12:00a.m. 3rd September 2008

Grace Knight.

It has played host to some of the most exciting acts to hit the Coast.

From Jimmy Barnes to Grace Knight and a bunch of exciting acts in between, the Sunshine Coast Function Centre at Caloundra RSL is one of the hottest venues in town.

The 1500-capacity venue, a key part of the Caloundra RSL’s $23 million redevelopment plans, has already played host to some incredible performers and there is still plenty of excitement planned for the rest of the year.

Starting on September 18 is possibly the most electrifying four days of events the Coast has seen, and it is all at one venue. Rock superstars The Living End will fire up the Function Centre for one of the most highly anticipated gigs of the year.

After forming in 1994, The Living End first entered the public consciousness when they toured the country with Green Day, but it wasn’t until the release of their hugely successful single, Prisoner of Society, that they found fame, achieving the highest selling Australian single of the 1990s.

Now with age and experience under their belt, the boys are on their national White Noise tour.

After an event like that you will want to have Friday off, but head back to the RSL on Saturday, September 20, for the country’s most famous runner-up, Shannon Noll, for his Turn It Up tour.

After coming second to Guy Sebastian in the first series of Australian Idol, Nollsy has proved second is not the first loser by going on to become the most successful Idol contestant to date, notching up a string of hits with his husky voice that would give Jimmy Barnes a run for his money.

Continuing the Idol trend, Irish crooner Damien Leith will perform an afternoon concert on Sunday, September 21, to help you wind down from the craziness and head back into the week.

But it isn’t just modern mega-stars that are attracted to the Function Centre.

Last weekend the venue played host to sultry jazz songstress Grace Knight and, on September 26, a man who has been entertaining Australians for more than four decades will take to the stage.

Doug Parkinson began his entertainment career in 1966 and since then has clocked up a string of chart toppers and is still one of the country’s most loved entertainers.

Following Doug will be hard-core rockers The Butterfly Effect which sent Coast fans crazy recently with their massive local gig. They have an enormous following here. Then, after the phenomenal success of their tour around the country together, Ian Moss and Jon Stevens will return to the Sunshine Coast to perform for their fans once again.

Stevens will be back first with the band he has been playing with for 15 years, Noiseworks.

The night will feature all of the classics you love, the camaraderie of a band you know, in an atmosphere where you remember them the best.

Then hold on to your hats because one week later Mossy will be there with Wendy Matthews, bringing together two of the greatest voices in the country.