Elton John has just retired. Paul Simon says he is unlikely to play live again. Roger Waters and Bob Dylan are on what are surely their farewell tours. Even the Rolling Stones have shown they will not be around forever, with the sad loss of Charlie Watts.
We can’t complain, these guys are in their 70s and 80s. What’s more, they are millionaires. If they were barristers or company CEOs, they would have retired at least 20 years ago, and it is only the love for their art that has kept them going this long.
A great tribute act can be better than the real thing
It’s a sad truth for those of us who were brought up with the music of the 1960s, 70s and 80s that our musical idols are either no longer with us or well past retirement age. But the music will never die. Today’s classical music lovers never got to hear Mozart or Beethoven, but they can still enjoy the music, and the same will apply to classic pop and rock thanks to the talented musicians who dedicate themselves to recreating it.
We’ll mention no names, but we can’t reasonably expect our musical idols to have the same vocal power at 80 as they did at 30. Whisper it, but some of today’s tribute acts are literally better than the real thing, and best of all, a whole host of them are playing one week after another in one of the most stunning venues on the planet.
Star turns at the Star Casino, Gold Coast
The venue in question is the Star Casino in Gold Coast, Queensland. Now we all know the Aussies love a flutter, and the Star checks all the boxes where that is concerned. Even if you’ve been spoiled by the current trend of online casino games (see https://www.gambleonlineaustralia.com/casino/ for details) you will find all the Australian pokies, card games and so on at the Star.
But for music fans, it is the concert venue that will really grab your attention. Here are just a few of the amazing tribute performances coming up over the rest of 2023.
- The Simon & Garfunkel Story
Two boys from Queens with just their guitars and their incredible vocal harmonies became the soundtrack of the early 1970s. Sadly, the two struggled to get along, and spent more time estranged than together. The Simon & Garfunkel story intertwines recreations of their famous songs with video clips telling the story of their turbulent relationship.
- The Great Gig in the Sky
Founding member Roger Waters is busy reimagining Pink Floyd’s most famous album 50 years after its release. That’s his prerogative, but for those of us who want to hear the classics from Dark Side of the Moon, Animals and the rest the way they were originally created, check out The Great Gig in the Sky. Guest vocalists include Spencer Jones, Susannah Mirana and Marc Da Kosta. Don’t miss it.
- Queen: It’s a Kinda Magic
Queen were the ultimate showmen, and it takes a brave man to step into Freddie Mercury’s shoes. That’s exactly what Dominic Warren does, and he hits it out of the park with his vocals and stage presence. Rusty Red performs Brian May’s guitar work perfectly, while Michael Dickens and Andre van der Merwe are wonderful covering the roles of Roger Taylor and John Deacon respectively.
The above are just three examples of some of the incredible tribute acts playing at the Gold Coast this year. Others include Johnny Cash, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder and the Bee Gees. For true fans of the music, they are even better than the real thing.
