The concert, which was held at Shepparton Showgrounds, boasted a stacked line-up, including Baker Boy, Hilltop Hoods, Paul Kelly, and Jimmy Barnes, among other Australian music icons. Comedian Sam Pang was on MC duties as a co-host.

The artists were not being paid for their contributions to the concert. Tickets were $21.50, and all proceeds went to a range of select charities and non-profit organisations.

Briggs had emphasised that the concert, which was for all ages and had an alcohol-free policy, was an inclusive event. “I wanted undecided people to come and see what we think, how it can be,” he said. “We have a once in a generation opportunity to write our future together, and the artists on the bill have signed up for that,” he began. “This is about celebration, inclusivity, solidarity, positivity and listening, as much as it is about a voice. In that spirit, everyone is welcome to the show—even the undecided voters.

Jimmy Barnes on the bagpipes!

One of the highlights for me from this entire day was watching Jimmy Barnes. In addition to putting on an amazing show (as always), he played a version of John Farnham’s “The Voice”, and then PLAYED THE BAGPIPE SOLO!

And of course we can’t have Jimmy Barnes without a little Working Class man (with Ian)

Meeting Ian Graves

One of the other highlights for me on the day was meeting Ian Graves, aka @xskinn from Twitter. I had followed Ian for some time on Twitter, and knowing that he’d be there, we arranged to catch up on the day. It was his birthday, which made the whole thing even more special.

He’s such a popular guy he was trending on Twitter that day.

Hilltop Hoods

Barkaa

Baker Boy

Albo

Paul Kelly

The post Now and Forever appeared first on Dave Hooper.

With their surf-tinged rock sound, Crawl hit a nerve with a generation. They followed up with Sirocco (1981), Sons of Beaches (1982), and the Semantics EP (1983), which gave us their biggest anthem, “Reckless (Don’t Be So).” By 1985, they weren’t just a band anymore — they were a staple of Australian music.

So when they announced a gig at the Sports & Entertainment Centre (what’s now Collingwood’s training base), my cousin Andrew and I knew we had to be there. To sweeten the deal, the support acts that night were none other than Paul Kelly — still on his way to becoming a national treasure — and The Motels, who were riding their own wave of popularity. It promised to be a night of serious music.

For me, it also turned into a rite of passage. Somewhere between Surrey Hills and the city, I made the life-changing decision to crack my “alcohol virgin” bubble. The weapon of choice? UDL Vodka and Orange cans. Classy, I know. I sank them all the way in on the train, and by the time we rocked up to the gig, I was well and truly smashed.

The details of the night are a little blurry for obvious reasons, but what I do remember is a cracking lineup and the electric feeling of seeing Aussie Crawl at their peak. For a kid just breaking into adulthood, it was the perfect storm — music, mates, and a night I’ll never forget (even if I can’t remember all of it).

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