Beatles White Album Played in Full (not by the Beatles)

The White Album. The Beatles’ influential masterpiece is now a 40-year-old icon. To celebrate this rock’n’roll milestone, three of Australia’s  finest  rock n’ rollers – Chris Cheney of the Living End, Phil Jamieson of Grinspoon, Tim Rogers and an interesting collaborator Josh Pyke – will take to the stage this August in four very special Concerts in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.

Coming after India, but before the split, The White Album was the sound of John, Paul, George and Ringo throwing everything they’d learned into their musical blender. This major work bursts with variety, creativity, experimentation, and the genius of The Beatles during one of their most intense, fertile, periods.  It is a timeless album, yet very much of its time. Its 30 songs veer from the populist stomp of Back in the USSR and the mind-bending Happiness is a Warm Gun to the melodious sorrow of While My Guitar Gently Weeps, the ska pop fun of Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, and the hard rock prototype Helter Skelter.

Bringing this classic to life at The Beatles’ White Album 40th Anniversary Concert requires an all-star line-up of Australia’s best musicians, with Cheney, Jamieson, Rogers and Pyke backed by 17 players including guitars, strings, horns and two drummers, musically directed by Stewart D’Arietta.

The White Album songs will be performed in track order, starting with Back in the USSR and closing with Good Night, with state of the art sound.

“I always loved the sound of The Beatles when they let loose and sounded tough, and to me The White Album has a perfect balance of rock’n’roll abandonment with the incredible songwriting skills they’re so revered for.”              – Chris Cheney

“The White Album gives me the fear. It’s denim and silk. Flickers of beauty washed out by blinding anxiety. I had a babysitter who’d play Revolution No.9 as I was just about to go to sleep. It made a mess o’ me and I love it deeply.”     – Tim Rogers

“The Beatles were the first band that made any kind of impact on me as a kid, curled up in the front room with my parents’ record collection. The harmonies, the deceptively simple songs, and the amazingly creative production are all elements that I still draw upon in my music today.” -  Josh Pyke

“It’s hard to imagine growing up without The Beatles. From the nursery rhyme Yellow Submarine to the songbooks we got in primary school with Help From My Friends, they have been omnipresent in my life. They have provided a soundtrack to so many moments, I mean, my wife walked down the aisle to I Will, for Christ’s sake.” – Phil Jamieson

Tuesday 4 August ? Hamer Hall, Melbourne
Thursday 6 August ? Brisbane QPAC
Friday 7 & Saturday 8 August ? Sydney Opera House

Onsale Friday 22 May

Music At Melbourne Zoo

If you are looking for something a bit different to do on a warm summer night then perhaps a Zoo Twilight might be the go. For $34 you get admission to the Zoo from 4.30pm  where you can wander around looking at the animals before setting up your picnic blanket and staking your claim on the lawn.

There’s a bunch of shows happening over January, February and March and although some of them have more appeal than others those listed below look like the pick of the crop.

The music starts at 6.30pm and the food options are impressive.

You can take advantage of Tastes of Twilights. On offer will be gourmet pizzas, noodles, grilled wraps and paella straight from the pan. Matilda Bay will be offering boutique tap beers and showcasing some of Victoria’s best wines. Coffee, cold beverages and ice-creams will also be available. All food items will be the same price and to simplify and spend less time in queues you will be able to buy food tickets from all the beverage outlets.

January

Sun. 18     Tim Rogers and Nick Barker
Sat. 24      Tex Perkins and Jess McAvoy

February

Sat. 14       Kate Ceberano and Ryan Meeking
Sat. 21       Mental As Anything and Michael Paynter
Sun. 22      The Badloves and Chris Wilson
Sat. 28       Joe Camilleri & The Black Sorrows

March

Sun. 8         Diesel and The Hello Morning
Sun. 15       Wilbur Wilde & Lisa Edwards