Legends on the Lawn

Live music has been a casualty over the last few years, but 2022 is shaping up for a beauty around Mackay.

Just announced in the last week or so, Legends on the Lawn - one of the best lineups you’ll see, headlined by Jimmy Barnes at Harrup Park on May 21st.

Jimmy’s great, whether you saw him here open the MECC, at the Blue Water Quay with Shannon Noll, or with Chisel at the Showgrounds, he always puts on a great show.

As far as laid-back performers go, he’s one of the best. At his Blue Water Quay gig I had the chance to go backstage and interview him before the show, leaning on the railing overlooking the Pioneer River. Mahalia was warming up just near us, the band were “in the zone”, but Jimmy was just having a chat about the location and what he was going to play first. Rather different to the 23 seconds I was able to get with Deborah Harry from Blondie before their show at the MECC.

Think about the last 10 years or so in Mackay, Elton John and Kiss - amazing that both came here and played shows at the MECC, they’re acts that sometimes bypass some capital cities on tours, but we had them.

Even Blondie, go back to the late 70’s and early 80’s they were top bill globally, and they came to the MECC.

We’ve had Powderfinger, Jet, Silverchair, River Sessions and more. All concerts are memorable, but especially your first one you attended.

My first was Crowded House at the Adelaide F1 GP with my dad around 1986, but my first proper concert with no parents was Johnny Diesel & the Injectors. It’s still the loudest concert I’ve been to, it was at the beautiful Thebarton Theatre in Adelaide.

I’m hoping Legends on The Lawn will be my kids first ever concert, and I’ll be buying earplugs for them just in case. I can’t wait for Barnsey’s screams, the loud guitar and bass of The Living End and cruisy tunes of Busby Marou. Hopefully we have perfect weather.

Scotty

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