The blues have returned to Broadbeach and the Gold Coast's annual festival is all grown up.
Blues on Broadbeach kicks off in the centre of the tourist capital today and is celebrating its 21st birthday.
The festival's return, expected to be a huge boost for the local tourism industry, comes just days after it was announced 2,000 delegates from across the world will converge on the Gold Coast next year for the largest international travel show in the southern hemisphere.
The Australian Tourism Exchange will host industry and airline executives, agents, and 90 global media outlets over five days from late April, 2023.
Blues on Broadbeach director Mark Duckworth said when festival began in 2002 it was a "small blues event in the middle of Broadbeach mall".
From a one-day event 21 years ago that attracted 3,000 people, Mr Duckworth said Blues on Broadbeach had grown to bring tourists to the Gold Coast from right around the country.
"I guess over time, venues and the community in general have just got on board and supported it, so we're very lucky that each year we have got to add new elements because people want to be a part of the event."
Mr Duckworth said because the event was free, festival-goers injected millions into the Gold Coast economy by staying and dining in the city.
"Locals can come down and see music for free, which is excellent," he said.
"People from outer regions get to travel in, they can book a room, they can eat at all the restaurants ... and they invest in the area without having buy a ticket."
The festival is expected to bring millions of dollars into the Gold Coast economy and 50 per cent of the acts are from southeast Queensland.
Australian blues legend Dom Turner will play this year's festival with Mississippi blues artists R.L. Boyce.
"Mississippi is a long way from the beach so I can't wait to get R.L. down to the beach and see what inspiration he can gather," he said.
Mr Turner said the festival had "evolved over the years" but was still a "community festival".
"There has always been a connection to the beach, I mean, rock, surf rock, comes from blues music. So there is some kind of strange connection musically with the beach and blues," he said.
Currumbin musician Karl S Williams said the joy of being able to play to a live audience after many shows were cancelled during the pandemic was "hard to explain".
"It feels like I'm a human again, it's something that's quite profound, actually," he said.
Sunshine Coast artist Minnie Marks said she always enjoyed playing to audiences at the event.
"Honestly, it's such a killer festival and the lineup is insane," she said.
"If you're thinking about coming out, definitely make the effort to come out cause you'll have fun."
Blues on Broadbeach will run until May 22 and the lineup includes The James Morrison Motown Experience, Mia Dyson and Karise Eden and Hussy Hicks.
