Australian Eagles Soar into Airlie

Australian Eagles. Photo supplied: The Australian Eagles.

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The Aussie Eagles will return to Airlie Beach, promising a tribute act so close to the real thing that audiences say, "if you close your eyes, you really think you're there."  

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The band will play two free shows at Airlie Beach Hotel on Saturday 8^th August and Sunday 9^th August, bringing a set packed with Eagles classics spanning more than 50 years.

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While plenty of tribute acts focus on looking like the artists they perform, band founder Shayne Brown said that's never been the goal.

“We don't want to look like them, we don't want to talk like them or dress like them, but we want to sound like them,” Shayne said.

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“That's all that really matters.”  

Formed about 10 years ago, Shayne formed the band as a show of respect and admiration.  

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“I first heard Take It Easy, which was their first single off their first album, in 1972,” he said.  

“I heard that and I just knew from that point that I wanted to play guitar and play those songs.

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“When I take songs out to put new songs in, I've got to think very hard about what songs to take out because there are just so many great ones.”  

Without the pressure of embodying the looks and personas of the arguably the biggest stadium band of all time, the Aussie Eagles craft their band purely around vocals and instrumental talent.  

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“It's about who’s the best person for the job,” Shayne said.  

Alongside Shayne on guitar, the band features drummer Michael Thompson, who also handles many of Don Henley's lead vocals, with more than 30 years of experience performing Eagles music. Geoff Taylor takes on many of Glenn Frey's signature songs, while Darren Griffiths anchors the rhythm section on bass and Scot Whatman rounds out the lineup on guitar.  

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Over the years, the band has played venues across Australia, including Melbourne’s Crown Casino, Sydney’s historic Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Cremorne, the Glasshouse in Port Macquarie and the Canberra Playhouse. Despite the long list, Brown said Airlie Beach Hotel still holds a special place for the group.  

"There's just something magical about the place," he said.

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“We like the atmosphere because we've been there so often, we know the staff and it's like coming home to a family.”  

For anyone yet to experience the Aussie Eagles, Brown said fans can expect a faithful recreation of one of rock's most celebrated catalogues, with a focus firmly on the music.

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"If you love the Eagles, whether you've seen them or you haven't, it's worthwhile to listen to this band," he said.

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