Music In Paradise 2014 to 2023: How, Where, Why.
The Journey, and the 2023 Schedule of events announced!
Words by Geoff Crockett/Smorgasboarder Magazine.
There simply is no other music event on earth this intimate, exclusive and idylic. Literally a private beach party.
Since launching in 2014, Perfect Travel Group’s Music in Paradise events have seen thousands of guests fly to the Maldives or Bali
to experience a week of resort accommodation, surfing and intimate concerts featuring the likes of Jimmy Barnes, Bernard Fanning, Hoodoo Gurus, Ian Moss, Diesel, Ocean Alley, The Living End, Xavier Rudd, Pete Murray, Tex Perkins, Phil Jamieson, Daryl Braithwaite, Richard Clapton, The Black Sorrows, Troy Cassar-Daley and Donovan Frankenreiter.
Xavier Rudd performing on the beach in the Maldives in 2022. He loved it, and is coming back in September 2023
Picture an idyllic small roof top bar, sun setting over the ocean,
Barnesy on stage belting out one of his many hits and a deliberately capped audience of 200 guests relaxing on bean bags, cocktails in hand, singing along. Everyone’s staying in the same resort, so chances are high the next morning you’ll bump into Barnesy at the breakfast buffet or having a crack at the waves with his family – after all, part of the attraction for the artists to attend, is the location.
Another of the idylic concert venues mentioned above…..the rooftop bar at Kandooma
Perfect Wave Travel’s marketing manager Ben Horvath, the curator of the unique concert series, said that all changed with the arrival of COVID. As local and international borders closed, international travel became a dream and State Premiers played games with mandates, the travel industry was taking a beating. Tours were cancelled, tickets refunded, credits were held over in the hope of rescheduling. The big question on everyone’s lips – how do we make money and pay the bills at a travel company – when it’s almost impossible for people to travel. With Aussie travellers, and performers, restricted in their movements, Ben and his hands-on CEO Jamie Gray turned their attention closer to home and started to work on ideas for an intimate music experience somewhere in Australia.
Our Whitsundays venue
Working within the parameters of their existing format, they went searching for a location with the potential for great waves and a similar vibe to the laidback luxury of Kandooma Resort in the Maldives. “Initially we were thinking Stradbroke Island, it had the potential for surf, but there isn’t one resort quite big enough to cater for a coupla hundred guests and bands,” Ben said. Finding the right sort of experience to attract guests and artists led the team to Daydream Island in the Whitsundays.
Beautiful location – no waves.
“So, we took `surf’ out of the title and evolved the concept to become Music in Paradise instead,” Ben said. With a venue sorted, and a new concept to test, Ben said they started talking to Jimmy Barnes and his family about the chances of playing a few shows in the Whitsundays on the long weekend in June 2021. “The Barnes family and their entire management team have been unwavering friends to the business. They came on board and have helped us through the pandemic,” Ben said. “The popularity of Jimmy Barnes is amazing. His fans will travel thousands of kilometres to see him play.” And travel they did.
With Jimmy and Mahalia Barnes confirmed for performances over three nights, the marketing for the Long Weekend in the Whitsundays went out, and sold out, in a flash. With the concept proven and more great Australian musos keen to get involved, dates were set for August 2021 concerts featuring three nights of music by The Living End and Grinspoon front man Phil Jamieson – and another line up of Darryl Braithwaite and Richard Clapton. Another wave of COVID, another wave of date changes. The August shows were pushed back to November and December 2021 and then, finally, performed in May 2022.
The Living End ripping it up in the Whitsundays. what a blast and an incredible domestic winter escape
Extraordinary
We are four timers to Jimmy week in Kandooma and obviously love it but probably didn’t think it could get any better. Think again, it did. Musically, the best ever with Ian Moss (and son Julian) taking it to the next level. For Chisel fans the interplay and respect between Jimmy and Mossy was worth the price of admission alone. As a venue, Kandooma is simply magnificent. The service ethic, warmth and friendliness of the staff is the best we’ve ever experienced, anywhere, ever. Joby deserves a special mention. Like most of the world, Kandooma were significantly short staffed gearing back up after Covid but the team worked tirelessly to make it another extraordinary holiday…Bravo Jamie, Marie, Gina and Sylv at Perfect Travel, you nailed it. Much gratitude and thanks.
Just Superb
Wow! How can you not have fun? This was an amazing time for us, we had such a great time enjoying the music and the atmosphere! What a beautiful setting to enjoy Xavier Rudd and he played so well. It was a treasure to experience his music at Kandooma. Lifetime highlight!
Amazing place, Amazing Music, Best exprience.
It was everything we were promised and more. A relaxing location with great water and views with time spent relaxing and enjoying the sunshine. Afternoons it all began with drinks on the beach followed by the best Jimmy Barnes, Mahalia Barnes, Ian Moss and their families playing unforgettable music at sunset over five nights. Would definitely come again.
Amazing!
To have music that you love listening to with a view of the rolling waves in the background is the a truly amazing experience. The bonus was to catch up with people/friends we had met there 5 years ago! This was the holiday of a lifetime and we can’t wait to do it again!
Awesome music event
Surf Music in Paradise is highly recommended in Kandooma.
We went swimming, snorkeling, relaxed of a day, and at night we had some fantastic music artists to listen to. We met new friends who will become life long friends. The music line up was awesome. The musicians and their families were down to earth and as relaxed as we were.
Amazing Event in an unforgettable location!
The best thing about doing events with Music In Paradise is the personal connection you have with all the artist and their family!
Great time in Maldives and everything we hoped for.
Had a great time in Maldives. Jimmy, family and special guests like Ian and his family absolutely wowed us and they gave so much of their time to the concerts. Could not have asked for a more perfect holiday for a die hard Chisel fan.
Amazing & Unique Experience
Marie & the team were not only incredible prior to booking the experience, being on site assisted in the smooth running of the event and naturally the MIP event speaks for itself. The location, facilities, people and vibe were unparalleled.
one of the best holidays I’ve ever had
The daily surf lessons at 7am set us up for a great day, with the best surfing lessons I’ve had that have turned me into a surfer back home. Loved all the snorkelling/boat trips and we still had plenty of time to relax. The concerts were so much fun and a great end to each perfect day. The staff at Kandooma were delightful, helpful and the food at the Kitchen was out of this world. The day spa massages were so blissful and I couldn’t fault the resort. Honestly one of the best holidays I’ve ever had with a really fun bunch of people.
The best music ever in the most perfect location on earth
I thought nothing in this universe could have been better than Jimmy’s 2017, 2018 and 2019 events at Kandooma. And then you added Mossy to the line up and you created musical history. Five fabulous concerts like nothing I’ve ever experienced and I’ve been to a LOT of concerts over the years. I still can’t believe that I was sitting (or dancing) so close to Jimmy and Mossy (and Mahalia) as they performed so many of their timeless, classic songs. The best music ever in the most perfect location on earth. I can’t even begin to come up with words that do justice to or fully describe just how epic the Jimmy/Mossy event was. A huge ‘thank you’ to you and the team for creating such a memorable event. Fingers and toes crossed that there’ll be a Maldives #5 cos if there is, I’ll be back xxxx.
Awesome trip
We had an awesome trip.The Maldives were beautiful and the entertainment with Jimmy and Mossy was absolutely epic!!!!The resort was really good and the staff were extremely friendly.Plentiful to do if you wanted……or not😊unforgettable experience 👍👍👍
Loved it
Love it
Once in a lifetime experience
Having waited 3 years to attend the performances in the Maldives it did not disappoint. Amazing food, weather and company. Then the gigs were fantastic at the end of the day. Highly recommended for Jimmy fans. Thanks to Charlie for all your help making this possible
Incredible
This was the perfect holiday.
Surf was fantastic, music amazing, food, service and accomodation all 10/10.
Very well run and organised.
Would not hesitate to go again for the right musician.
Fabulous week!
A privilege to experience such intimate shows by Jimmy, Mahalia, Mossy and the other great musos and singers in such a magical setting.
Trip of a lifetime!
This was hands down THE most magical week spent with family & close friends. Everything was perfectly organised, the staff were total legends and the three Xavier Rudd concerts blew us away. We will definitely be booking another MIP trip with The Perfect Wave again. Thanks for the memories!
May 2022
While June 2021 will go down as the beginning of the Music in Paradise era, 2022 is likely to mark the time its foundation was most firmly laid – even if with the pesky bug continuing to have an impact. In May, Music in Paradise presented three events. Stranded in the Whitsundays, from May 16 to 20, was scheduled to feature Jimmy Barnes, Daryll Braithwaite and Richard Clapton. The show went ahead with Diesel and The Black Sorrows coming in as last minute replacements after Jimmy contracted COVID the night before he was due to fly to the Whitsundays and had to stay home and isolate.
The Black Sorrows totally rockin last year’s Stranded event. They’re back in 2023
The Living End and Phill Jamieson finally got to play from May 21, and Ian Moss and Troy Cassar-Daley turned out from May 26, to top off three weeks of top Australian Music in Paradise. In even better news, the re-opening of borders, the boost of vaccination numbers and the return of international flights put the Maldives back on the agenda for late 2022, with Bali and Thailand on the horizon and plans already in place for Stranded II next winter in the Whitsundays.
Phil Jamieson Whitsundays
For Ben, the key to the attractiveness and success of the events is creating a mini festival-like atmosphere for an audience of mainly 40+ music lovers, with more intimacy, more comforts, socializing with like-minded people and minus the drawbacks of a big festival in terms of weather, crowds of teenagers, police and party drugs. He said for the artists, the Music in Paradise gigs offered a chance for them to have a bit of a holiday, often with their families along for the ride, and to meet fans who have been willing to travel thousands of kilometres across the world to be part of the experience. Ben said, the change in title for the events, and the addition of the Whitsundays, Thailand and Fiji to the line-up of future venues presented an opportunity for the business to grow and reach out into new markets. “The thing we’ve learnt from getting to the shows – is that fans will travel,” he said. “Jimmy’s fans are so ironed on and loyal. They’ll travel to the Maldives to see him. People travelled from the UK, Europe, NZ, Australia to see the Hoodoo Gurus and we have plenty of Germans, Israelis and Americans coming to see Xavier Rudd.”
Late 2022 saw the much-anticipated return to the Maldives, featuring Xavier Rudd August 27 to 3 September and then Jimmy Barnes and Ian Moss from September 4 to 11 at Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives.
The line-up for 2023 is shaping up to be by far our biggest and best year yet!
Intimate, live and exclusive with Australia’s current King Of Pop-Guy Sebastian.
We are so excited to announce we have just added Guy Sebastian to our 2023 schedule. Singer Songwriter and Producer, Guy Sebastian is one of Australia’s most popular and successful male artists. He is the only Australian male artist in ARIA history to have ever achieved six number one ARIA singles, and three number one albums. Guy will be performing over 3 evenings at Kandooma featuring all your favourite songs. Don’t miss this special MIP subscribers only pre-sale release. First release Tix/packages here.
Birds of Tokyo have grown from independent roots to become one of Australia’s most popular contemporary rock bands.
BOT have released six studio albums including Human Design which topped the ARIA charts. Classic songs like “Good Lord”, “Two Of Us”, “Plans”, “Lanterns”, “Brace” and “I’d Go With You Anywhere” have all been top 10 airplay hits and more than seventy Birds of Tokyo tracks have featured on Triple J, making them one of the National Youth Broadcaster’s three most played artists of this millennium.
Birds of Tokyo are playing 3 exclusive shows like no other at Kandooma Resort, Maldives.
Secure your BOT MIP subscribers only pre-sale release. First-release tickets and packages here.
Stranded in the Whitsundays II
This is a not to be missed homegrown winter escape featuring the biggest and best line up MIP have ever assembled …an absolutely legendary bill of Australian Hall Of Fame Icons.
Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, Kate Ceberano, The Black Sorrows, and Mahalia Barnes and The Soul Mates are absolute legends of Australian popular music. They’re playing their own intimate gigs on four separate evenings in the Whitsundays. Are you kidding me? What an opportunity to take in all 5 acts, celebrate with friends, family or your partner in what will be a very special, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Tickets / packages still available here – Get in this month as this will sell out!
Up Close And Personal With Australia’s Undisputed Queen Of Pop – Delta Goodrem.
Over 3 evenings you will get to enjoy exclusive, intimate shows with Delta Goodrem and Matt Copley featuring all your favourite songs.
4 nights of ultimate and incredibly intimate gigs in paradise.
Join The Living End, Tex Perkins and Matt Walker for 4 incredibly personal gigs on this specially curated Music in Paradise event in the heart of the warm, sunny, tropical Maldives at beautiful Kandooma Resort.
This is a music experience and week-long holiday in paradise not to be missed! The Living End will perform two very special, intimate and extended live performances. The charismatic combo of Tex Perkins and Matt Walker are also performing two up-close, personal shows.
Wow… what a lineup!
Follow The Sun To The Maldives.
Follow the sun to the Maldives and RELAX. Sit back, as Xavier Rudd’s music, message, and the environment around him comes together in stunning synchronicity over 3 incredibly individualistic sunset shows never to be forgotten. Think warm water, chilled sunsets, cruisy righthanders and dancing barefoot. This incredible beach venue has only one dress code – comfort with a capital C. The only other pre-requisite is ultimate chill with a dash of maximum fun. Limited tix still available here for Xavier’s special school hols shows. Bring the whole family. JOIN US FROM SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 1, 2023
Xavier in deep connection mode
Author
Geoff Crockett
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