Less than 4 DAYS to go! The weather forecast is for a lovely warm day and all is ready for the 2010 PALMFEST.

And we have a great lineup for the afternoon. Unfortunately we were not able to go with Matt Corby this year but that has simply given more room for the great talent we have locally anyway. This year’s festival includes a number of new local artists including

• Australian Karaoke Championships finalist, Zellah Wenitong,
• New Rocky band Puma Zoo (on their way to Easterfest),
• Popular coast band, MotherLove , and
• Rockhampton’s Jan Lawton.

Add to them an enhanced new ‘Stations of the Cross’ production, the Salvos Brass Band and some regular faces such as John Batley and Josh Payne plus last year’s new comers, The Durbridges, PLUS the Kidzone with the free jumping castle (phew) and we are looking at a great family afternoon of fun and celebration.

It’s the perfect way to start your Easter celebrations so rock on down to the Yeppoon Beachfront Stage THIS SUNDAY, starting at 3pm and ending around 7pm.

PALMFEST 2010 – YEPPOON BEACHFRONT – MARCH 28

Matt is, of course, the Australian Idol 2007 Runner-up and has been busy since then working around the country. He has just recently returned from a series of gigs in the UK. If he comes to Yeppoon the plans are for a Saturday morning workshop and a Saturday night indoor concert. Let’s pray for the funding to come through.

Other artists in the PALMFEST line-up for 2010 are The Durbridges (remember the surprise band from last year?), Clair Hazzard, John Bately and Josh Payne, Zellah Wenitong… and maybe a few more surprises.

Plus this year’s ‘Stations of the Cross’ production will come more centre-stage, with some changes, a few more stage effects – and hopefully an impact that will centre us in on the dramatic events following Palm Sunday.

It’s all starting to happen. Put it in your diary, scratch it on the fridge – MARCH 28 – YEPPOON BEACHFRONT – PALMFEST 2010

Despite having to move venues due to heavy rain forecasts, this year’s PALMFEST Concert turned into a great success. Thanks everyone who came for your patience and support. In the end the concert at the new Wesleyan Church centre was great. Visiting gospel blues artist, Steve Apirana, turned out to be a very popular choice and was himself taken back by the array of talent that surrounded him.

Artists like guitarist John Batley, singer/songwriter Claire Hazzard and popular Rocky band Fused were well complimented by relatively unknowns like The Durbridges, Dennis Wells and Krista Cue, and didgeridoo player Shea Taylor.

Other highlights were a very moving in-door rendition of the Stations of the Cross presented by Shane Pianta and a team from Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, a powerful worship segment by the Yeppoon combined churches musicians and a great colouring competition display, on the subject of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, from the local schools.

It was disappointing to not be on the beachfront, especially when the afternoon weather was fine, but that’s weather forecasting for you. In the end I was praying that it would bucket down to vindicate the change of plans. But the new Wesleyan Church Centre in Lawn Drive turned out to be a perfect indoor venue, the feed back from the concert was great and we’re already thinking about next year.

Big thankyou to Ben Cue from Resound Audio Productions, also Dixon Homes, Pumpkin Island resort, our sponsors, and Heath and Narelle Henwood who worked hard behind the scenes. Also to Brisbane band The Episodes who had to return before the delayed evening concert but fortunately were able to play Saturday night. Thanks guys. Hope Easterfest goes well.

Here’s a slide show of the concert.(with thanks to Tanya Lynch).

Spirit Stone, Yeppoon

The afternoon kicks of at 2.30pm with a street theatre enactment of the ‘Stations of the Cross’ happening up at the Spirit Stone on top of the beach access main steps.

Then it’s back to the main stage for an afternoon that includes

• The Salvation Army Brass
• Gabbie Hanlon
• The Episodes (prior to heading for Easterfest in Toowoomba)
• Dennis Wells
• Shea Taylor on Didgeridoo
• John Batley and Friends
• Clair Hazzard
• Fused
• Steve Apirana
• and The Yeppoon Combined Churches Worship Team

Add to that some great audience participation activities, the Kidzone and Jumping Castle, the ministries display areas and the food court and we’re looking at a full afternoon.

Hope to see you there. Bring a friend, stay and eat, and kick off Passion Week with an event that will gather God’s people together in a great celebration of love and praise, and bring glory to Jesus, the One who has conquered the grave and brought us life.

A highlight of this year’s Palmfest will be the ‘Stations of the Cross’ street theatre presentation.

Inspired by the reenactments at Sydney’s World Youth Day ’08 (though not to the same level of production!) a group of students from St Brendan’s and St Ursula’s colleges will be bringing us a street theatre presentation of the events of Good Friday leading from the upper room to the grave.  It’ll all take place in the open space in front of the ‘Spirit Stone’ on top of the beach access main steps, starting at 2.30pm.

We’ll then kick back to the main stage where the Salvation Army Brass will take us into the rest of the afternoon’s events, culminating with Steve Apirana and the Yeppoon Combined Churches Praise Team around 6.30pm.

Steve has to be one of the best entertainers going, a man with an international recognition(he once turned down a request to be support act to Joe Cocker) and an inspiring personal story.

One reviewer wrote … “Blues as deep as the Grand Canyon and satisfying as an icecream on a hot day … Steve’s (music) has the fluid ambience of a master musician. ”

Steve will be accompanied by his wife Ainsley, an accomplished performer in her own right.

Check them out HERE

Palmfest, the Yeppoon Palm Sunday Festival, kicks off Easter week on the Central Queensland Capricorn Coast with a music festival / family fun afternoon at the Yeppoon Beachfront ampitheatre.

Here are some highlights from this year’s festival.