by Mat Churchill

Over 1,000 eager music lovers flocked to Sunset On The Park 2 at Rex Smeal Park on Saturday to listen to some of the finest local music our area has to offer.

With temperatures soaring during the afternoon, families and friends flocked to the tranquility of the trees to listen to ten of the hottest acts in town.

Thankfully, the local fire brigade were on site to help cool the grateful crowd as they put their hoses to good use. Local charity KIND also helped with a portion of the gate takings going to the much needed organisation.

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The festival kicked off with Molly and Annie, young musicians with a fine bloodline (they are John Farnham's nieces), and finished with headline act, The Tonic, as the sun set on another glorious tropical North Queensland day.

Even a resident dugong, a regular at music events in the park after also appearing at the blues festival during Carnivale, seemed to be attracted by the bass much to the delight of spectators.

Dan England, former Australian Idol contestant, was backstage to encourage the talent. For many of them they were playing on the biggest stage, to the biggest audience of their careers.

MC for the day and Radio Port Douglas personality, Kim Hurley, said the event was an important stepping stone for local musicians.

"It's a very grassroots festival, and it gives them the confidence to go after a career in music after playing in front of a large and appreciative audience."

One happy music lover on the day was Mossman State High School's Annie Rose, who took home a customised Sunset In The Park 2 acoustic guitar valued at over $700 thanks to Cloud Nine Guitars as the major raffle winner.

In a bid to continue giving our local musicians exposure to the festival experience into the future, Sunset In The Park 2 organisers, FMF, gathered a petition containing more than 800 signatures to attract funding for next year's event.

With the classic combination of good old snags w/ onion on bread and the famous Mocka Pies on the menu, the afternoon crept into the evening with many a full belly.

People from as far as the U.K. and Canada turned up to see how, as the team from FMF puts it, Rock in the Tropics.

FMF would like to send a big thank you to Kev and his wife for transporting and setting up the stage after driving through the night from Innisfail.

The FMF Sunset in the Park 2 spokesperson Kim Hurley said it would not have been possible without the support of the Musicians who all played for free on the day. The line was was:

Molly and Annie, The Kan'd Peaches, The Black Mountain Rouges, Mereanna and Will, Fashion Tips for Tractors, The Interruptions, The Cloud Nine Band, Kit Bray, James Braithwaite and The Tonic.

FMF made special request to thank the following businesses for their investment into the future of Port Douglas Entertainment by ensuring the return of the Footprints Music Festival, Sunset in the Park.

Major Investors:

The Iron Bar, Dougies Backpackers, Port Douglas Watersports

Raffle Sponsors:

Treetops Resort & Spa, Cloud Nine Guitars, Port Douglas Heritage Wines 

Event Contributors:

Radio Port Douglas,  S & M Construction, Adams Waste, Cairns Regional Council - Mossman Division,  Court House Hotel

Equipment Contributions:

The Port Douglas Surf Club, Papillion Irrigation and Landscaping, Raine & Horne Real Estate, The Clink and Chillydog Refrigeration.