Townsville City Council has secured the first major act for the inaugural North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA).
The hit punk cabaret act Bernie Dieter's Little Death Club will perform in one of the two Spiegeltents returning to Townsville for NAFA.
Bernie Dieter's Little Death Club received rave reviews at both the Edinburgh and Adelaide Fringe Festivals.
Acting Mayor Les Walker said the line-up for NAFA was shaping up as one of the most exciting events ever to be held in Townsville.
"Bernie Dieter's Little Death Club has received rave reviews and it's a little edgy," Cr Walker said.
"I think it's going to be a big hit with locals – particularly our arts community."
Cr Walker said Council was developing NAFA into becoming a Fringe style event – the only one of its kind in the North.
"NAFA will help cement Townsville's reputation as the arts and cultural capital of Northern Australia," Cr Walker said.
"Council will be searching across the country and the globe for the best acts to ensure we build something unique with NAFA.
"This is the first time we will be holding NAFA and we want to build it into the biggest and best annual arts and cultural festival in the North.
"There's going to be a lot more exciting announcements to come as Council finalises the line-up for the Festival."
Cr Walker said establishing an annual arts and cultural festival was a key election commitment from Team Hill.
"The Mayor and the team of councillors are totally committed to delivering a major annual arts and cultural festival to prove beyond doubt Townsville is the events capital of Northern Australia," Cr Walker said.
NAFA will run throughout the month of July.
