Crazy Love hits Toowoomba

Easterfest front entry - Queens Park Toowoomba QLD

For 16 years, Toowoomba has been the hub of easter activities for lovers of Christian music. Easterfest brings together some big names from Australian and overseas Contemporary Christian Music and joins them with smaller independent and local performers to create a weekend of live music, entertainment and fellowship.

Easterfest branded the festival with a theme of “Crazy Love” in a way to sum up the message of Easter and to also highlight some of the other changes including a brand new layout and more of a focus on a whole city event not just a concert in a park. Over the last few years, Easterfest has expanded from having its activities concentrated in Queens Park in the centre of the city, to including cafes, restaurants, pubs and Shopping Centres; bringing not only live entertainment but also a major revenue boost for local retailers. Toowoomba City has reciprocated with more local businesses opening up over the long weekend, even on public holidays, to an appreciative and enthusiastic patronage.

Toowoomba Daily Newspaper “The Chronicle” quoted Southern Qld Country Tourism CEO Mary-Clare Power as saying "These events are very important for tourism in Southern Queensland Country, and are one of the 'hero' experiences for Southern Queensland Country - the experiences that give us the edge over competitor destinations." Local business Bon Amici Café (also an Easterfest City Live venue) reported an increase on last year’s patronage over Easter with owner Wayne Luchterhand telling “The Chronicle” "We didn't think it was going to be as busy as it was so we'll be even better prepared for the next one because we'll know what to expect."

In a first for Easterfest, Mainstage was undercover in 2014

In the Park precinct Festival Director Dave Schenk’s vision of a completely fresh look for the festival payed off with patrons and store holders alike commenting on the increased flow of traffic, the new look and feel of an undercover mainstage and an increase in community areas. “Thanks to the Major Event status given by the QLD government, we were able to do a comprehensive independent study after last year’s festival with the results revealing that the majority of people coming to Easterfest came not for the music or the ministry exhibitors, but for community” Mr Schenk said. 

“So what we’ve tried to do is create a festival that encourages patrons to stop and enjoy each other’s company, and I think the new layout certainly was successful in that.” Another bonus to Mr Schenk’s vision was the lack of complaints from local residents “We only had about 1 noise complaint across the entire weekend, which means that our state of the art sound system and undercover stages achieved what we wanted”.

A variety of artists playing across a number of stages both in Queens Park and in the city kept patrons entertained with a mix of rock, pop, folk, heavy metal and more. Artists spoke openly about their Christian faith, the message of Easter and joined in discussions and worship across the site. Artists with mainstream appeal like Bec Laughton, Evermore and Dami Im were drawcards while Easterfest veterans Alabaster Box, Compliments of Gus and Scat were always guaranteed to draw a crowd. With big names Peter Furler and Switchfoot announced for 2015, its sure to draw more people back to Toowoomba for Easter.

Bec Laughton brings back the Drum Line for her 2014 Mainstage appearance.