Thousands of revellers have flocked to the desert to participate in world record dances, shotgun weddings and three days of fun as the world’s most remote music festival kicks off.
More than 9,000 festival goers have set up camp on the edge of the Simpson Desert in Outback Queensland for the Big Red Bash country rock music festival.
Located against a backdrop of rolling red sand dunes, revellers travelled an average of 4,300km just to attend the all-ages, dog-friendly event.
The first day of Australia’s biggest outback event began with 2,330 boot-scooting bush dancers breaking the world record for the largest Nutbush dance.
Thousands of revellers have flocked to the desert to participate in world record dances, shotgun weddings and three days of fun
Mount Tambourine couple Mark and Nicole Wilson (pictured) eloped at the Big Red Bash in front of the striking red backdrop of the 40-metre-high Big Red sand dune
Located against a backdrop of rolling red sand dunes, revellers travelled an average of 4,300km just to attend the all-ages, dog-friendly
The first day of Australia’s biggest outback event began with 2,330 boot-scooting bush dancers breaking the World Record for the Largest Nutbush Dance (pictured)
The new world record broke the previous record of 1,719 dancers which was also claimed by revellers at last year’s festival.
The new world record also raised more than $25,000 for the festival’s charity partner, the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
A Gold Coast couple climbed the biggest sand dune in the Simpson Desert and tied the knot to the delight of onlookers.
Mount Tambourine couple Mark and Nicole Wilson eloped at the Big Red Bash in front of the striking red backdrop of the 40-metre-high Big Red sand dune.
The couple made the snap-decision to get married just 40 days before the event, after traditional wedding planning became too much for them.
Both had been previously married and decided they wanted to do it differently this time, by travelling 1,600 kilometres from home and standing atop a sand dune.
‘We wanted something simple and something we would remember,’ Mr Wilson said.
Mr Wilson saw Newcastle celebrant June Watt was heading out to the festival and would be there if anyone wanted to get married.
The world’s most remote music festival is taking place on the edge of the Simpson Desert in Queensland
A Gold Coast couple climbed the biggest sand dune in the Simpson Desert and tied the knot to the delight of onlookers
The couple made the snap-decision to get married just 40 days before the event, after traditional wedding planning became too much for them
Mr Wilson saw Newcastle celebrant June Watt (pictured left with the couple) was heading out to the festival and would be there if anyone wanted to get married
Revellers travel to the top of the sand dunes to witness the sunrise early in the morning before the event kicked off
He tagged his fiancé at the time in the post and the couple decided to throw caution to the wind and ‘go for it’.
‘The closer it got, we’re like, ‘You know what, let’s just do it’,’ Ms Wilson told the ABC.
‘We messaged her about 40 days out from the Bash and you need 30 days for all of your legalities.’
Ms Watt said it took the couple just an hour and a half to get all their paperwork signed and delivered to her, which she said was record time.
Once at the festival, the couple hiked up the Big Red Sand Dune – the biggest dune in the Simpson Desert – and dragged the celebrant and two friends up with them.
Mr Wilson said it took him ten minutes to recover from the hike once at the top.
The world’s most remote music festival kicked off with more than 2,000 people participating in setting a new World Record
This year’s Big Red Bash has sold out with more than 9,000 people flocking to the desert – marking it the largest incarnation of the event since its founding in 2014
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said a sold out Birdsville Big Red Bash will be a great boost for jobs in the tourism sector in the region
The Birdsville Big Red Bash is the most remote music festival in the world – located on the edge of the Simpson Desert against a backdrop of rolling red sand dunes
The all-ages and dog-friendly event offers up a uniquely Australian destination adventure for families, grey nomads, camping enthusiasts and intrepid travellers domestically and abroad.
The festival also has a jam-packed program of outback activities – from comedy and outdoor film screenings, to scenic helicopter flights, dune surfing, beach volleyball, camel rides and charity initiatives for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Children even take time to enjoy the massive sand dunes in the area, climbing to the top and sliding down them.
Australian rock legends Midnight Oil are headlining this year’s event to give a once-in-a-generation performance.
They will be joined by Kasey Chambers, The Living End, Busby Marou, 1927, Neil Murray and many more set to entertain revellers.
This year’s Big Red Bash has sold out with more than 9,000 people flocking to the desert – marking the largest incarnation of the event since its founding in 2014.
Children even take time to enjoy the massive sand dunes in the area, climbing to the top and sliding down them
The all-ages and dog-friendly event offers up a uniquely Australian destination adventure for families, grey nomads, camping enthusiasts and intrepid travellers
Birdsville has a rich history of drawing people together. The traditional custodians of the land are the Wangkangurru-Yarluyandi people
The festival also has a jam-packed program of outback activities – from comedy and outdoor film screenings, to scenic helicopter flights, dune surfing, beach volleyball, camel rides and charity initiatives
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said a sold out Birdsville Big Red Bash will be a great boost for jobs in the tourism sector in the region.
‘The 2019 Birdsville Big Red Bash could well be the best one yet,’ Ms Jones said.
‘Outback Queensland is getting ready to host thousands of visitors who are making the journey to the western edge of the state to take part in this iconic event, hosted in a truly unique landscape.’
Ms Jones said the event selling out is a testament to the hard work of the event organisers and the local community.
‘The Queensland Government is proud to support this event via Tourism and Events Queensland because it does a great job of drawing visitors to the state, showcasing Outback Queensland and providing real economic benefit for the people in this region,’ Ms Jones said.
Big Red Bash Founder and Organiser, Greg Donovan, said this year’s festival is set to be the biggest yet.
‘We are fortunate enough to have our biggest ever music lineup in 2019 – and so it makes sense that we’ve also notched our biggest ever ticket sales,’ Mr Donovan said.
‘With 2019 being declared the ‘Year of Outback Tourism’ by the Queensland Government, it’s great to see more and more people embracing the opportunity to break city limits and explore this remote and beautiful part of outback Australia.’
Ms Jones said the event selling out is a testament to the hard work of the event organisers and the local community
The first day of Australia’s biggest outback event began with a bang, as 2,330 boot-scooting bush dancers broke the World Record for the Largest Nutbush Dance
Big Red Bash Founder and Organiser, Greg Donovan, said this year’s festival is set to be the biggest yet