Why do you do it? I love my job. A festival can be flexible and adapt to the world we find ourselves in. We see our job to embody the best attributes of our home town and amplify them through a city-wide festival, which celebrates Brisbane.
What do you love about the city you live in? There's lots I love about Brisbane. I love going to live gigs at The Princess and Fortitude Music Hall. I take guests visiting Brisbane to great restaurants like Donna Chang, Walters or Honto. Going for walks along the river down near the Powerhouse or along Kedron Brook.
Where did you go for your last holiday? Down to Brunswick Heads with my little family.
What's your favourite item of clothing? I bought a dark green vintage Hard Yakka jacket at an op-shop when I was in my mid 20s. That jacket has travelled around the world with me and still looks the same as the day I bought it.
What was your favourite TV show when you were a kid? If you've got kids, what's your favourite show to watch with them? I grew up on 'The Simpsons'. I have 2 daughters aged 11 and 13 who are both working their way through 'The Simpsons' now. Rewatching old episodes on a Sunday morning is pretty much my favourite thing to do right now.
If you could travel back in time for a day, where would you go? Seeing Nina Simone perform in her prime would be worth the trip back in time.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? Depends on the guests. When my wife was touring, I used to book in a different old fried to come over on a Friday night, serve t-bones and brussels sprouts and catch up. I'd cook that up for you if you eat meat.
What's the best lesson you've ever learned? My brother taught me to have the hard chats early and learn from them.
Tell us one thing about yourself that nobody else knows... My favourite job ever was pushing trolleys at Greenslopes Shopping Centre.
Are you happy with your work/ life balance? Ish.
How do you define success? A full quota of love.
Charlie Cush will be a panellist taking part in the Ask The Experts session as part of Australian Festival Industry Conference, one of Asia Pacific's leading industry marketplaces for festival management personnel who deliver quality music, arts and culture, food and drink, ideas and sporting festivals. The 2025 event takes place in Brisbane on 8-9 September.
