single fin surfing and, with the Vans Logger Pro, the Golden Breed Noserider and the Vans Duct Tape Invitational, will be the perfect cinematic reflection of the festival’s oceanic activities.
Romain Juchereau’s ‘Behind the Tide’ will screen on Tuesday 9, showcasing artists, photographers and surfboard creators from around the world who have united their love of surfing with their creativity – beautiful, inspiring and a joy to watch.
The festival’s closing night will host the Surf Stomp, with a collection of excellent artists jamming into the night, first on the sand at the Zinc 96 Beach Stage, and later a step back from First Point at Café Le Monde. Artists include Hi Boys, West Texas Crude, Saltwater Cowboys & Pat Capocci in what is sure to be a stoke-fuelled evening to wrap up the events of 2015.
In other news, organisers are putting out a last call for stand-up paddle surfers.
Just about every division in the festival is now full with a waiting list, but we do have a few spaces left in the Mass Nutrition Men’s and Women’s SUP Surf. If you’re a weekend warrior, no problem. All SUP events will be concluded during Noosa Surf Club Waterman Weekend, March 7-8. You can enter on-line right now.
Beach entries will be available for the Mass Nutrition 5 kilometre SUP Paddle only.
For more information about festival gigs, visit the Entertainment page of the Cricks Noosa Festival of Surfing website at:
www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com/nfos15/schedule/