12:00a.m. 1st October 2008

| By Roxanne McCarty-O’Kane

Richie Eylesn holds up the unique guitar that will be signed by performers then auctioned at the Caloundra Music Festival. With him are performers Kate and Maddie Gibson. Photo: Robyne Cuerel/178577aaaa

The second Caloundra Music Festival is set to eclipse the inaugural event, with ticket sales already exceeding the total from last year.

Festival director Richie Eyles said more than 6500 tickets had been sold and the festival on October 17 to 19 could be a sellout.

“With ticket sales going so well, we have more time to focus on free things for the community, such as The Village,” Mr Eyles said.

“The Village will be set up alongside beautiful Kings Beach, just outside the main festival arena, and will feature free entertainment, market stalls, kids’ activities, carnival rides, workshops, street performers, a parade and plenty of opportunities for community groups to raise funds.”

Among the beneficiaries of this year’s event will be the Metropolitan Caloundra and Dicky Beach Surf Life Saving Clubs.

An exclusive Caloundra Music Festival guitar and surfboard, signed by all festival performers – including Pete Murray, Kate Miller-Heidke and The Whitlams – will be raffled off at the VIP Party on Sunday, October 19.

Summer Surf Girls Fiona Fewtrell from Metropolitan Caloundra and Lydia Allen from Dicky Beach are looking forward to assisting with the raffling.

“All of the money will go towards the clubs and will help us to buy new resources for the clubs to prepare for a busy summer,” Ms Allen said.

More than $2200 was raised for a signed cardboard guitar last year.

Raffle tickets can be purchased from either of the surf clubs.