Swanee Joins Tribute Titans For Two Epic Nights At Airlie Beach Hotel

Joining the Cold Chisel and Midnight Oil Tribute at the Airlie Beach Hotel is none other than John Swan Swanee.

Swanee is Jimmy Barnes’ older brother but is also a well-known performer in his own right. He has hits like ‘If I Were a Carpenter’ and ‘Lady What’s Your Name?’ but what led him to creating these hit songs.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1952, John Archibold Dixon Swan migrated to Australia with his family at the age of nine, settling in the working-class suburb of Elizabeth in Adelaide. His path to music began early, with a drum kit in hand and a hunger to express himself through rhythm and sound. By the age of 14, he was already playing in professional bands. At 17, he enlisted in the Australian Army but the call of music was too strong to ignore.

In the 1970s, Swanee became a fixture in Adelaide’s thriving music scene. He joined several bands, including the legendary Fraternity, where he took over lead vocals after his younger brother, Jimmy Barnes, moved on to form Cold Chisel. Swanee's powerful voice and dynamic stage presence set him apart, and by the late '70s, he launched a solo career that would take him to national fame.

His breakthrough came in 1981 with a soulful cover of  ‘If I Were a Carpenter’ climbed to No. 5 on the national charts and the success of that single led to the 1982 album ‘This Time It’s Different’, featuring enduring hits such as ‘Temporary Heartache’ and ‘Lady What’s Your Name’. Swanee’s voice is gritty, passionate, and unmistakably authentic and it resonated with Australian audiences, making him a household name.

But Swanee's story didn’t stop at rock stardom. In 1987, he joined the all-star band The Party Boys, stepping in as lead singer after the departure of Rose Tattoo’s Angry Anderson. The band were looking for a new singer and they had to have “the best Rock ‘n’ Roll voice in the country”.

Throughout his career, Swanee has released multiple albums, performed on stages big and small, and remained an enduring figure in the Australian music scene. Yet his greatest achievements may lie in the work he does away from the spotlight.

In 2015, Swanee was named South Australia’s Senior Australian of the Year, in recognition of his dedication to social causes. Two years later, in 2017 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to music and charity.  He later joined forces with war veteran Rob Pickersgill to create the Warrior Music Project, a program that uses music to support the wellbeing of military veterans, police officers, and first responders.

He has used his profile to support the Salvation Army, particularly focusing on homelessness and rehabilitation. He co-founded the Autism Music Fund, combining his passion for music with a commitment to improving lives, and is an advocate for ovarian cancer awareness.

Today, Swanee continues to tour, record, and give back, and now he is coming to the Airlie Beach Hotel.

Swanee will be joining Gold Chisel and The Australian Midnight Oil Show in what will be an amazing show.

The Australian Midnight Oil Show deliver all the classics including ‘Power and the Passion’, ‘US Forces’, ‘Dreamworld’, ‘King of the Mountain’, ‘Forgotten Years’, ‘Beds are Burning’, ‘Blue Sky Mine’ and more.

Swanee will be performing his own hits and also jumping on stage with Gold Chisel to belt out a couple Cold Chisel hits.

The Gold Chisel and The Midnight Oil Show have been to the Airlie Beach Hotel before and they always provide an epic show, this show will be especially amazing due to Swanee’s special performance.

WHAT: Gold Chisel & The Australian Midnight Oil Show ft. Swanee
WHERE: The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel
WHEN: Saturday 21st June & Sunday 22nd June (2pm – 5.30pm)

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