Australia-wide music competition

A NATIONAL talent search could be the launchpad for the Surf Coast’s next breakout music star.

Entries for Passport to Airlie have opened, offering unsigned artists the chance to have their name on one of Australia’s biggest festival lineups.

For the first time, local musicians will compete in Torquay for their chance to play at the Airlie Beach Festival of Music.

Bells Beach Brewing will host one of two Victorian regional finals, marking the first time a final has been held outside Melbourne in the state.

Regional winners will travel to Airlie Beach in November to compete against finalists from around Australia for a performance slot at the 2027 festival.

Kristy Coote won a regional heat in Newcastle 10 years ago and said the experience of competing in the Passport to Airlie final in the Whitsundays was an experience money can’t buy.

 

Now living in Torquay, she is thrilled to bring the competition to the Surf Coast for the fist time.

With 10 spots up for grabs in the final at Bells Beach Brewing in August, she encouraged acts to send in their applications sooner than later.

Bells Beach Brewing co-founder Adam Smith said he is excited to welcome artists to the venue. Live, local musicians have been part of the venue’s identity for several years.

“Live music has become a really big part of our business. We’ve put a lot of effort into working with Kristy and doing our open mic for nearly five years now,” Smith said.

Many performers who now play full sets first started at open mic nights.

Smith said the quality of talent coming through the region has been a welcome surprise.

 

“We’ve seen a lot come through anxiously pulling their way through two songs to now putting full sets together,” Smith said.

“I’m waiting for the one that goes really big. There’s a couple of potentials and it will be great to say we had them before they were really famous.”

Hosting the Passport to Airlie final could provide that breakthrough moment.

Smith said the venue will continue to support local artists in any way it can.

Airlie Beach Festival of Music founder Gavin Butlin said he hopes the competition helps accelerate the journey for Australia’s most promising emerging musicians.

“From buskers to the most influential names in modern music, every headliner started somewhere, usually by hustling, grinding and proving that live, original music deserves a crowd,” Butlin said.

 

Coote said Passport to Airlie stands out from other competitions by focusing on original music rather than covers.

She encouraged locals to attend the Bells Beach final and support emerging acts competing for a place at the national stage.

Regional winners from Bells Beach, Melbourne, Brisbane, Newcastle, Byron Bay, Townsville, Cairns, Mackay, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Sydney will go head-to-head in November.

The overall winner will receive a professional photography package, mainstage performance slot in 2027 and a prize money packet based on the act size.

Entries for the Bells Beach heat on 22 August are still open. The regional final will be judged live and the winner announced on the night.