It’s saxy and we know it!
It’s saxy and we know it!
It’s almost a rite of passage of our youth, sloshing (stumbling) around in muddy fields for days on end, the never ending festival queues and lost mates. So what do you do when your love of live music remains but the mere thought of that sentence makes you feel like a nap, and your mud tolerance left right around the same time the bottle-o stopped asking you for ID? Well, *drumroll pls* because our beloved Blues on Broadbeach, is swooning and crooning its way back to us for its 23rd year!
One of Australia’s largest free music events, this year the beachside fest that never misses a beat will transform Broadbeach from Thursday 16th May until Sunday 19th. And after striking a chord among music lovers for some two decades now, this GC institution sure knows a thing or tune about showing us a blue-dy good time!
Set to take the stage over four funk-filled days, this year’s line up is jam-packed with International headline acts including the smouldering musical stylings of American folk-rock icon, Melissa Etheridge, Ana Popovic, and blues-rock collab Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton.
With gigs going down across 16 of Broady’s finest venues and stages, we’ve taken the liberty of compiling the ultimate guide to the best spots at which to grab bevvy and bite while you soak up the best of the ‘Fest.
Kurrawa Park Stage
The Oasis Shopping Centre bars and restaurants
If you’re revelling in or around the Kurrawa beachfront and find yourself in need of a refuel, The Oasis Shopping Centre is going to be your jam for all things delish and refreshing. Though it may be the most convenient pit stop to the Kurrawa Park Stage, you’re certainly not compromising on choice or caliber when it comes to dining options. If you need a pre, mid or post-festival feed or bevvy – the likes of Elk Espresso, Mario’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, Sofia’s Restaurant & Bar and Grand Dynasty are all up to the task!
Where: 75 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
Victoria Park Stage
Nude Amigos
Perched right by all the Victoria Park stage action, this Mexican eatery and margarita bar is the perfect venue to sit back with a cocktail, treat the tastebuds and drink in those live tunes. Fresh, local produce takes centre stage for the entire lineup of enticing eats – in the form of next-level authentic Mexican fare. The menu ranges from bites that will perfectly pair with any of the signature margi’s, to a full blown banquet option – top it off with the toe-tapping sounds of some world-class acts and you’re in for a wine-derful time.
Where: Lot 1, 70 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
Federation Park Stage
Unicorn Seafood Restaurant
If all that festival-going has you craving some Greek eats and hospitality, Unicorn Seafood Restaurant can and should be your o-fish-al port of call this Blues on Broadbeach weekend. Located down the Surf Parade end nearest the Federation Park Stage, this seafoodie Mediterranean gem has got you sorted with a satisfying all-day menu – including a seafood platter to die for, and sea-riously why wouldn’t you?! Surrounded by blue and white hues and ocean murals, grab yourself a cocktail or five and settle in for the long-haul.
Where: Phoenician Resort, 24-26 Queensland Avenue, Broadbeach
Surf Parade Stage
Vida Broadbeach
If you’re frolicking in the vicinity of the Surf Parade Stage and feeling a little famished – our suggestion is to head to Vida Broadbeach without delay. Don’t let the fresh face fool you, this dapper debutant has all the makings of a star – serving elevated seafood, Mediterranean flavours and crafted sips, plus some show-stopping good looks to boot. If festivities fuelled by Crab Bruschetta and Truffle oil fries are wrong, we don’t want to be right.
Where: 95 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
Oracle Boulevard Stage
kōst Bar & Grill
This contemporary bar & grill concept, boasting one of the city’s only charcoal wood-fire grills, has redefined the way we meet and eat in Broadbeach. Luring us in with the hypnotising aroma of flame-grilled food and an equally enticing facade kōst Bar & Grill has a front row seat to all the action on Oracle Boulevard.
Treat yourself to everything from boujee ‘bar snacks’ like coal roasted potato, labne, smoked roe, through to the roll of the moment, bay lobster roll, gem lettuce, kōst signature sauce, and the premium Australian wood-fired lobster where 24 hours notice is required #worththewait.
Where: 3 Oracle Boulevard, Broadbeach
Den Devine Stage
It’s Broadbeach’s 365 home of jazz and blues – so it’s only fair that Den Devine should get its own dedicated Blues on Broady stage! Serving up an eclectic variety of homely, Mediterranean foods along with your favourite beers, wines and spirits, its old school, moody but pumping jazz bar vibes are a winner with blues and jazz enthusiasts. Even if you don’t drink whisky, trust us – you’ll start!
Where: 12/15 Victoria Ave, Broadbeach
The Broadbeach Mall Piano Bar
Harajuku Gyoza
Gyoza load of all the festival action, then hop on over to Broady’s very own beer stadium and dumpling bar, Harajuku Gyoza to top up the tank. It’s dinner and a show x2, since you also get to watch the chefs prep goodies through the kitchen’s open glass windows. There’s also an array of Japanese-inspired cocktails and craft beer on tap – aaah, that should put the pep back in our step after all those questionable dance moves (… just us?).
Where: 2/26 Victoria Ave, Broadbeach
The Loose Moose Stage
We’re a sucker for a North American-style bar and restaurant and it’s safe to say we’re not the only ones! The Loose Moose is THE spot for a couple of drinks and a bite to eat, and the perf spot to listen to tunes bellowing from their very own stage – some might say it’s a real Blues on Broady ‘moose-t do’! A tap house with a prohibition themed twist, the vibes here are always immaculate – one of the best if you’re looking to grab a well-deserved drink after bopping away all day/night long.
Where: 75 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
The Broadbeach Tavern Stage
A stalwart watering hole for locals to meet up for a chinwag, a bite and some brewskis – The Broadbeach also gets the honours of being one of the official music hubs for the festival, as is good and proper! Pull up a pew either in the Family Bistro, Sports Bar or our vote, the large outdoor deck to soak up both the music and the Autumn GC rays. It’s also just over the road from Kurrawa Park Stage so you get the best of both worlds.
Where: Oasis Shopping Centre, Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach
The Lucky Squire Stage
Beer and jazz are a match made in heaven, so this joint was born to stage (literally) some Blues on Broady bangers. In case you haven’t put two and two together, The Lucky Squire brings to life the story of Australia’s first brewer, the rogue swindler James Squire. Celebrating quality craft beers and modern pub grub across two epic levels, it’s a must-visit on your festival rounds.
Where: 3 Oracle Boulevard, Broadbeach
Fat Freddy’s – Beach Bar & Diner Stage
Who doesn’t crave burgers, fries and all things American diner-style after drinking, scat singing and dancing up a storm? Another venue boasting bragging rights to its own stage, you’ll not only get front-row seats to a bunch of cool acts, but also a feast of drool-worthy classics. It’s one big par-tay here so you can imagine the levelled-up vibes when you add Blues on Broadbeach into the mix.
Where: 50 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
Words by Bianca Trathen & Kellie Leader
After spending the better part of two decades winning the hearts of carnivores near and far, the owners of highly acclaimed steakery Moo Moo, have set their sights on the sea – sinking a cool $3m on their quest to bring a ‘world-class’ seafood venue to our shores.
There’s little doubt that BLOWFISH Ocean Grill + Bar – the newest venture from Steven & Autumn Adams – has some dauntingly big shoes to fill. Though as you might have gleaned from both the eye-watering project cost and its culinary lineage, this little sib newcomer is a just little bit extra. The lofty, double-story venue which formerly housed The Bavarian, is wooing up to 150 diners at one time – complete with a lush 24 seat private dining room up on the upper floor.
The BLOWFISH ethos revolves around exquisite seafood, bringing glistening, salt-kissed Caviar Bumps, Moreton Bay bug stuffed Milk Buns, and signature Seafood Towers to Broadbeach’s surging premier dining scene.
The jaw-dropping new space lies merely a stone’s throw from Moo Moo, and some familiar faves from its iconic grill make a cameo on the menu (huzzah, now we can drag those seafood-dodging downers of ours along without complaint).
Steven and Autumn spent several months looking all over the Gold Coast for the right location and they believe they’ve got the perfect venue in Broadbeach. The mind-blowing fit-out was brought to us by local design gurus Space Cubed – with a brief we can only assume went something along the lines of ‘exquisite space for exquisite seafood’.
The materials and details have all been selected to convey a coastal inspired sense of grandeur – with luxury details like architecturally sculpted ceilings that blend seamlessly into an expansive, feature lit void, along with chic, seafoam-green wraparound booths as far as the eye can ‘sea’ (sorry, we’ll sea ourselves out).
When it comes to the kitchen, Steven and Autumn have gone ‘against the grain’, opting instead for the twice as nice approach – jointly appointing Bradley Davis and Lee Huckstep as Head Chefs. Adding “both Brad and Leigh have a strong history with us… Together these guys have the talent to bring our unique menu to life.”
And if dishes such as Western Australian Rock Lobster w. Congac + Gruyere’ are anything to go by, we’d say this dynamic duo is has already come out ‘swimming’. As you’d expect, the seafood-centric menu is a total knockout – with a curated selection of premium steaks and sides such as Blowfish Signature Banana Blossom Salad + Noc Chum featured alongside Iceberg Caesar and Charred Sugar Loaf, Pistachio + Sesame in Wagyu Fat that further elevate their selection of ocean specialties.
The BLOWFISH seafood showcase is mainly split between a delectable mix of hot, such as the spectacular Black Lip Mussels w. Rega Rogue Rose, alongside cold delicacies like Sashimi and Nigiri and a pearler of a range of Oysters – all backed up by some very delightful creations from beyond the bar.
Our pick? The Blowfish Bubble, made with Ketel one Vodka Infused with Chamomile, Fresh Pear, Orgeat, Thyme, Orange, Chamomile Tinson, Yuzu Pearls + Citrus Smoke…
We’re fairly sure diners will be blown away at first sip, lick, slurp and nibble of each and every delectable morsel BLOWFISH is sending our way.
Where: 3 Oracle Boulevard, Broadbeach
When: Monday – Sunday 11.30am – 10.00pm
Words by Kellie Leader.
Images by Mathilde Bouby.
A tantalising taste of the Mediterranean has arrived on our doorsteps – via our swanky new darling of dining, Vida Broadbeach. Joining the beach-blessed suburb’s vicinity with a show stopping debut just in time for summer.
And if the prospect of balmy arvos spent slurping back the likes of Spanner Crab Gnocchi and Caribbean Daiquiri’s is enough to immediately win you over (… if it’s not, we’re not entirely sure we can be friends) – just wait till you set eyes upon the swoon-worthy coastal style space – yep, she’s the whole shebang guys.
Smack bang in heart of Broadbeach – the spacious new 150 pax venue promises to entice perambulators with live music, generous indoor and outdoor spaces and irresistible aromas permeating the humming Surf Parade promenade.
Of course, dazzling good looks only get you so far. The menu is what *really* seals the deal here, tempting us with meticulously crafted morsels, where the specialities of Mediterranean flavours and spectacular seafood sing.
The venue’s curated ocean fare comes courtesy of culinary veteran Danny Cecchi (formerly of Melbourne’s RST Seafood Restaurant fame). ‘Queen of Broadbeach’ Belle Petersen also joins the Vida Broadbeach dream team – each bringing a hefty three decades worth of industry expertise to the table, respectively.
The new (sea)foodie haven packs effortless, Euro-cool charm by the bucket load – y’know, the kind that sweeps you off your feet at first sight, requiring a second… and third look (– but we draw the line at four… #becool)… aaand are we even still talking about restaurants here?!
The brief was to create a sophisticated space to suit the top notch eats offering, and since the venue boasts both its very own private dining room (set inside a wine barrel, no less) and street-side bar dining we’d say that’s mission accomplished.
It holds its own among Broadbeach’s collection of elevated, easy-on-the-eyes eateries – upholding a rather high bar set by the likes of fellow lookers, kōst Bar & Grill and Fig + Frankies. The Australasian Retail Projects team nailed the upscale, yet welcoming fit-out – layering textural, white-on-white finishes, marble, exposed beams and coastal inspired timber elements to feast the eyes upon.
Of course, it’s the eats where the feasting we’re *really* here for kicks into gear – and the likes of Bug Tails topped with lashings of honey and sesame seeds, Seafood Chowder, Spanner Crab Bruschetta will have us off to a very swell start indeed.
For mains, sidle up to Seafood Linguine, your preferred style of Southern Rock Lobster (natural, Mornay or Thermidor) – or, to satisfy the seafood dodgers among us – Lamb Racks with pistachio-crusted grilled vegetables.
Feeling parched? Choose between a generous selection of libations to wash it all down – will it be red, white, or perhaps one of the classic or house cocktails?
And really, with those impeccable vibes, who can resist the call of settling in to sink a few sundowners in the salt air? Certainly not us. Though Vida Broadbeach just as happily lends itself to intimate date night dinners as it does decadent, long lunches that blur into summertime sip-fests (what can we say, we’re a thirsty bunch).
Don’t mind if we do!
Where: 69-71 Surf Parade, Broadbeach (Aria Building)
When: Wednesday–Sunday
Website: vivoonbroadbeach.com
Instagram: @vidabroadbeach
Words by Kellie Leader.
Images by Mathilde Bouby.
Something grill-iant has been a ‘cookin in Broadbeach, with the eagerly anticipated arrival of kōst Bar & Grill set to swing open its swanky new digs this Saturday.
A brand new spot for sophisticated sips taking up residence in the Oracle Blvd precinct will lure us in with the hypnotising aroma of flame-grilled food and an equally enticing facade.
A contemporary bar & grill concept, boasting one of the city’s only charcoal wood-fire grills, this mammoth new space is set to redefine the way we meet and eat in Broadbeach.
Along with seafood towers, roving champagne and caviar trolleys, and a purpose-built dry aged cool room that can be seen (drooled over) from Oracle Boulevard, our wining and dining game is about to cop a serious upgrade.
A meticulous project three years in the making for hospitality honcho Dave Galvin, kōst is the ultimate culmination of 25 years of hospitality experience all poured into one shiny, sleek and sexy venue.
After already bringing us faves such as Crafty’s, Mozza Mozza and Bird Royale, Dave has really been playing the long game to ensure kōst is a show stopper in every sense of the word.
The brief was to deliver a coastal inspired, design led space with a sensory immersion through food, wine, cocktails and live fuel cooking methods — with the first two-metre Mibrasa charcoal grill and oven in Australia the venue’s crowning jewel.
Dave adds “I have always been a huge fan of charcoal and live fuel cooking and dining in a beautifully designed venue. These are just two of my passions that were part of the inspiration for creating Kōst. After an extensive search, we finally managed to find the perfect location where we could bring this concept to life.”
Seizing the opportunity to snap up three previous tenancies, kōst has amalgamated the sites into one sprawling super-venue.
The luxurious space boasts an impressive 130-seat restaurant, in addition to private dining room, bar dining and outdoor pavilion spaces.
Though the space is just as pretty as it is functional, with cascading greenery, marble surfaces, chic lighting and arches a-plenty.
Returning to Australia this year to oversee the culinary direction for kōst, Executive Chef Sebbie Keynon developed the entire menu, bringing inspiration from restaurants across the globe in Paris, London, Moscow and Jakarta.
The trademark theme of relaxed luxury is also carried through the menu, with top shelf produce elevated with a little help from the signature wood-fire treatment.
Treat yourself to everything from boujee ‘bar snacks’ like coal roasted potato, labne, smoked roe, through to the roll of the moment, bay lobster roll, gem lettuce, kōst signature sauce, and the premium Australian wood-fired lobster where 24 hours notice is required #worththewait.
There’s a full suite of premium seafood with options like the Raw Bar, and dishes such as kōst ceviche, citrus rressing and a prawn cocktail, kōst signature sauce revival, through to the seafood platter and seafood tower when it’s truly time to indulge.
Though, how coal-d you skip the kōst specialty ‘Over Embers’ offering, with a full selection of ocean, land and earth delights to spark a whole lot of culinary joy?
Even the drinks get the grill treatment, with a Mahalorita, 1800 coconut Tequila, Cointreau, charred pineapple, toasted coconut, lime, smoked salt we’d be tempted to walk over hot coals to get our hands on.
Though it might come at great kōst to our social budgets and waistlines — we’re tipping that pretty soon, reflecting on Broadbeach’s eats scene will be defined as a whole new era: before-kōst and after-kōst, with this impressive new venue set to steal the show.
Where: 3 Oracle Blvd, Broadbeach
When: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday 11:30 am–9 pm, Wednesday, Thursday 11:30 am–9:30 pm and Friday, Saturday 11:30 am–11 pm
Instagram: @kostbarandgrill_au
Website: kostbarandgrill.com.au
Words by Kellie Leader.
Images by Mathilde Bouby.
