Gold Coast based world music band A FRENCH BUTLER CALLED SMITH have been performing their high energy Latin, funk ,instrumental fusion over a 2 year period to ever increasing audiences on Australia's East Coast. The initial creators behind this all organic dance music sound were acoustic guitar aficionado (Scott French), bass maestro (Jake ‘the Butler’ Martin) and respected world percussion artist (Brennan Smith). These original members have now been joined by esteemed musicians Mark ‘Gibbo’ Gibson on saxophone and Liam ‘Rasta’ Dorney on trumpet and it has invariably lifted the energy of the band and their multi-layered sounds of Latin, gypsy, world-roots and funk to ecstatically captivating levels.They are all consuming to watch, and it is impossible to keep your feet still once you are within the energy realms of their music.

After recent festival performances such as Melbourne's High Vibes Festival, Snowy Mountains Music Festival, Utribe Festival, Caloundra Music Festival and Island Vibes Festival and the Woodford Folk Festival, the band has ventured into the studio to record their debut album 'the Milkdrop Circus' due to be released early 2010 with national touring to launch the release. A FRENCH BUTLER CALLED SMITH are ready to take their evolving sound to a world audience, inspiring music lovers in venues and on dance floors across the planet. Their musical intentions are to bring people together for an all organic, spirited experience for the sole purpose of celebrating the joy of living. And their live performances are a testament to that admirable vision.

"Hitting the stage for the first time when he was six years old, Mitch Barrington is no stranger to the spotlight. Classically trained in piano and violin, as a young boy Mitch participated in violin, piano and vocal competitions at local and state levels winning multiple prizes, bursaries and age championships. Drawing from contemporary influences such as the likes of Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz, Goo Goo Dolls and Pete Murray, Mitch has been writing songs since his primary school years. However, as a singer/songwriter, his career didn’t commence until the September holidays of Year 12, 2008, when at age seventeen, he spent ten days in Brisbane at the ‘James North Productions’ studio tracking his self funded debut EP 'Life in Colour'. A mixture of uplifting acoustic ballads and enjoyable indie pop, ‘Life in Colour’ was written as a musical expression of Mitch’s take on life. Following the successful release of ‘Life in Colour’, eighteen year old Mitch entered and won Sea FM's 'Battle of the Bands' Competition in early 2009. Consequently, he was hand picked by Shannon Noll to open Noll’s ‘No Turning Back’ tour concert at the Moncrieff Theatre on the 20^th March with a mixture of songs from the 'Life in Colour' EP and a handful of newly written tracks. 

Later that month, Mitch’s song ‘Trying to Fly’ received second place in the internationally recognised ‘Pacific Songwriting Competition 2008 – Café/Scene Section’. As well as having airtime, interviews and live performances on over five radio stations locally and around Australia, stations in Vanuatu, Fiji and other south pacific islands have also added Mitch’s songs to their playlists. Mitch has also showcased his live talents at many venues around Qld including festivals such as the Childers Multicultural Festival (45000 people), Bundaberg Multicultural Festival, Gympie Gold Rush and The Great Noosa Campout Music Festival. In late July 2009, Mitch was inspired take his career a step further and release a full album. He commenced his twelve song debut LP “Breathe More Easily” in August and spent another four weeks with producer James North at the St Lucia studio laying down the new tracks. The album was released at the end of October. Since then Mitch has been accepted into the Qld Conservatorium’s exclusive Bachelor of Popular Music for 2010 and will continue to write and record his music as part of this program."

Author/Illustrator/artist/Bookbinder

Discovery Vibes Choir is a local choral group which began in 2008 under the guidance of their musical Director, Cath Fitzgerald and their Manager is Sara Hillman.  They also performed at last years festival and held their own concert. They also have a junior choir which will be performing at the festival.

Performing at the Captain Cook 1770 Festival 2010

My journey as a community artist really first began when I saw a need in my immediate area for someone to do creative things with children. Being the mum of a three year old that was obsessed with fairies I created FLOSS THE BOYNE ISLAND FAIRY. She would go to play groups, festivals and little girls birthday parties and put on an interactive show which involved costumes, make up, singing, dancing, games, arts/crafts, and lots of giggles.

About the same time I started hand painting tee shirts for play groups and daycare centers and started my first CREATIVE KIDS art/craft group. I am no longer the Boyne Island Fairy but my creative kids group is still going strong 10 years later.
I have a diverse range of skills that I enjoy sharing including dying fabric,mosaics, weaving, felting, jewellery making, henna body art painting and drawing. There have been a wide range of groups within our community I have had the opportunity to be involved with including youth at risk, young adults with disabilities, womens health, sunfest, holiday programs with the botanical gardens, indigenous groups and local primary schools. I suppose anyone that wants to have me. For me it is all about sharing the knowledge and the love. Being creative releases that happy chemical in your brain. So why not spread the joy. I am looking forward to having a happy hippy rainbow tie dye moment with you at the 1770 festival.

Bundaberg, Cooloola, and Hervey Bay Dragons will join 1770 Dragons for the inaugural Wide bay Regional Dragon Boat Regatta at the 2010 Captain Cook 1770 Festival on Saturday 22nd May from 1pm - 4pm. There will be 4 championship boats competing in a series of races, with the final race between two all-female crews!