By CAROLINE STRAINIG
THE Life and Music of Stevie Wright and the Easybeats, provides a look inside the rise of Australia’s first internationally successful band and the tragic ups and down of its charismatic front man.
Scott McRae will be bringing this high-energy, rock ‘n’ roll true story to the Port Macquarie Panthers on Friday 27 June – a 50-year celebration of Easybeats music.
The 2.5 hour show details Stevie Wright’s musical journey with Easybeats band mates “Snowy”, George, Harry and Dick – Australia’s first big act, Stevie’s battle with drugs, the international music industry that created his name and the women to whom he gave his heart.
The combination of George Young and Harry Vanda would go on to become one of Australia’s most prolific hit-makers, Stevie’s journey would be slightly less salubrious but long before the likes of Kylie and Michael Hutchence with INXS, Stevie Wright marched Australian musicians to the international stage taking on the UK and US markets.
Through reflections from Australian music legends such as Jon English, Angry Anderson, Snowy Fleet, Kevin Borich and a couple of former girlfriends, the life of Stevie Wright is told with humour, frankness and above all, integrity and respect.
Woven through 18 hit-songs and never before seen footage, The Life and Music of Stevie Wright and the Easybeats is a wonderful journey for those who listened to the music, and for those just discovering it.
This is one of the last opportunities to see Scott McRae portraying Stevie Wright in the warts-and-all true story which reveals the highs, the lows and the beautiful music born in-between. Scott McRae delivers a truly breathtaking performance with a voice that mirrors the Stevie Wright sound that fans came to love.
The production is upbeat and cheeky like Stevie himself. It’s a show that the whole family can sing along to and be educated about the hard road of Australian music.
McRae endeavors to tell Stevie’s story with the utmost integrity and respect; featuring archived footage, clips of Stevie’s mates and fellow musicians like Jon English, Snowy Fleet and Angry Anderson and even some old girlfriends.
Come and see McRae up front in a performance that was inspired when he first saw Stevie live at the Sydney Opera House in 1974.
To book call in at Panthers Port Macquarie, 1 Bay Street, or call 6580 2300.
