Q: What are the dates for 2013?
A: The core festival dates are 4-7 July 2013. Expect a few smaller events in the week leading up to these dates.
Q: Where will the events be held?
A: Stay tuned for confirmation on the venues. However, we always use venues that are easily accessible, and in or close to the CBD. Count on some interesting tours or the region once again!
Q: Where should I stay?
A: Cairns is fairly small, so most accommodation places are close to the action. Any accommodation in the CBD will be within walking distance from most festival locations. The Tanks Arts Centre is the furthest away (30-60 minutes walk, 10 minutes drive), so you may want to consider alternative transport to get there on the Sunday.
A: Please consider supporting the businesses that support us. Hilton Cairns and the Mantra Group are sponsors of the festival. Please refer to the About Cairns / accommodation page.
Q: When should I fly into and out of Cairns?
A: The core dates of the festival are 4-7 July 2013. We advise you to fly in at least a day before, and fly out the 8th earliest. Most visitors spend an extra few days to see the sights; there is so much to see and do!
Q: Should I bring my ukulele?
A: YES! There will be workshops, jams, and of course the world record attempt for which you’ll need your ukulele. If you have the “Ukulele Club Songbook” as published by Sasha, bring it along!
Q: Who’s playing at the festival?
A: Keep an eye out on our performers page here on the web site and sign up to this blog to find out about artists as they are announced. Like last year, performers are coming from all over the world, and musical styles are diverse. We’re also on Facebook, and we post regular updates there as well.
Q: When will tickets go on sale?
A: Tickets will go on sale in early 2013.
Q: The workshop I wanted to attend is booked out. Can you please squeeze me in?
A: Sorry but capacity to all workshops is limited. We cannot make exceptions.
Q: I would like to perform at next year’s festival, how do I apply?
A: Applications for the 2013 festival are open, check the ‘Participate’ tab on this web site.
When will we know the dates for 2012?
Does the festival usually start with a Friday night event, or does it start earlier in the day? What about the last event on Sunday? I’m not going to have a lot of extra free time, so I’m trying to decide if I should arrive at the last minute and stay a couple of days afterward, or if I should come early and leave Sunday evening.
Update: we have added an extra tour day to the festival program on the Thursday. If you arrive on Friday, you will still get a chance to see all of the artists perform though.
As said above, we recommend you arrive a day early. There will be a daytime activity with concerts on the Friday, starting in the morning. The Sunday event finishes around 8.30pm. So ideally, if you don’t have much time, you arrive Thursday evening or take the earliest flight on Friday, and leave Sunday late or Monday early.