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2022 Entertainment

Contributing to the success of the Emu Park Oktoberfest is the on-going presence of the internationally renowned “Kalendar Band” and the very talented Karen Williams (aka “Heidi” the yodeling queen) and jazz musician Tommy Nicholson, who are returning this year after being unable to attend the 2021 festival due to COVID lockdowns.

This group of multi-talented musicians, who have a dynamic audience rapport, will entertain the Oktoberfest crowd with a floor show of OOMPAHPAH, traditional Bavarian folk dancing, cowbells, Swiss Alp horn, and yodeling.  Be serenaded with beautiful German ballads to raunchy German beer drinking songs with as much knee slapping, toe tapping, slap dancing, hat dancing and chicken dancing as anyone can handle.

Also showcased throughout the evening will be local singer/guitarist, Matt Lawless.  Matt describes his music as a country rock style playing old classics.  Matt moved to the Capricorn Coast in February this year after entertaining 13 years in the Northern Territory in mainly Darwin, and 20 or more years around the Gold Coast and Queensland.

Come, enjoy a fantastic day of entertainment, and kick up your heels on the dance floor!

The Raffle is Drawn on the DAY!

Raffle tickets, at $2.00 a ticket, will be selling at the festival with the raffle drawn at the festival at 6:00pm.  Winners will receive one of the following great prizes offered by our fantastic raffle sponsors:

1st prize –        2 nights accommodation on Heron Island for 2 adults
including breakfasts and transfers. Value $1136

2nd Prize –      2 nights (mid-week) accommodation for 2 adults, at
Oshen Apartments Yeppoon. Value $470

3rd prize –       2 nights accommodation at Great Keppel Island Hideaway
for 2 adults, includes transfers. Value $380

2022 Sponsors

  • Livingstone Shire Council
  • Stage & Audio
  • Absolute Waste
  • WIN
  • Channel 7
  • Channel 10
  • 4RO
  • Triple M
  • CQ Today
  • Heron Island
  • Oshen Apartments
  • GKI Hideaway
  • Youngs Bus Service

2021 Entertainment:

Sneaky Schnitzel:

Mike Barber &Nathan Parker [aka “Safe Sax”] –

Mike on vocal and guitars, a professional musician of 45 years and a mainstay of the Brisbane music scene.  Mike has created some of Queensland’s most successful acts and has played with and supported such artists as George Harrison, Sting, John Farnham, The Pointer Sisters, Wendy Mathews, Mental as Anything and many more;

Nathan on saxes/clarinet and vocals, a professional of 35 years with four instrument albums under his belt, and one of the best woodwind exponents in Australia.  Nathan has played with Glen Shorrock, Brian Cadd and is currently performing in a Blues Brothers, Bruce Springsteen and Dire Straits tribute band as well as Safe Sax.

Pete Neville with a wealth of performing experience both as a musician and as an MC/host has a background in theatre and live music, touring nationally and internationally.  Pete builds a rapport with his audience by bringing an energetic, comic, and professional delivery to lift any crowd.  He has speciality in Oktoberfest games and parties from years of  performing at the Lowenbrau in The Rocks in Sydney and at the Munich in Southbank, Brisbane and has toured with countless jazz and pop groups internationally as a professional drummer.

Scott Browne, also no stranger to the music industry, began his musical career by completing a Bachelor of Music and awarded most outstanding instrumentalist.  He formed his own music group touring the world for the past 20 years, performing at many 5-star hotels and ships, around Asia, America and Europe.  He can be regularly heard on radio and television in the capacity of brass player or composer/arranger.  Scott has also toured with countless orchestras and bands including being the musical director and keyboard player for the iconic Australian group “Little River Band”.

Dawn & The Sax:

Dawn is a very talented and experienced singer with great stage presence, a natural performer who interacts with the audience to create an exciting atmosphere.  Greg is a highly accomplished saxophone player with many years of experience.  He is a multi talented, passionate performer who also plays flute and harmonica, complimenting perfectly Dawn’s soulful vocals.

History of Oktoberfest:

The first Oktoberfest was not really a festival at all, but the public celebration of the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Bavaria who married on October 12, 1810.  All the residents of Munich were invited to the celebration that took place on October 17, 1810 on the grounds of The resienwiese (“Therese’s meadow” named in honor of the bride), a large meadow in Munich. The celebration featured a horse race, beer, food, music and dancing.  Anniversary celebrations continued each year, usually starting in late September and ending in the first week of October. Oktoberfests have been held in Munich for almost 200 years (with the exception of epidemics or war).

Our Sponsors:

Livingstone Shire Council
Stage & Audio
Channel 7
WIN
Channel 10
Heron Island
GKI Hideaway

Oshen Apartments

Absolute Waste

4RO

CQ Today

Youngs Bus Service