Hosted by Brian Nankervis, hundreds of everyday guitarists from across Melbourne will take to Arts Centre Melbourne’s iconic Hamer Hall stage – alongside Australian music legends Adalita, Vika and Linda Bull, Ella Hooper and Yirrmal for Those Who Rock on Sunday 24 March 2019.
Melburnians are invited to enjoy this all ages, free gig created by internationally-acclaimed artist Joseph O’Farrell (JOF) as part of Arts Centre Melbourne’s Betty Amsden Participation Program. “I am so excited to present this work, which gives hundreds of participants from all over Melbourne the opportunity of a lifetime; to perform on one of the biggest stages in Melbourne with some of Australia’s finest musical talents,” says JOF.
This mammoth concert is the culmination of rehearsals by rock dogs and guitar-playing newbies across Melbourne throughout February and March joined by JOF and his team to rehearse a se tlist of iconic rock anthems in Fitzroy, Frankston, Werribee, Dandenong, St Albans and Broadmeadows.
On stage, they will be joined by Adalita (Magic Dirt), Ella Hooper, Yirrmal, Vika and Linda Bull as well as members of the RocKwiz Orkestra and Paul Kelly’s Band.
The set list to end all set lists will include You’re the Voice by John Farnham, Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again by The Angels, Enter Sandman by Metallica, Horses by Daryl Braithwaite, I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, We Will Rock You by Queen and AC/DC’s anthemic, For Those About To Rock.
The gig will also feature the lead singer of AC/DSHE, Anna’s Go-Go Academy, Brimbank Multicultural Choir, Clint Lovering from Damage Inc, Furlong Park Primary Signing Choir, The Funky Bunny, Glee Club, Jets Studios, Leaders of Rock Music School, Melbourne Ukulele Kollective, Pasefika Vitoria Choir, Stroke A Chord Choir, Werribee Concert Band and Vinyl Vixens.
Arts Centre Melbourne’s Head of Creative Engagement Angharad Wynne-Jones, says philanthropist Betty Amsden’s legacy has given Arts Centre Melbourne the unique opportunity to work and connect to hundreds of musicians from across Melbourne.
“Those Who Rock is a celebration of Melbourne’s talented everyday musicians in a spectacular take over of Hamer Hall, our city’s legendary concert hall, and supported by Australia’s most celebrated musical icons,” said Wynne-Jones.
From an idea conceived by Melbourne-based, international artist Joseph O’Farrell, involving over 200 people from Broadmeadows to Frankston and made possible with funds from the philanthropist Betty Amsden, this will be a night to remember.
“Essentially, Arts Centre Melbourne and Betty Amsden have provided Melbourne with a three-month artwork which has seen us rehearse music in town halls, schools, community centres and civic buildings all over the city,” says JOF. “This project gives the stage to the people, providing an open door for anyone and everyone to be involved and participate in Rock ‘n’ Roll glory.”
The Betty Amsden Participation Program is an annual community event series established by the late Betty Amsden (AO) and Arts Centre Melbourne to explore and encourage cultural democracy. The large-scale, interactive and free projects are designed to inspire and engage the city of Melbourne.
Joseph O’Farrell (JOF) is an internationally renowned artist who creates large-scale installation and theatre works with, and for, communities in celebration of diversity and bringing people together in hilarious and unlikely situations. He is a founding member of The Suitcase Royale – a trio that has been touring new Australian theatre works nationally and internationally since 2004.
His work has toured across Australia and the UK, including the TATE Modern (UK), Southbank Centre (UK), Anti-Festival (Finland), Nelson, Kokoma and Tauranga Festivals (NZ), Sydney Festival, and City of Darebin. Those Who Rock builds on the success of other community projects led by JOF, including We Are Lightning! (Arts House, UK touring) and Enter Sandman (City of Darebin, Regional Centre of Culture).
Those Who Rock
Hamer Hall – Arts Centre Melbourne, St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Performance: Sunday 24 March 2019 – 6.00pm
Free event – bookings required (allocation exhausted)
For more information, visit: www.artscentremelbourne.com.au for details.
Image: Those Who Rock – courtesy of Arts Centre Melbourne
Note: Those Who Rock will be screened live on the big screen at Fed Square.