A NEW music festival celebrating the fusion of American Midwest and Mexicano culture is set to bring big sounds to The Bowlo Bangalow on May 3 and 4.<\/p>\n
The South of the Border festival is the brainchild of Mark Haughton, booker at The Bowlo and founder of Hometown Sounds.<\/p>\n
“I have been wanting to do this style of festival for a few years now, but the timing has not been right,” he said.<\/p>\n
“But this year all the bands I was after were available, so I went for it.”<\/p>\n
Inspired by his love of American mid-west and Mexicano music and culture, Haughton saw the quirky symbolism in the festival’s name.<\/p>\n
“It just so happens Bangalow is south of the Queensland border,” he said.<\/p>\n
The lineup includes Bad\/\/Dreems, GIMMY, Floodlights, Dice, Ethanol Blend and Drover.<\/p>\n
“I like to put new bands on our line ups so people get to hear something they might not have the opportunity to experience prior to our event,” Haughton said.<\/p>\n
“It’s basically bands I think suit the vibe. I have been a fan of a band out of Adelaide called Los Palms for a while and they are perfect fit. Full Flower Moon Band has the swamp twang thang going on, so they too were a first pick. Stoned Waves has that Argentinian outlaw psych cowboy style, and it is front and centre in their performance.”<\/p>\n
Haughton, who stepped away from the music industry for 15 years, found his way back during the COVID era. A casual beer at The Bowlo with a friend turned into a career pivot when he realised it was exactly where he wanted to work.<\/p>\n
“The general manager, Chris Watson, was very open to embracing live events, as The Bowlo used to be a stopover for bands who became national icons on their way through to Brisbane in the 1980s and ’90s,” he said.<\/p>\n
With a music room under refurbishment and more upgrades in the works, The Bowlo is set to reclaim its status as a vital live music hub.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A NEW music festival celebrating the fusion of American Midwest and Mexicano culture is set to bring big sounds to The Bowlo Bangalow on May 3 and 4. The South of the Border festival is the brainchild of Mark Haughton, booker at The Bowlo and founder of Hometown Sounds. “I have been wanting to do […]<\/p>\n