RocKwiz salutes Vanda and Young in a special episode to launch the new season

RocKwiz salutes Vanda and Young in a special episode to launch the new season

Wednesday March 5, 2014

News Release

While The Easybeats had Friday on their mind, RocKwiz have Monday on theirs when the new season launches on Monday March 24 with a special episode saluting Australian songwriters Harry Vanda and George Young.

Season 12 kicks off with a live show recorded at Sydney's Enmore Theatre in December last year where RocKwiz paid tribute to Vanda and Young - Australia's most famous songwriting and production team. From The Easybeats to Flash and The Pan, to producing material for The Angels and AC/DC, Vanda and Young were responsible for some incredible music. This special episode pays loud and loving tribute to an important slice of our musical history.

Joining the delightful Julia Zemiro, charismatic showman Brian Nankervis, beloved human scoreboard Dugald and the RocKwiz Orkestra, are a cavalcade of stars including Doc Neeson (The Angels), Isabella Manfredi (The Preatures), The Basics (the band featuring Wally De Backer aka Gotye), Steve Kilbey, and Gossling to name just a few.

The Vanda and Young special will be followed by twelve regular episodes recorded at the spiritual home of RocKwiz, The Gershwin Room at St Kilda's Esplanade Hotel. Not that there is anything regular about these episodes. The big names lined up for the new series so far include Dan Sultan - fresh from supporting Bruce Springsteen, Daddy Cool himself Ross Wilson, Tina Arena, Billy Bragg, Iva Davies, and indie rock darlings Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett.

The new series will climax with an episode to be recorded at the 25th Byron Bay Bluesfest. This will be the fourth run of RocKwiz shows at Bluesfest and if the past is any guide, the Jambalaya Tent will be rocking as Julia, Brian, Dugald, the Orkestra and an exciting cast of Australian and international acts from the festival strut their stuff under the big top.

RocKwiz is still rocking, still rolling and still the one rock and roll show that music-lovers can't afford to miss.

Episode One - Monday March 24, 9.30pm

RocKwiz celebrates the triumph, tragedy, international success, weird film clips, and some of Australia's best songs in this special episode that salutes Vanda and Young. Soul singer Hayley Cramer and Nic McKenzie (Deep Sea Arcade) open the show with The Easybeats hit Good Times with Wally De Backer (Gotye)'s band The Basics chiming in with another Easybeats classic I'll Make You Happy. Just when you thought Julia Zemiro couldn't get any better she performs John Paul Young's hit Love is in the Air in French, and is joined on stage by Isabella Manfredi, front woman of The Preatures, and Helen Croome (Gossling). Doc Neeson delivers a crowd favourite performing The Angels classic Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again. Mark Gable from The Choirboys gets the audience singing along to Run to Paradise before some of the guest performers return to let their hair hang down for a cracking rendition of Stevie Wrights 1974 number one song Evie. The big finale features all the cast and guests performing the song APRA voted as Best Australian Song Of All Time, Friday On My Mind.

Join in the conversation on twitter: #RocKwiz

Follow RocKwiz on facebook: www.facebook.com/RocKwizOfficialpage

LINK:	http://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/news-media-releases/view/id/850/h/RocKwi...
	See more stories from sbs

Most recent headlines