Long Listen Festival launches new Sunshine Coast fundraiser weekend

Louise King and Courtney Cleary.

From 2-5 July, Long Listen Festival will launch Winter Sanctuary, a new boutique fundraising initiative bringing together music lovers, artists, food, conversation and community across a weekend of intimate events throughout the Sunshine Coast.

Presented by Artistic Director Louise King and featuring acclaimed violinist Courtenay Cleary, Winter Sanctuary is a curated series of musical gatherings set in some of the region’s most distinctive spaces, including a private house concert, Eudlo Hall, Roads Wine Bar Peregian and a six course degustation long table lunch in the gardens of Bahche, Peachester.

Designed as an alternative to the traditional concert experience, audiences are invited to enjoy chamber music alongside shared meals, wine, storytelling and conversation in relaxed and welcoming settings.

“Winter Sanctuary is about creating spaces where people can slow down, listen and connect with one another through music,” says King. “These events are intimate by design, bringing artists and audiences together in a way that feels personal, generous and memorable.”

The weekend program explores themes of feasting, folklore, winter and firelight, featuring music by Vivaldi, Elena Kats-Chernin, Anne Cawrse, Ross Edwards, Betty Beath, Hildegard von Bingen, Katherine Rawlings, Stephen Chin, Kate Moore, Piazzolla and Saint-Saëns.

Winter Sanctuary forms part of Long Listen Festival’s growing fundraising program, helping support the sustainability of the festival while building new audiences, venue partnerships and donor relationships ahead of its 2026–2027 seasons.

Events will take place from 2-5 July across the Sunshine Coast, with capacities limited to preserve the intimate nature of each experience.

Tickets and event information: https://collections.humanitix.com/winter-sanctuary