I couldn't help but comment after Joceb wrote of the Cooly rocks on Festival that is planned, as I too struck many with something to say on the Wintersun changes.
Port Macquarie is a Rolls Royce choice as a host to the Wintersun Festival. It is a very attractive town with ocean aspects. It is a lot closer to drive up with the car from Sydney so no complaints here on that point. From discussions with associates I anticipate next year there will be cars attending that have not before made the Wintersun pilgrimage, while others will drop out if their drive has increased.
Last week at Coolangatta I heard polorized opininions about the move to Port Macquarie. Rumours were rife with vast contradictions. Someone said until the economic down turn, the airport used to sponsor the event with a $25,000 contribution. Another person said it was $100,000.
There were so many versions of the same information, in the end I thought I would listen to nothing but what I knew was definitely accurate and my own common sense.
The cost of hosting the festival would be 7 figures when you note the baracades, stages and entertainment . A good investment if you believe the Gold Coast Newspaper which said the Festival brings $25,000,000.00 to the local economy.
Some I talked to said they liked the Coolangatta location but were prepared to test the waters at Port Macquarie because the apartments had got so expensive at Coolangatta and because they were fed up with the rudeness often demonstrated by staff in shops at Coolangatta. I've experienced some attitude myself.
I saw in the local rag that the Cooly rocks on festival will be a scaled down festival and it is likely it will be spread from Currumbin down to Kingscliffe with plans to include Water shows and other tourist attractions. If the attractions, car shows and entertainment are spread around it will generate more business for vehicle hire firms as Currumbin and Kingscliff are 25kms apart with Tweed Heads in the middle.
The Port Macquarie Wintersun I am led to believe is sticking to the roots of what the festival is with the focus being the rock and roll and rockabilly style entertainment, cars from the era and the iconic retro 50's influences, gathered as closely as possible to intensify the party atmosphere of the festival.
Having been to Port Macquarie, I've seen first hand that the town has plenty of accommodation due to servicing summer crowds up from Sydney. It has some excellent clubs. The airport is 2kms from the centre of the town.
I have pointed out these two facts only because I had people telling me last week the opposite.
Next year will be the big decider as to who the ultimate winners are. As punters we cant lose.
Yes Kroozin it's a bit of a dilema. I spoke to many last week about their future plans and nearly all said they would go back and try "Cooly rocks on" or whatever it will be called, mainly due to cheaper airfares and the familiar territory. I had a long chat to a local dance teacher who had been invloved with wintersun for many years and he had some interesting comments. Seems not many stop to consider the logistical nightmare of putting on wintersun when the area is split between 2 states, 2 councils etc. For instance the street parade was late due to NSW police being called away to an accident and the QLD police unable to cross the border for traffic control in NSW - issues that cause lots of problems that we would never see.
Putting on such a huge festival each year takes an enourmous amount of work and co-ordination and is something we never think about as we're just enjoying the atmosphere, music, cars etc. Can you imagine how hard it must be to have all those stages working with all those bands for 2 days without a hitch? How do you think a new inexperienced committee is going to manage all that without the knowledge from previous years? I think that the Cooly Rocks on will be a goer, but will probably have many teething problems with a new group of people trying to run it with little experience. It might be great, but it might also be a disaster.
On the other hand the Port Macquarie wintersun will be a well run festival with an experienced committee taking it to a new destination where the town and council are welcoming it with open arms. Ok it's a smaller place, costs more to get to with airfares but the accomodation is much cheaper - $600 a week for 2 bedroom apartment in centre of town compared with $1400. But the weather may not be as good, unknown venues etc. Then again maybe less people going will mean more dance room (something that is missing in Coolangatta) and a change is always a good thing as you can get bored going to the same place each year.
A dilema that maybe can be decided when the list of bands/ venues/ functions come out next year. I for one have booked for Port Macquarie and will give it a go. I'm interested to hear what others think.
Interesting points, Ive been to 7 wintersuns over the years, 4 as a musician and 3 while living in Newcastle as a patron. As a muso the logistics are mind boggling, booking bands, getting the bands to coolangatta, getting them to gigs and accomodated alone is a nightmare and all in all runs pretty well although i do remember one year having to run the whole street with us and the guitars and double bass having been dropped off at the wrong stage
Festivals are interesting things, they evolve and change as the years go by, accomodation providers get greedy, locals see things as a hassle despite the economic benifits to the town. The very things that made them so successful early on can get lost in the sheer size that things become. At the end of the day the festival that provides the best entertainment and atmosphere, value for money and ease of attending will be the winner. change can be a good thing if its done right.
Port Macqaurrie is a nice place and the savings in accomodation would be a huge attraction for people to attend, as a new festival great bands,venues and organisation will be critical to its success.
In reply to your comments re coolyrockson It will be nearly the same format as 2010. Hopefully with a new and better edge to the festival. definately no Currumbin or Kingscliffe . Brian Foster committee www.coolyrockson.com
Originally Posted by Kroozin
I couldn't help but comment after Joceb wrote of the Cooly rocks on Festival that is planned, as I too struck many with something to say on the Wintersun changes.
Port Macquarie is a Rolls Royce choice as a host to the Wintersun Festival. It is a very attractive town with ocean aspects. It is a lot closer to drive up with the car from Sydney so no complaints here on that point. From discussions with associates I anticipate next year there will be cars attending that have not before made the Wintersun pilgrimage, while others will drop out if their drive has increased.
Last week at Coolangatta I heard polorized opininions about the move to Port Macquarie. Rumours were rife with vast contradictions. Someone said until the economic down turn, the airport used to sponsor the event with a $25,000 contribution. Another person said it was $100,000.
There were so many versions of the same information, in the end I thought I would listen to nothing but what I knew was definitely accurate and my own common sense.
The cost of hosting the festival would be 7 figures when you note the baracades, stages and entertainment . A good investment if you believe the Gold Coast Newspaper which said the Festival brings $25,000,000.00 to the local economy.
Some I talked to said they liked the Coolangatta location but were prepared to test the waters at Port Macquarie because the apartments had got so expensive at Coolangatta and because they were fed up with the rudeness often demonstrated by staff in shops at Coolangatta. I've experienced some attitude myself.
I saw in the local rag that the Cooly rocks on festival will be a scaled down festival and it is likely it will be spread from Currumbin down to Kingscliffe with plans to include Water shows and other tourist attractions. If the attractions, car shows and entertainment are spread around it will generate more business for vehicle hire firms as Currumbin and Kingscliff are 25kms apart with Tweed Heads in the middle.
The Port Macquarie Wintersun I am led to believe is sticking to the roots of what the festival is with the focus being the rock and roll and rockabilly style entertainment, cars from the era and the iconic retro 50's influences, gathered as closely as possible to intensify the party atmosphere of the festival.
Having been to Port Macquarie, I've seen first hand that the town has plenty of accommodation due to servicing summer crowds up from Sydney. It has some excellent clubs. The airport is 2kms from the centre of the town.
I have pointed out these two facts only because I had people telling me last week the opposite.
Next year will be the big decider as to who the ultimate winners are. As punters we cant lose.
Correct me if I'm wrong...... but from what I read Port Macquarie will be just for 2011, then it moves, so you'll be chasing your tail with accommodation and so forth... Makes ya wonder whether it's worth chasing a festival all over NSW.. Just my opinion...
It's true that wintersun will move around but a change of venue, town etc is always a good thing - share the money around and hey - think of all the new places you might get to see. I'm not one for going to the same place every year as I like to explore new places, although I know many people like to return year after year to the same place, and they'll be the ones who stick with the Collangatta festival because its familiar to them etc. But nothing in life stays the same for ever so I'm sure the change to Port Macquarie will make Wintersun into a whole new festival.
Wintersun could be held in Yarrawonga - VICTORIA. More "sun time" in winter than the "Gold Coast" , no more Victorian money going to other states. The bands and car clubs will be happy. Plus all the Victorians' are not burden by distance. I would like to go to a "Wintersun" that is there for the music,dancing and enjoyment, not for a money grabbing experience.
Joceb I appreciate your positive attitude toward this festival, but I just find it difficult to swallow that punters will chase this festival all over the joint, from where I sit, It's a dead horse being flogged to death..
I just can't see the people chasing it.. I'm sorry but I just can't..
The set up was easy at Cooly because it was set in stone, now they have to case venues chase sponsors everywhere they go, and the NSW Gov will drop it like a hot scone the first year it draws a negative balance... I wish them luck I truly do...
the punters have already made the decision already almost the same number of cars as last year at Coolangatta's Wintersun have booked for the new festival at Coolangatta as have the rock n roll clubs take up of tickets for the new festival. The Rockabilly HQ still at the Coolangatta Hotel is soon to be fully booked. Its in exactly the same precinct and it will be very well run...with the car committee largely comming from disillusioned previous members of Wintersun... The council and police have signed off on road closures etc months ago ...they have not had to wait for the traffic plans etc weeks out from the event. But good luck to Barry and the rest of the Wintersun committee we wont miss them. I think Barry's travelling roadshow the Wintersun will fizzle out.
Im with Frank on this one, Port as a permanent location could work, a travelling show ? wouldnt bother, is the town for the following year already locked in and announced at the current festival.. too many many maybe's in the soup.
People like easy, easy wins. If the cooly rocks on commitee delivers the service, fun and entertainment it will lick on for this reason alone.
Originally Posted by Kroozin
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