A Day on the Green – Leconfield Wines 24/11/18
“A Day on the Green” events are a fantastic way to combine great music and choice wine in rural surrounds and last Saturday, Leconfield Wines at McLaren Vale was the venue for a mainly Aussie line up of artists (bands) spanning six decades of Australian Rock and roll history – but don’t let their ages fool you. With a combined years of age totalling over 200 years these Aussie rock icons did not fail to deliver to an appreciative audience, many of whom were themselves in their sixties and seventies. That said, young and old were all having a great time albeit on a fairly grey and cloudy Saturday afternoon.
I’m talking Russel Morris, John Farnham and Daryl Braithwaite – Aussie rock music legends that started their careers in the Sixties yet amazingly can still hold a note and what they lacked in pitch they certainly made up for in passion.
You have to give these gentlemen credit for the incredible work they do touring and entertaining all over Australia – and beyond. At an age when most of us would be thinking of putting our feet up and enjoying our retirement – no such thing for these guys – it was obvious to all present that these rock icons still love to entertain.
As we arrived Russel Morris and his band were belting out the bluesy number “Birdsville” from one of his recent albums but it was his debut single “The Real Thing” that got the crowd swaying. This psychedelic rock classic launched Morris’s career way back in 1969 but it’s still a great song and Russel and his band delivered. “Sweet Sweet Love” written by Morris rounded off the set – I love how this song starts off slow but then really takes off half way through and Morris and his band had the crowd on their feet cheering appreciatively.
Next was the only non Australian artist for the day, none other than Richard Marx who himself asked the question of the audience as he walked on stage “Am I the only yank here?” “Yep” being the reply from the audience.
Marx who has sold over 30 million records defined “soft rock” in the eighties with some of his hits. He opened with “Take this Heart” and “Angelia”. He then followed with his 1992 hit “Hazard” a song he wrote about a girl who goes missing suspiciously and the man who is accused of the crime – it’s a haunting but beautiful song about which Marx tells us, people go up to him and ask if the protagonist in the song is Marx himself!
Marx’s next number was “Satisfied” and he had the ladies on their feet singing along with him “ain’t gonna stop until we’re satisfied” and the ladies in the audience were in good voice. Marx has written songs with Aussie Country music star Keith Urban one of which was his next song the up tempo “Long Hot Summer”. Following some words about how he loves coming to Australia and how friendly Aussies are he then went to the keyboard for his final number and one he wrote himself, his smash hit “Right Here Waiting” and everyone even the boys were singing along!
Returning to Aussie Rock icons and next was Daryl Braithwaite and his band opening with some Sherbet numbers including “You’ve got the Gun”
Mr Braithwaite apologised to the audience for bringing the rain from Melbourne just as the light drizzle started to get heavier but not too many seemed perturbed as long as their poncho was keeping them reasonably dry….of course we were all waiting for John Farnham to appear so we weren’t going nowhere! In the meantime Daryl and his band continued with more Aussie Pop Hits such as “Rise” and “Howzat”
He rounded off his set with the classic “Horses” and everyone was on their feet singing our loud. You got to hand it to Daryl Braithwaite at 70 years of age he keeps on keeping on and continues pleasing audiences all around Australia including far flung outback towns touring and entertaining crowds of all ages.
Following an intermission the final act for the day and what most had been waiting for – John Farnham and his entourage appeared on stage and by this time light drizzle had turned to rain but this didn’t seem to stop anyone from getting up on their feet to have a good time. Mr Farnham opened by throwing a curve ball – Queen’s “We will Rock You” but the crowd didn’t seem to mind. He then followed with some his well known 80’s and 90’s hits including “Hearts on Fire” from his Romeo’s Heart album then “Age of Reason” and “Chain reaction” and the Mondo Rock cover from his Whispering Jack album “Touch of Paradise”. John Farnham’s voice is still as strong as ever and along with his backing singers and band had everyone swaying and singing every word of each song.
Farnham stopped for a moment to thank everyone for sticking around but just as we were thinking the night was nearly over Farnham took things a little up tempo with two more of his hits off the Whispering Jack album – “Pressure Down” and then the unmistakeable opening beat of “You’re the Voice” and everyone in the audience, well at least everyone around me, was up and about singing along to what was one of Farnham’s biggest successes.
And so with that final number John Farnham and his entourage left the stage and A Day on the Green at Leconfield Wines was over…or was it? With the crowd still in full voice, graciously Mr Farnham and his group returned for a final song – one that obviously means a lot to John Farnham – the AC/DC classic “It’s a long way to the Top (if you wanna Rock n’ Roll)” – a great way to end the day.
The sun didn’t shine much during the day and the drizzle was annoying but I’m sure all who attended had a great time and who knows there may not be too many more opportunities to see these 3 Aussie icons of Rock music on the same day at the same venue so – Thanks gentlemen for the music and the memories!
Reviewed by Rocco Melino 26/11/18
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