Stars – in concert return to The Thornbury Theatre on Friday 12th April. Stars got together in Adelaide 45 years ago, through a love of music at the time which included Free and Deep Purple. After a short while supporting bands from interstate such as Dingoes and Little River Band they signed to Mushroom Records and relocated to Melbourne. Andy Durant joined the band with a collection of his own songs which formulated their sound from rock boogie to melodic country rock. Stars toured the country with notable overseas acts like Joe Cocker, the Beach Boys, Linda Rondstadt and ELO among many others. After the release of Stars’ second album ‘Land of Fortune’, live album ‘1157’and three years of constant touring a decision was made to end Stars and sadly shortly after Andy died from a melanoma. In 1980 the star studded ‘Andrew Durant Memorial Concert’ was staged at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda, featuring the members of Stars, Renee Geyer, Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, Don Walker, Richard Clapton and many more which was recorded to great acclaim. After four decades, Stars are back with the original line up featuring Mick Pealing on vocals and guitar, Mal Eastick on guitar, Roger McLachlan on bass, Glyn Dowding on drums and featuring Nick Charles on guitar who with Mick has written the fine new songs on ‘Boundary Rider’.
Melbourne Comedy Festival comes to the Thornbury Theatre with Chick Flick on Saturday 13th April. Jo Stanley (FOX FM, GOLD FM) and Talei Wolfgramm (The Wolfgramm Sisters, RocKwiz, Paul Kelly) star in this outrageous evening of laughs and sing-a-longs including classic rom-com songs such as ‘I Will Always Love You’, ‘Pretty Woman’, ‘When You Say Nothing At All’, ‘Shoop Shoop Song’, ‘Love Is All Around’, ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’ and ‘Time Of My Life’ among many others. Two women miss a late-night final flight to a girlfriend’s funeral and share a hotel room for the night. They drink a lot, laugh a lot and watch chick flicks, as their friend would’ve wanted. Things get messy, secrets are exposed and they sing the best songs from the best romantic comedy soundtracks. Chick Flick crosses boundaries between comedy, pub choir and musical stage show to position itself as something totally new, and yet warmly familiar.
Blues aficionados – get ready for it! American bluesman Chris Cain is coming to Australia and playing the Thornbury Theatre on Friday 10th May. Cain concocts a soulful stew of Memphis style electric blues accompanied by powerfully deep vocals and jazz inspired blues guitar riffs that are uniquely his own, a fine brew that pays homage to his heroes, sometimes reminiscent of the legendary BB King and Joe Bonamassa, but always with his own inimitable seasoning. A formidable talent and multi-instrumentalist, his expressive style is the result of a lifetime of study and the relentless pursuit of music mastery. His passion and intensity are a blend of his mother’s Greek ancestry and his father’s soulful black heritage. In 1987 he burst onto the blues scene with his award winning debut album, he soon found himself sharing the stage and trading licks with a few of those legends, including Albert King and Albert Collins. Chris has released a dozen albums, each filled with soul-stirring songs pulled from his own blues drenched heart. His latest album, simply titled ‘Chris Cain’ has been nominated for Contemporary Blues Album of 2018 and he’s also nominated as Male Blues Artist of The Year at this year’s Blues Music Awards in Memphis.
On Saturday 11th May the Thornbury Theatre will host the 50th anniversary celebration for Australian music legend Mike Rudd featuring music from both of his classic groups, Spectrum and Ariel. Great Music and Nostalgic Memories. Mike’s music has become a legacy within the Music Industry, influencing many and gaining respect from all his peers. His creativity never diminishes, with some 25 Albums later and still going strong. “I’ll Be Gone” is a National Anthem to the “baby boomers” and charting for 25 weeks, including number one position. So many more favourites that have special memories. Mike has finally been submitted to be inducted into the 2019 Aria Hall Of Fame. Don’t miss this Spectrum and Ariel retrospective.
San Francisco based singer-songwriter Sun Kil Moon (Mark Kozelek) returns to Australia for a very special east-coast tour including the Thornbury Theatre on Sunday 19th May. Sun Kil Moon continues to command a firm reputation for prolific, profound recorded output and exemplary live capabilities. The Guardian hailed Sun Kil Moon’s live offering “utterly magnificent”, Brooklyn Vegan declaring it “one of the most surprising and fulfilling show-going experiences I’ve had in years.” Take a seat and strap in for over two hours of Sun Kil Moon who is set to deliver an unparalleled, unforgettable live music experience.
A celebration of good food, booze, music and community, for a good cause, will be held at the beautiful Thornbury Theatre on Monday 20th May. The Northside Charity Ball is an event and party hosted by a range of local businesses in the Thornbury area, to raise funds for Free to Feed, a local organisation that provides employment pathways for new migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. There will be live music from dynamic duo The Twoks and big band Horns of Leroy plus a DJ set by Fee B Squared (Triple R). Feast over a massive spread of incredible food made by the gorgeous people at Free to Feed. Tickets include arrival drinks until 7pm, catering by Free to Feed and all entertainment. Doors 6pm. Book through Eventbrite.
Blues legend Eric Bibb has a full bag of stories to tell from around the world and here he comes, bringing his new album ‘Global Griot’ and full band with him when he performs at the Thornbury Theatre on Thursday 23rd May. A leading bluesman of his generation, two time Grammy nominated Eric Bibb will take to the stage with his sensational band for an evening of uplifting and inspiring folk and blues. Eric has released 37 albums and enjoyed a non-stop touring career spanning five decades. Carving his own musical destiny with honesty and power, Eric Bibb is a remarkable live performer who has performed for Nelson Mandela and with renowned artists such as Charlie Musselwhite, Toumani Diabaté, Glen Scott, Larry Crockett, Habib Koité, Jools Holland and many more.
Venezuelan comedy legend Luis Chataing will appear at the Thornbury Theatre on Saturday 25th May. Luis Chataing was born with an overdose of talent and authenticity. It is provocative, irreverent, witty, intelligent and biting verb. A multiplier of ideas. A genius capable of crossing the limits, of walking in the opposite direction, of filtering his “reality”, that spontaneous way of capturing life. With a loyal audience that has made him the most influential Venezuelan comedian on social networks, with more than 4.5 million followers on twitter and another 3.3 million on Instagram, Chataing returns to theatre with his fourth show, with which he hopes to captivate “NuevaMente” to the millions of Venezuelans and Latin Americans who are scattered around the planet, while continuing to lead their new television project, “Conectados”, through their own Digital channel on youtube Nitantarde.
After a sellout show last year performing at The Thornbury theatre, The Adele & Amy Songbook returns for one show on Saturday 22nd June. Amanda Canzurlo, aka Bloom, brings to you the songs of two amazing artists, Adele and Amy Winehouse. This superstar brings her soulful vocal resonance to cover two artists that have taken the music world by storm over the last decade. Adele and Amy Winehouse have amassed a legion of fans the world over, and have sold in excess of 20 million albums between them. Backed by an all-star band that boasts a former member of ARIA hall of fame band The Angels, and musicians from Damien Leith’s band. Bloom has recently returned from shows featuring John Farnham, John Paul Young, The Chantoozies, Eurogliders and many more, and she has received accolades from some of Australia’s most successful artists with her voice.
Eric Bischoff is an American entrepreneur, television producer, professional wrestling booker, on-screen personality. His story is extraordinary: In the mid-80s, Bischoff entered the wrestling community as a “C-Team Announcer,” and a few short years later, he was President of Turner Broadcasting’s World Championship Wrestling. He signed Hulk Hogan and started Turner Network Television’s Monday Night Nitro, created the “nWo”, and beat Vince McMahon’s Monday Night RAW head-to-head in Monday Night Wars 83 consecutive times. He can now be heard on his weekly podcast 83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff on the Westwood One Podcast Network. Come join Eric for some amazing story telling and a deep insight into the world of Professional Wrestling at the Thornbury Theatre on Sunday 23rd June. VIP packages are available.
Australian national treasure, Robert Forster is returning to the Thornbury Theatre on Friday 5th July, touring behind his new solo album ‘Inferno’. This is his first solo album in four years – his second album over the last eleven years. Forster only makes records when he feels he has the songs – on ‘Inferno’, he has nine songs he totally believes in. ‘Inferno’ was made in Berlin in 2018 during summer with producer/engineer Victor Van Vugt (Beth Orton ‘Trailer Park’, P J Harvey ‘Stories of the City, Stories from the Sea’), who engineered Forster’s debut solo album classic ‘Danger In The Past’ in 1990. Over the last four years Forster has been busy. He curated the acclaimed, Domino Records released, ‘Anthology Volume 1 1978-1984’ on his old band The Go-Betweens. His memoir ‘Grant & I’ was Mojo and Uncut’s Book of the Year. He continues to publish music journalism, play concerts, and he never stops writing beautiful songs.
Coming direct from Chicago for their first Australian tour to play the Thornbury Theatre on Sunday 7th July is Tammi Savoy and The Chris Casello Combo. They came together just a couple of years ago and have taken the roots and vintage worlds by storm with appearances at Viva Las Vegas, The Nashville Boogie, The New England Shake-Up and more. Vocalist Tammi Savoy is the 2019 winner of the Ameripolitan Award for “Female Rockabilly Artist of The Year”. Her influences include the likes of Ruth Brown, Lavern Baker and Esther Phillip. Guitarist Chris Casello is a 2nd generation inductee to The Rockabilly Hall of Fame, has been voted The Best of Nashville Scene’s “Honky Tonk Hero”, the Ameripolitan Award’s “Musician of the Year”, worked professionally with Wanda Jackson, Wayne Hancock, Marty Stuart, Rosie Flores and others, and enjoyed long working relationships with Johnny Powers, Jack Scott, Billy Lee Riley and Bo Diddley.
THE THORNBURY THEATRE gig guide:
Fri Apr 12 Stars – in concert
Sat Apr 13 Chick Flick (Comedy Festival) with Jo Stanley & Talei Wolfgramm
Sat Apr 27 Melbourne City Wrestling – Fallout
Fri May 10 Chris Cain (USA)
Sat May 11 Spectrum /Ariel – Mike Rudd’s 50th Anniversary
Sun May 19 Sun Kil Moon
Mon May 20 Northside Charity Ball
Thu May 23 Eric Bibb with band
Sat May 25 Luis Chataing – Nuevamente
Sat Jun 1 Westgarth Idol
Sat Jun 22 The Adele & Amy Songbook
Sun Jun 23 83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff // No Brag Just Facts Australian Tour
Fri Jul 5 Robert Forster
Sun Jul 7 Tammi Savoy and the Chris Casello Combo
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