Tones and I to take stage in Townsville as part of NAFA 2021

Tones and I will headline the new Tropic Sounds concert in Queensland Country Bank Stadium as part of this year’s North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA) this July.

Her performance is just one of the headline NAFA acts announced today, alongside Popcorn Underground, Tim Ferguson and Dungarri Nya Nya Ngarri Bi Nya.

NAFA is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! In Queensland events calendar.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said Townsville City Council was proud to partner with CQ University and The Ville Resort-Casino to help present NAFA 2021.

“NAFA is an award-winning festival that brings the best of Australia’s arts and culture scene to the heart of North Queensland,” Cr Hill said.

“Council is thrilled to be able to bring NAFA to the Townsville community. There’s no doubt that artists and performers across the country have felt the impact of COVID-19 which is just one standout reason we’re so pleased to be able to present another iteration of NAFA.

“In its inaugural year NAFA sold more than 23,000 tickets across Townsville, with hundreds of thousands more experiencing free events and activations across NAFA.

“These numbers were extremely heartening not only for performers and artists, but also for the local tourism and hospitality industry that experiences the follow-on effect from the festival.”

Council Community and Cultural Development Committee chairperson Ann-Maree Greaney said there were some stellar acts announced for NAFA 2021.

“I can’t wait to head along to as many shows as possible during NAFA. Tropic Sounds is going to be an incredible show, with local talent taking the same stage as ARIA Award-winner Tones and I,” Cr Greaney said.

“But there’s so much more to experience across the four weeks of NAFA. I’ll definitely be getting in early to grab tickets for POSE, High Tea with BOOFF and Comedy Hypnotist Matt Hale’s show Bonkers!.

“Because there are so many incredible acts and shows across the four weeks of NAFA, I would recommend taking a look at the NAFA website and booking tickets early to avoid disappointment.”

Member for Townsville Scott Stewart welcomed the announcement of the big acts performing at Tropic Sounds.

“Townsville is the events capital of Northern Australia and the Palaszczuk Government continues to back events which helps stimulate the economy,” he said.

“Tones and I is a huge artist with her hit Dance Monkey having more than 2 billion streams on Spotify so this will be massive for Townsville.”

Member for Mundingburra Les Walker said it was great to have another major event in Townsville.

“We’ve already had the All Stars and the Horn v Tszyu fight in Townsville, plus we’ve got the Queensland Reds and Kiss playing later this year,” he said.

“We know events like Tropic Sounds bring people into the city which is important for businesses and tourism operators as we deal with the global COVID-19 pandemic.”

Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper said events like NAFA helped highlight a different side of Townsville to more people.

“Townsville has a strong arts community and events like NAFA help bring many people into the city,” he said.

“NAFA has become a big success in Townsville since it began in 2019. It originated from the Commonwealth Games Townsville Festival 2018 and has become this hugely successful event.”

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the big line-up of all-Australian music acts would make Townsville the place to be.

“It’s fantastic to see the North Australian Festival of Arts evolve with more arts, culture and entertainment experiences for 2021,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“NAFA is the perfect excuse for a Townsville escape to experience the region’s cultural and natural attractions including the Great Barrier Reef.

“Events like NAFA support North Queensland jobs and the Palaszczuk Government’s economic recovery plan.”

CQUniversity Townsville Campus Associate Vice-President, Professor Pierre Viljoen said that the University was once again proud to partner with Townsville City Council to deliver a world class cultural event to communities in North Queensland.

“CQUniversity is proud to be NAFA’s major education partner, and to work with Council and event organisers to deliver this award-winning event and give back to the region,” Professor Viljoen said.

“Now, more than ever, it is important to provide opportunities for our communities to come together and to support the arts and creative industries.”

NAFA runs from 2 July to 1 August across Townsville.

For more information and to book tickets, head to the NAFA website.

Headline shows & events

The White Rose & The Red, TheatreiNQ | 30 June – 11 July

100 Years Ago, Circus Wonderland | 1-11 July

Popcorn Underground, Wonderland Spiegeltent | 1-4 July, 6-11 July, 13-18 July

Dungarri Nya Nya Ngarri Bi Nya, Wulgurukaba Walkabouts, Big Eye Theatre Dancers, Komet Dancers, Obery Sambo, Meriam Dancers, Bindal Dancers, Dancenorth Australia | 3-4 July

Brass Monkeys, Circus Trick Tease and Nicholas Clark Management | 3-6 July

High Tea with BOOFF, Homunculus Theatre Company | 6-11 July, 14-18 July

Don’t Mess with the Dummies, Dummies Corp | 14-18 July

Comedy Hypnotist Matt Hale: Bonkers!, Matt Hale Comedy Hypnotist | 30-31 July, 1 August

Tropic Sounds featuring Tones and I & Pierce Brothers | 31 July

Eden, Legs on the Wall | 22-25 July

A Fast Life on Wheels, Tim Ferguson | 23-24 July

POSE | 1 August