From June 3rd–7th, Cooly Rocks On returns to the Gold Coast, bringing with it a full-throttle celebration of rockabilly, retro culture, and the people keeping it alive in 2026.
Few embody that spirit quite like Ange Lowe, better known as Reckless Penny.
By day, Lowe has spent more than 15 years working as an industrial electrician, “building and servicing machines” in an industry that still skews heavily male. By night — and across weekends like this one — she transforms into Reckless Penny, an award-winning pin-up, kustom kulture devotee, and one of the most recognisable faces in Australia’s vintage scene.
“I am beyond excited to be at Cooly Rocks On again this year,” she says. “Outfit planning is well underway. The countdown has begun.”
The anticipation feels deserved. Lowe took out the Rockabilly Pin Up title at the festival in 2024, returning the following year as a judge: a full-circle moment that cemented her place within the community.
“Returning as a judge was surreal,” she says. “It’s so exciting passing the title to the next rockabilly queen but also, man, it’s a tough gig. You’re judging the best of the best in Australia.”
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Cooly Rocks On has built its reputation on exactly that: a convergence of standout talent, style, and subculture, all set against one of the country’s most picturesque coastal backdrops. For Lowe, it’s the combination that makes it unlike anything else on the calendar.
“You have everything you want from a nostalgia festival — classic cars, amazing artists, dancing, gorgeous fashion — and put it on the backdrop of the stunning Coolangatta foreshore,” she says. “It’s like nothing else.”
While the festival’s drawcard lineup continues to evolve, Lowe is already mapping out her must-sees. “The Koffin Rockers is my absolute must see this year,” she says, adding The Hi-Stakes to the list.
But as she’s quick to point out, rockabilly has never been just about the music. It’s a full-spectrum culture, one that extends from the dance floor to the driveway.
“Rockabilly as a subculture encompasses so much more than just the music,” she explains. “It’s the chrome bumper cars, the big quiffs, a style of dancing, the fabulous clothes. It’s a world of its own and everyone’s welcome.”
Credit: Phil Kellow Photography
That sense of inclusivity is part of what has allowed the genre to endure… and evolve. While its foundations remain rooted in the 1950s, the scene has expanded to embrace new voices and subcultures.
“Rockabilly continues to hold its traditional roots but has evolved with time,” Lowe says. “We see more female singers like Patricia Day and Imelda May commanding the stage. Also offshoots of more subcultures, like psychobilly and gothabilly. As a subculture the hair gets bigger, the music gets faster, the double bass gets snappier, the cars get more kustom.”
At its core, though, the appeal is more visceral.
“Musically the songs have a rhythm that just sucks you in,” she says. “You try standing still listening to Stray Cat Strut, it’s just not possible.”
Lowe’s own tastes lean toward the harder edges of the genre, citing Mad Sin, The Brains, and Tiger Army as her all-time favourites; artists that reflect the genre’s darker, faster, more rebellious offshoots.
That same hands-on, rebellious energy runs through every aspect of her life.
“Beyond my pinup alter ego, I also have Atomic Creations where I create kustom kulture inspired resin jewellery and homewares,” she says. “I also have a 1965 C10 Pickup truck, which is always a constantly evolving project.”
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In many ways, Lowe’s story sits at the intersection of tradition and disruption. Working in a trade where her skills are often questioned, she’s used that friction as fuel.
“It certainly comes with a level of challenges but I think you’ll always have people who will question your skill level,” she says. “And if I get to be the person who helps shift their opinion then game on.”
That same shift is happening within rockabilly itself. While historically male-dominated in pockets, the scene is increasingly shaped by women.
“The rockabilly culture as a whole feels fairly well rounded these days,” Lowe says. “While there are pockets that feel more male dominated, in every part of the scene there are women shining a light also. From the badass ladies who work on their cars all the way through to the Pinup Ambassadors like Bettie Butcher who make space for everyone to feel welcome.”
Looking ahead, Lowe’s 2026 calendar is as eclectic as the culture she represents, from potential travel to the Mooneyes Yokohama Hot Rod Show to hands-on metal shaping workshops and creative collaborations, with the possibility of adding another classic car to her growing collection.
But first, there’s Cooly.
Find out more at www.coolyrockson.com
