Will Jack drop in?, By Peter Gardiner - Sunshine Coast Daily - 8th March 2008

For fans of laidback surfing singer Jack Johnson, it could be a case of “Sitting, Waiting, Wishing” in Noosa for an impromptu performance from the latest face to grace the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

There’s an underground buzz that Johnson will appear on stage today with the coolest surfer on the planet –newly crowned Quiksilver Pro champ Kelly Slater.

Music inspired by the surf and played by surfers is a cultural phenomenon of recent times, and one that the Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of Surfing is now in tune with.

Its musical concert at the Noosa Heads Lions Park will have free surfing activist Dave Rastovich performing with Band of Frequencies, and all-time great Tom Curren performing alongside Pico.

“To be honest, I can’t wait to play and it would be a real buzz to have a jam with Curren and Pico – who knows, maybe Kelly (Slater) will join in too if he is around,” Dave said.

Last year festival organiser Garth Prowd, of USM events, sowed the first seeds of speculation when he said how good it would be to have someone like Jack surfing alongside Kelly in Noosa and then the two jamming together.

And eight-times world champion Kelly is supposed to be coming to town for the festival, while Jack, who kicks off his Australian tour next week, is supposed to be in Australia at the moment. Some reports have him staying on the Coast.

Mr Prowd yesterday refused to comment on what he sees as idle speculation.

The word around the festival is that even if Kelly and Jack were both in Noosa this weekend, any decision to play would be an entirely spontaneous thing on their behalf.

So as Jack almost said in his hit tune: “Must we always be waiting, waiting on you guys.”

Your complete guide to the Noosa Festival of Surfing, including links to stories and photo galleries.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Rolling Stone magazine

Global Surf Industries

Noosa

Surfing