When Dave Gleeson talks about Airlie Beach, you can hear the grin in his voice.
The Screaming Jets frontman has played plenty of sweaty pub gigs in his time, but the Whitsundays, with its turquoise water, island backdrop and laid-back vibe, is something else entirely. "Of course it's special," he says.
"When you're on tour, you rarely get time to smell the roses. Usually we play Airlie Beach on a Friday night, get there Friday morning or afternoon, do the show, and we're gone the next day. This year I got to spend a week there with my family – snorkelling, jet skiing, fishing. It was just fantastic."
That visit in May reminded him why the festival is such a standout on the calendar. "You see a lot of venues shutting down in big cities, but in Airlie Beach every night of the week there's something live going on. As a musician, that's fantastic to see."
It's fitting, then, that Gleeson has been named the official ambassador for the 2025 Airlie Beach Festival of Music (7–9 November) – and The Screaming Jets are one of the headliners.
"It's very exciting whenever anyone gives you that type of mantle," he says. "It's great because there's no corporatisation about the event, it involves the whole town. Whether it's bars and restaurants up and down the strip or the main stage in the concert ground, everyone's part of it."
The diversity of the line-up is also part of the appeal. This year's bill stretches from Aussie rock royalty to genre-hopping upstarts.
"You've got everything from rock to blues to country blues. Acts people have never seen before just add to the vibe. I can't wait – hopefully I get to meet Jessica Mauboy. I've got huge respect for her career."
For Gleeson, the tropical setting only amplifies the atmosphere. "I'll never put down a sweaty, packed pub gig – they have their own beauty – but when you're in a place like this, it's something else," he says.
"Sure, by November it's a bit moist under the armpits, but everyone's there to experience all kinds of music. That excitement runs through the crowd, the bands onstage, even backstage."
The Jets' set will balance hits and deeper cuts, plus a few surprises. "There's probably eight or nine songs that if we didn't play, we wouldn't get out unscathed," Gleeson laughs.
"We've put out a couple of albums in the last few years, including 'Gotcha Covered', where we did everyone from INXS to Australian Crawl. At festivals, not everyone knows all our material, so it's nice to throw in something everyone can sing along to."
Songs from 2023's 'Professional Misconduct' have been road-tested into shape. "When you record later albums, you often don't get to play the songs live before you hit the studio.
"So when you start touring, you're still learning them," Gleeson says, "but over a few months they grow; the crowd gets into them, and so do we. 'Second Chance' has been a favourite, and tracks like 'Shadows' and 'No Reason' have gone down really well."
Dave's approach to live shows has evolved over the decades. "When you're young it's reflex, you just get onstage and go. Now, I've got a routine to get worked up so I can give the best show. People have paid their bucks, so you want to make sure it's great every time."
The other key? "Doing it with mates," Gleeson says simply. "We all get on really well. I see bands where the guys don't talk to each other, and I think, 'why are you even playing together?' For us, every night's fresh. You never play to the same crowd twice."
Gleeson's passion for Aussie rock extends beyond his own band. He's always keen to check out emerging acts on festival bills, and loves championing emerging Aussie acts.
"Pricey is great – he (Josh Price) was in The Chats and now has his own band. Smacked Youth from Newcastle are fantastic, and there's a glam band from Melbourne called Sisters Doll who just blow people away.
"Their crowds quadrupled over a few days on Rock the Boat last year," he says. "I'm keen to check out some of the young ones at Airlie Beach this year." And when the music stops? "I want to go barra fishing first thing," Gleeson says. "Then maybe get back on the jet skis – we were cutting sick last time – and snorkelling. I love diving down to the coral."
For anyone still on the fence about making the trip, Gleeson's pitch is short and sharp. "Where have you been? You're killing two birds with one stone – an amazing destination and a great festival.
"I know heaps of people who use the festival as a launchpad into the Whitsundays for a couple of weeks. The food's magnificent. The acts you haven't heard of might blow you away more than the ones you have; and if you don't get there this year, you'll miss The Screaming Jets – the greatest rock band ever, according to Heavy Mag."
Airlie Beach Festival of Music runs 7-9 November.
Airlie Beach Festival Of Music 2025 Second Line-Up Acts
Pete MurrayTex Perkins
Matt Walker
David Flower
The Natural Culture
Matty Rogers
Tanya George
Dallas Steele
Kieran McCarthy
Zed Charles
Jolly Jingo
Bear Brewer
Jackson Dunn
Darren Griffis & The Jukejoint
Katie Richards Band
Lucy Gallant
The Gathering
Trilla
Tim Griffin
Karl S Williams & Sally Wiggins
The Humbuckin' Pickups
The Whiskeys
Is Man Kind
Rollercam
Viva Band
Sam McCann
Corey Legge
The Swine Club
Tammy Moxon
Sam Maddison
Matt Black
Tim Johnson
Rebelquin
Simon Briley
Scotty Wilson
Josiah Samuel
Tiffany Grace
Dave Helgi Johan
Off Tap
Airlie Beach Festival Of Music 2025 First Acts
Jessica MauboyThe Screaming Jets
Diesel
The Black Sorrows
Choirboys
Bachelor Girl
Lloyd Spiegel
Jayne Denham
Hillbilly Goats
James Bennett
Andy Penkow
Bo’Ness Brothers
Matt Angell
Piper Butcher
Tom Neilson
