The sun-baked sands of the Simpson Desert provided a uniquely spectacular backdrop as ICEHOUSE took the stage to headline the second night of the Birdsville Big Red Bash – the world’s most remote music festival.
The Aussie rock band delivered a stunning performance that captivated the crowd of close to 11,000 music-lovers who gathered from all corners of the country for the 10th anniversary of the iconic event.
The nostalgic crowd’s appetite was satiated with a set sprinkled with classic ICEHOUSE numbers from Electric Blue, Hey Little Girl and Crazy. But it was the group’s performance of their timeless hit “Great Southern Land” against the majestic Australian desert landscape that made the day’s most memorable highlight.
“It was an absolutely magical moment,” said Jenni Denniss, a devoted ICEHOUSE fan who travelled from near the Barrington Tops to attend the Big Red Bash. “To hear ‘Great Southern Land’ being performed in the outback, the land that inspired it, was an experience I’ll cherish forever. It felt like a spiritual connection with our country.”
As frontman and songwriter Iva Davies introduced his iconic hit as part of the band’s first performance at the Big Red Bash he said, “Who knew you could have so much fun in the desert? If ever a song was made for out here it’s this one.”
Close to 11,000 festivalgoers of all ages – including canine companions – gathered for Day 2 of the outback festival to lap up the killer line-up of Australian rock, pop and country music stars including Jack Jones, The Chantoozies, Ross Wilson, Shane Howard, Kate Ceberano, The Angels and more.
Earlier in the day, it was all about light-hearted fun and community spirit, as 840 participants and spectators took part in the annual RFDS Bashville Drags race and Fashions in the Desert.
The “Priscilla – Queen of the Desert” themed races saw a kaleidoscope of vibrant colours and sparkles sprawl across the sand dunes. Starting off atop the 40-metre-high Big Red sand dune – the largest of its kind in the world, runners headed down a steep desert incline and back through the festival grounds.
Hundreds of fancy-dressed participants vied for the Queen of the Desert title as part of the 500-metre drag race, which raised more than $25,000 of much needed funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The Big Red Bash has been working with the RFDS since 2016 and this year has raised more than $140,000 so far.
Earlier in the morning, hundreds of punters woke up, climbed Big Red and broke the day with the most picturesque yoga session ever. 672 yogis turned up to practice sun salutations at sunrise looking over a sea of red sands that stretch to the desert horizon. This saw a new Australian record set for The Most People Practicing Yoga on a Red Sand Dune.
The third and final day of the Big Red Bash is tomorrow with performances from festival headliner, pop group Human Nature, Pete Murray, Dragon, Chocolate Starfish and more.
Also tomorrow, thousands of festivalgoers will attempt to break the World Record for the largest Nutbush City Limits Dance – set to be the nation’s biggest tribute to the late Tina Turner. The current World Record of 4,084 was set at last year’s Birdsville Big Red Bash, and organisers unsurprisingly are anticipating an unparalleled turnout this year with the recent passing of the Rock n Roll Queen.
Tomorrow attendees will be treated to a sensational Tina Turner tribute concert, featuring an incredible lineup of renowned Australian artists.
Get ready to dance, sing, and be part of history as Wendy Matthews, Melanie Dyer, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Miranda Carey, Grace Knight, Robyn Loau, and Kate Ceberano take the stage to deliver electrifying performances of Tina Turner’s greatest hits, including “River Deep”, “Simply the Best” and “Proud Mary”. The tribute promises to be an exhilarating showcase of talent, paying homage to the legendary performer’s extraordinary career.
The festival will also host a Doggie Desert Dress Up competition tomorrow where dashing doggos and their hilarious humans vie for the coveted title.
Running from July 4-6, 2023, the family and dog-friendly Big Red Bash is estimated to bring $15 million in economic benefit to regional and outback Queensland. In Birdsville, the renowned Bakery is reporting daily sales of close to 1,500 curried camel pies and 900 coffees as festivalgoers travel through to the iconic event.
The outback town is usually home to a population of around 150 people.
The Big Red Bash is produced by the Outback Music Festival Group, which also stages the Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash taking place in outback NSW in August. The sold-out event is headlined by ICEHOUSE, Hoodoo Gurus, Human Nature, Pete Murray, Kate Ceberano, Troy Cassar-Daley, Dragon and many more. For more information, visit www.mundimundibash.com.au.
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