Tired of chasing event info across countless sites? Locals in the Loop is your one-stop guide to all the gigs and gatherings happening across the Sunshine Coast—curated with care by Larissa Mahony, the pocket rocket keeping the community connected.
It takes a special kind of person whose passion fuels their drive to unite a scene, promote experiences and enrich the lives of others. For Larissa Mahony, that passion isn’t just a career; it’s a way of life. With a background in marketing and events, Larissa moonlights as a content creator, handling digital marketing for various Sunshine Coast businesses. But her true labour of love? Locals in the Loop—a one-stop events platform dedicated to keeping the community informed and connected.
The idea for Locals in the Loop struck Larissa at the Peregian Beach Hotel. She was listening to an incredible duo Elsom and Co and thought, How did I not know about this? With over 300 gigs happening across the Sunshine Coast every weekend, event details were scattered across the web and finding what was on required piecing together information from different sources—an exhausting process for any event lover. So, she set out to change that.
Locals in the Loop is more than just an event listing site—it’s a hyperlocal, user-friendly platform that filters events based on region, venue, date, and audience preferences. And it’s not just for attendees. Musicians, venues, and event organisers can use Locals in the Loop as a powerful promotional tool. “People come to me looking for artists all the time,” says Larissa.
Understanding the ever-changing digital landscape, Larissa honed her marketing skills by tuning into top U.S. podcasts about social media trends. She quickly realised that short-form video, especially talking-head Reels, is the game-changer right now. By strategically sharing content across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and the Locals in the Loop website, she ensures that both audiences and artists stay in the know.
Despite the platform’s impressive reach—over 200,000 people per month—some businesses still underestimate its potential. “It’s frustrating,” Larissa admits. “Companies will spend $9,000 a month on radio ads when this platform can achieve similar (if not better) results for a fraction of the price.”
With her innovative approach and deep passion for supporting the talented local musicians in our backyard, Larissa isn’t just in the loop—she’s creating it. For the latest gigs, events, and happenings across the Sunshine Coast, get in the loop at LocalsintheLoop.com.au.
