Let there be rock! is a celebration of all things rock ‘n’ roll this summer, kicking off with a bang on 8 December at HOTA, Home of the Arts.
With a beer garden to set the tone, the exhibition Let there be rock! opens with an evening of free rock anthems, a Q&A with those who lived through the Coast’s heyday and an exhibition of memorabilia, pictures, posters, and portraits in a vibrant gallery exhibition. Inspired by AC/DC’s anthem of the same name, Let there be rock! captures the spirit of three decades of rock legacy. Alongside the exhibition, HOTA will host a mutli-faceted, three month-long program of events that has something for the whole family.
Gallery at HOTA Director, Tracy Cooper-Lavery, said from 1970 to 1999, the Gold Coast was a hot-spot on the bucket-list of Australia’s live music touring circuit. “Let there be rock! at HOTA is a homage to this time and we have curated a program for the senses – within the Gallery, through performance, via workshops, in film, through Q&A’s and of course, music,” she said.
Let there be rock! will present some key objects from the music houses of the time, including recollections from local music photographers, music fans and industry insiders. The Gallery at HOTA foyer will also showcase the photographic talent on the Gold Coast in Live and Local: Gold Coast Music Photography, where music and photography fuse seamlessly. This show features photographs by Nadia Achilles, Leigh Kelly, Dan Maynard, Danny Santangelo, Leisen Standen and Peter Wheeler.
And in a three part series of panel sessions Talking Rock (as part of the Gallery Up Late series), will cover the past, present and future of rock from the legends and musicians who have either lived through or are helping to shape the face of the Coast’s vibrant scene. Talking Rock is all about settling in with a beer on HOTA’s lawn over three dates – 14 December, 18 January and 15 February – and listening to the likes of Dave Graney talk about the hey days.
There is plenty at Let there be rock! for mini- rockstars too. “Amid a number of fun Artlabs, including designing rock wigs, learning how to play air guitar and more, HOTA will play host to a cool kids concert by Brisbane’s quirky crew, Regurgitator, whose witty, silly attitude and musical mash ups are about as naughty as punk rock can get for kids,” said Tracy. “There really is so much for any lover of rock – from the sold out Nick Cave concert in January to the opportunity to join an impromptu pub choir, the various engaging Artlabs, some poignant films and so much more. It is a total immersion experience for rock fans of the 70s, 80s and 90s at HOTA and the vital role the Coast played in shaping this scene.”
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