B52′s Open Day On The Green Summer

This summer’s  Day On The Green concert season will open with a fun double bill featuring The B52’s and The Proclaimers.

Both bands will perform at six ‘a day on the green’ winery events to launch the 2009/10 season and will also perform theatre shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Geelong.

This will be an upbeat and possibly  cheesy, but undoubtedly entertaining way to end what may have been a somewhat tedious year by then. We could probably all use a singalong to Love Shack or 500 Miles by November.

And to add to the good times  Mental As Anything, who are celebrating their 30th anniversary, will kick start all concerts (*except Melbourne and Geelong).

The B-52s – Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland and Cindy Wilson – put Athens, Georgia on the musical map in the late ’70s, with their quirky and unconventional take on the new wave sound of the era. The band’s pioneering fusions of punk, new wave, vintage rock and electronic music all wrapped up in savvy hooks was an instant success. With three unique vocalists, they were an upbeat irresistible party band.

1978′s Rock Lobster single exploded in the US, and Australia wasn’t far behind. Their self-titled debut album yielded three Top Ten hits in Australia and with their colorful highly-stylised videos, they quickly became ‘Countdown’ favourites.  1989′s Cosmic Thing album was their multi-platinum breakthrough with the irrepressible Love Shack notching up eight weeks at #1 on the Australian charts.

Their current album Funplex (April 2008 EMI) debuted at #11 on the US charts, their 2nd highest album debut ever, and is instantly recognizable as prime, yet contemporary, B-52s.

Scotland’s finest Celtic soul brothers, twins Craig and Charlie Reid charmed the world with their  consummate pop songs, charged with emotional honesty, political fire and wit like the euphoric ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) and I’m On My Way, both massive hits in Australia.

Always touring solidly, the band completed a 130 date world tour in 2007/08 before getting down to writing and producing their new album ‘Notes And Rhymes’ released here on June 19.

Honest, hard-working and absolutely wonderful live in concert, The Proclaimers have not toured Australia since 2003, so are long overdue!

NOVEMBER

Saturday 21: ‘a day on the green’ BIMBADGEN ESTATE, HUNTER VALLEY, NSW

Sunday 22: ‘a day on the green’ SIRROMET WINES, MT COTTON, QLD

Wednesday 25: ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY

Saturday 28:  ‘a day on the green’ ROCHFORD WINES, YARRA VALLEY VIC

Sunday 29: ‘a day on the green’ CENTENNIAL VINEYARDS, BOWRAL NSW

DECEMBER

Wednesday 2 : COSTA HALL, GEELONG

Thursday 3 : THE FORUM, MELBOURNE

Saturday 5: ‘a day on the green’ PETER LEHMANN WINES, BAROSSA VALLEY SA

Sunday 6: ‘a day on the green’ SANDALFORD WINES, SWAN VALLEY WA