Coolangatta set to ‘rock on’ with sounds of yesteryear!

Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you’ve all been waiting for Our 2022 Lineup is here!

Not only are we bringing the sweet sounds of revving engines to the streets of Coolangatta, but we’re also bringing a packed lineup of national and international artists across five action-packed days, 8-12 June 2022.

That’s right! We’re turning back the clock on Coolangatta, welcoming some of best rock ‘n’ roll, swing, rockabilly and tribute artists, set to transport you back in time as they dish out all the tunes of yesteryear.

For the first time, Cooly Rocks On will host an Indonesian rockabilly band – The Hydrant – as one of the festival’s headline acts. It will be the band’s first visit to Australia, and we are sure it won’t be the last. Joining The Hydrant are Cooly Rocks On favourites The Flattrakkers, Ezra Lee and Louis King, The Satellites, Issi Dye and The Hellcat III, just to name a few.

Didn’t think it could get any better? Think again! In a very special Cooly Rocks On first, Australia’s original King of Rock, The Wild One, Johnny O’Keefe (JOK) will be honoured with the Johnny O’Keefe Story – a two-hour extravaganza fronted by Vicky O’Keefe, JOK’s daughter. 

As relevant now as JOK was during his peak in the 50s, Vicky will perform all her father’s greatest hits, including ‘Shout’, plus her own originals. The highlight is a moving segment where the pair synchronise for his famed duet ‘I’m Counting On You’ – Vicky playing live alongside a video of her late father singing. A soulful performance you won’t want to miss!

Major Events Gold Coast Festival Director Mark Duckworth said this year’s Cooly Rocks On is a true celebration of the motors, music and lifestyle of yesteryear.

“Each year Cooly Rocks On works hard to curate an entertainment line-up that pays homage to this fantastic era and gives our festival fans an authentic and unique experience, and this year’s program certainly doesn’t disappoint.

“The 2022 festival features so much great music including the best rockabilly, swing and rock n’ roll around as well as tributes to Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley and Australia’s own ‘The Wild One’ Johnny O’Keefe that shouldn’t be missed!”

Also on the bill are four headline Elvis tribute acts to honour the King of Rock n’ Roll. They include one of Australasia’s leading tribute artists Jack Gatto, Brendon Chase, Che Orton and Brody Finlay – each uniquely capturing the various stages of Elvis’ career.

A highlight of Cooly Rocks On once again will be the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist (UETA) contest. This renowned event is one of only 10 worldwide officially acknowledged by Elvis Presley Enterprises. The winner of the Cooly Rocks On UETA contest will earn a place and represent Australia in the finals during Elvis Week at Graceland in August 2022.

With rooms in Coolangatta are booking fast, there are still plenty of accommodation options available across the Gold Coast just a hop, skip and jump from the festival. Now is the perfect time to book your festival pad. You can check out the Gold Coast’s accommodation options.

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