Rockhampton Music Bowl

Rockhampton Music Bowl
Map
LocationNuttall Street, Parkhurst, Queensland
Coordinates23°19′3″S 150°30′50″E / 23.31750°S 150.51389°E / -23.31750; 150.51389
OwnerRockhampton Regional Council
Construction
Opened9 March 1985
ArchitectCruice, Andrews & Partners
BuilderGraham Evans (Qld) Pty Ltd
Services engineerArnold Hugh Philp

The Rockhampton Music Bowl is an outdoor sound shell music venue in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, situated in the suburb of Parkhurst.

The venue was officially opened by Rockhampton City Council alderman, Dr Terence Francis Moore on 9 March 1985.[1]

Throughout its history, the Rockhampton Music Bowl has hosted numerous concerts, festivals and local events.[2][3][4][5][6]

Notable international and Australian musicians who have performed at the Rockhampton Music Bowl include Cliff Richard, John Denver, Stevie Wonder, Midnight Oil, INXS, Hunters And Collectors, Savage Garden, Silverchair, Dwight Yoakam, Powderfinger, Gyroscope, The Butterfly Effect, Youth Group, Dead Letter Circus, Operator Please, Evermore, The Potbelleez, Zoe Badwi, TV Rock, Bag Raiders, Bombs Away, Emily Scott, Seany B, Timmy Trumpet, Daryl Braithwaite, Mental As Anything, Russell Morris, Richard Clapton and 1927.[7][8][9][10][11][2][6]

The venue has also been the traditional home of the city's popular Carols by Candlelight family event, held every December.[12][13]

Rockhampton Regional Council decided to close the Rockhampton Music Bowl in 2011 and put it up for sale, citing maintenance costs, financial viability and lack of usage.[14][15] The council had also long held the view that the venue was unpopular with visiting musicians who preferred to perform at other venues such as the Pilbeam Theatre, the Rockhampton Showgrounds, Callaghan Park or local pubs and clubs.[16]

During the closure, the annual Carols by Candlelight was held at the Rockhampton Heritage Village, Victoria Park and the Pilbeam Theatre.[17]

In 2014, public debate and campaigning from local media personalities and community leaders to reopen the Rockhampton Music Bowl increased.[18][19][20]

Rockhampton Regional Council eventually relented and withdrew the Rockhampton Music Bowl from the market and announced that the 2015 Carols by Candlelight would be the first event to be held after it was reopened.[21]

Since re-opening, the Rockhampton Music Bowl is again being used for various local events, concerts and music festivals including the 2016 "Rocky Rocks" music festival. Another concert, "Sea FM Live" was also scheduled for 2016, but the tour promoters cancelled the event soon after announcing it due to "unforeseeable circumstances".[22][23]

References

  1. ^ (1985), Rockhampton Music Bowl commemorative plaque, Rockhampton City Council. Accessed 1 September 2012.
  2. ^ a b Haydock, Amy (4 June 2011) Good vibes as Rocky rocks!, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  3. ^ (3 December 2015) Cathedral of Praise looks back on 21 Christmas musicals, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  4. ^ (2 October 2016) Massive turn out for first Eat Street The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  5. ^ Jarrett, Vanessa (17 December 2017) Crowds flock for free movie and present unveil, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  6. ^ a b (3 March 2016) Festival at Rocky's Music Bowl celebrates Aussie pub rock, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  7. ^ Venue: Rockhampton Music Bowl, setlist.fm website. Accessed 10 February 2019.
  8. ^ (16 April 2005) Stage set for the sounds of Silence, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  9. ^ (10 April 2007) Ellington on stage at Rockfest, The Observer. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  10. ^ Formosa, Amy (26 February 2009) Dead Letter Circus ready to rock us, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  11. ^ McBryde, Emma (11 April 2011) Rockfest act thrills fans, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  12. ^ McBryde, Emma (4 June 2013) A lot of sing song about a home for Carols by Candlelight, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  13. ^ (16 December 2016) CQ's Carols by Candlelight raises $6000, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  14. ^ Taylor, Adrian (13 September 2011) End of Rocky's Music Bowl, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019
  15. ^ Taylor, Adrian (14 September 2011) Final countdown for Music Bowl, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  16. ^ (21 October 2003) Debate continues over Rockhampton music bowl, ABC News. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  17. ^ McBryde, Emma (10 June 2013) Cherie Weatherall calls for Carols to return to Music Bowl, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  18. ^ Haydock, Amy (14 October 2014) Could the Music Bowl make a comeback?, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  19. ^ Paradies, Kara (16 October 2014) Huge response to Music Bowl comeback, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  20. ^ Hendry, Megan (10 December 2014) Engineer's report details Rockhampton Music Bowl corrosion, ABC News. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  21. ^ (29 August 2015) Music Bowl to host Carols by Candlelight again in 2015, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  22. ^ Haydock, Amy (30 June 2016) Relive the 80's at Rocky Music Bowl, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  23. ^ (12 July 2016) Sea FM Live concert cut, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 10 February 2019.