Returning to Coolangatta on the Gold Coast from Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 June 2024, Cooly Rocks On is bringing back something for everyone with this year’s journey of yesteryear!
Celebrating all things motors, music and lifestyle, attendees will get to enjoy five days of jam-packed free and ticketed entertainment that will keep you busy from day to night. Check out some of the exciting experiences that will be on this year!
WednesDAY 5 JUNE
As the festival opens, come down and take a stroll through the nostalgia markets and pick yourself up some 50s, 60s and 70s magic. Once you’re all shopped out you can swing on over to the dance workshops held at The Strand at Coolangatta.
Plus catch the very first of our car runs taking off from Jarvis Lane at 10am and cruising around the Kirra headline, a sight not to be missed, before continuing their journey to Garage 25 at the Boat Works.
If you love Elvis Presley, you won’t want to miss the ultimate celebration of The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, with a special performance of the Eras of Elvis, featuring Louis Brown, Che Orton, Jack Gatto & Charlie Gaylard. Spanning across three iconic decades, this is sure to be an unforgettable show on Wednesday night to kickstart the festival!
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to stop by the Information and Box Office, a place where all your questions will be answered and your one stop shop for ticketed experience. To get the most out of your Cooly Rocks On experience stop in here and plan your journey of yesteryear.
THURSDAY 6 JUNE
The cars are rollin’ in on Thursday with the Early Bird Show ‘N’ Shine taking over Greenmount Car Park! If you’re a car owner wanting to show off your pride and joy, why not come into town earlier to enjoy all that Cooly Rocks On has to offer? And for the car enthusiasts, it’s free to spectate Show ‘N’ Shine so come and check out the awesome early bird display!
After you’ve admired the display of classic cars, why not head over and talk to the friendly team at the Shannons Hub? With their own display of classic mustangs on show this year, you’ll want to stop by. If you liked the Early Bird Show ‘N’ Shine and display at the Shannons Hub, then you must stop by MND & Me Foundation, the official festival charity partner, and check out the vintage ride they have on display as part of their raffle. As you continue your stroll along the beachfront be sure to chat to the team at Indian Motorcycle who have a range of merchandise and
From 11AM, the music starts with the opening round of the Elvis Presley Enterprises sanctioned Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest (UETA) in the Elvis Marquee and DJ Jukebox Jimmy in Queen Elizabeth Park!
For the dancing bugs, swing into the Moonlight Swing Dance in the evening with your best pair of dancing shoes and come jitterbug the night away!
P.S. Don’t forget to swing by the Festival Merchandise tent to get yourself some new threads before they sell out!
FRIDAY 7 JUNE
The Early Bird Show ‘N’ Shine continues on Friday, so take the time to get up close to the vehicles from yesteryear!
Pro tip: Don’t be scared to speak with the car owners who are often standing nearby. Ask about the make, model, engine and the unique histories behind each car. And who knows? Could you come back with your own car to a future Cooly Rocks On?
There’ll be plenty of free live music going on around the precinct with the Rockafellas starting the day at 9:30am in Queen Elizabeth Park. But if you’re a fan of The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll you won’t want to miss the Friday night show, Elvis! From Hollywood to New York City! Featuring the one and only Dwight Icenhower. Coming all the way from the USA, come travel with Dwight as he takes you on a journey from Elvis’ films to the iconic 1972 Madison Square Garden concert. Tickets for this will sell fast so don’t miss out!
If it’s the motors you like, don’t forget to head to Kustomville to check out the kustom culture showcasing the best lowbrow art and artists, kustom bombs, sleds, hot rods, coupes and more from across Australia and beyond..
If style and eras fashion is more your thing then you won’t want to miss the Cooly Rocks On Pinup Pageant at 3:00pm in the Elvis Precinct. With three entertaining rounds that feature the Classic and Rockabilly styles that have come to define the festival, this years finalists are sure to put on a show with their beauty and talents.
SATURDAY 8 JUNE
It’s the start of the weekend! The Weekend Show ‘N’ Shine officially begins as over 900+ cars are expected to cover the streets and parks of Coolangatta. Free Music will fill the air all day across a number of stages throughout the precinct. There will also be three incredible ticketed experiences on Saturday, starting with round two of the UETA Contest. With performances from the top 10 finalists, things are starting to heat up at the Elvis Precinct!
Later on in the afternoon, a special treat is on for fans of The Beatles with The Beatnix Show. Regarded as one of the best Beatles tribute shows in Australia, come take a trip back to Beatlemania!
And you can’t celebrate the 60s and 70s music without the Creedence Clearwater Survival Show, Australia’s premier Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Fogerty tribute show. Playing all the hits everybody has come to know and love, come and be in awe of the attention to detail in both visuals and instrumentals!
Plus, a favourite for our Cooly Rocks On enthusiasts is the Saturday Night Car Cruise that will see over 250 classic cars cruising the streets of Coolangatta in a spectacular display from 6:00pm.
SUNDAY 9 JUNE
How is it the last day of the festival already? Take some time today to explore the vehicles in Goodwin Park and Kustomville as you continue to explore the massive Show ‘N’ Shine display. Plus don’t forget to go and chat to the team a Seven82Motors along the beachfront.
Whilst the festival may be coming to a close, the vibes are still high and there is plenty of time to get around and catch some free music around the precinct, pick yourself up some memorabillia from the nostalgia markets or festival merchandise tent. If there’s been something on your festival bucket list, now is the time to do it!
From 12PM the final found of the UETA begins where one of the top five ETAs will get the chance to represent Cooly Rocks On at Elvis Week 2024 in Memphis USA!
And we couldn’t end the festival without one last dance! Join us at the Beachside Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance to cap off another year of Cooly Rocks On. With live entertainment from rock ‘n’ roll favourites Little Stevie and The Tail Fins, this is the place to be if you’re looking for one more boogie.
Phew! And that rounds up just some of the experiences on offer for Cooly Rocks On 2024.
Remember to make the most of your festival experience, we recommend planning your visit. You can download the official Cooly Rocks On app and start planning today.
