A friendly but fierce rivalry has emerged across South East Queensland, with Logan, Ipswich and Redland all vying to host a special $10, all-ages concert by Australian pop star Tones and I.
The singer sparked the “mayoral showdown” on social media, announcing she would perform a one-off show with a full band and choir in the Australian community that “goes the hardest” in showing online support.
Logan Mayor Jon Raven has formally thrown his city into the mix, inviting the artist to perform at the Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct, a venue capable of hosting up to 8,500 people. He described Logan as one of the country’s youngest and most culturally diverse cities, calling the proposed concert a “world tour in one place”.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding has countered with a pitch highlighting Ipswich’s strong live-music credentials and major venues, while Redland Mayor Jos Mitchell has promoted bayside locations and even North Stradbroke Island as potential backdrops.
The winning city is expected to be announced on Sunday, January 25, just ahead of Australia Day. Residents keen to help their city secure the show are being encouraged to rally online, proving that community spirit could be the deciding factor.