Narara Music Festival

The Narara Music Festival was an outdoor music festival held on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia in 1983 and 1984. Despite the name, it was actually held at Somersby, a short distance from Narara.

1983

For the first year, the concert ran over the Australia Day weekend, from Friday 28 January 1983 to Monday 31 January 1983.

The event featured an all Australian bill including Austen Tayshus as M.C.^[1]

Australian bands and artists that appeared at the event include:

• Michael Hutchence, the lead singer of Australian band INXS, along with INXS.^[2]

• Men at Work.^[3]

• Cold Chisel.^[4]

• The Angels.^[5][6]

• The Choirboys.^[7]

• Uncanny X-Men.^[8]

• The Church.^[9]

• Australian Crawl.^[10]

• Margret Roadknight, (could have appeared in 1984, but 1983 is more likely)^[11]

Between 30,000 and 45,000 people are believed to have attended this concert, a few thousand of which were stranded at Narara railway station, believing the concert was being held in Narara.

A highlight of the event was The Angels playing with a blood red full moon rising over the stage behind them.

The Angels performed 11 songs at the concert, which were released as an album, "Live at Narara".

The songs on this album are:

1. Comin Down
2. Eat City
3. Mr. Damage
4. Stand Up
5. No Secrets
6. Take a long line
7. After the rain
8. Shoot it up
9. Shadow boxer
10. Is that you
11. Marseilles

This album was released on VHS in 1988, and has also been released on DVD.

INXS put on a show stopping performance and a fan presented Michael Hutchence with a baby lamb which, made for great press.

1984

In 1984, the second year, the concert also ran over the Australia day weekend, this time Friday 27 January to Monday 30 January.

Peter Sjoquist AM, was involved with the organisation of the festival.

As in 1983, Austen Tayshus was M.C.

Guest appearances from comedians Rodney Rude and George Smillovici

Due to poor weather, and a mismatched international bill of artists, the numbers were down on the previous concert. (7000 unconfirmed)

This event was marred by the unfortunate death of an English tourist in a dam used by all to swim in.

Incorrect. This occurred in 1983

Tickets were $40 in advance or $50 at the gate. $20 for children 7-12.

Some international artists that appeared at the event include:

• Simple Minds^[12]

• The Pretenders^[13][14]

• Talking Heads^[13][15]

• Annie Lennox / Eurythmics^[16][17]

• Def Leppard^[18][19]

Official Programme^[20]

Friday 27 January

• Party Girls
• Eurogliders
• Real Life
• Eurythmics
• Simple Minds
• Mondo Rock

Saturday 28 January

from 11 am

• QED
• Zarzoff Bros.
• The Jonnys
• Kids In The Kitchen
• Hoodoo Gurus
• Machinations

Break from 5 pm

• Sandii And The Sunsets
• Models
• INXS
• The Pretenders
• Talking Heads
• Mental As Anything

Sunday 29 January

from 11 am

• Drop Bears
• Deckchairs Overboard
• Strange Tennants
• The Expression
• Dynamic Hepnotics
• Little Heroes

Break from 5 pm

• Sunnyboys
• Jon English & The Foster Bros.
• Def Leppard
• The Radiators
• Australian Crawl
• Allniters

Monday 30 January

• Mighty Guys
• Celibate Rifles
• Avion

Inconsistencies

INXS may have appeared in 1984 as well, since a version of "Original Sin" on the "I'm only looking" DVD claims to be from 1984. This could just be an error on the part of the DVD contents.^[21]

There could have been a body found in the dam the first year as well, or the sources are inaccurate, and are referring to the same person.^[22][23]

INXS did appear on 28 January 1984. Hutchence introduced "Original Sin" by saying "thank you Australia for making this Number One" as the song reached the top of the charts that week.

Sandy and the Sunsets also appeared in 1984 and INXS were definitely there.

Def Leppard were on the bill in 1984, but did not perform as the concert was washed out on the third day (the Monday).

Def Leppard did appear in 1984, however, they were booed and bombarded with paper cups and plates, leaving the stage after just one or two numbers, .

References

1. ^ Austen Tayshus
2. ^ Michael Hutchence
3. ^ Men at Work
4. ^ Cold Chisel
5. ^ The Angels
6. ^ The Angels
7. ^ The Choirboys
8. ^ Uncanny X-Men
9. ^ The Church
10. ^ Australian Crawl
11. ^ Margret Roadknight
12. ^ Simple Minds
13. ^ ^{a b} Sydney Morning Herald 9/12/2004
14. ^ The Pretenders
15. ^ Sydney Morning Herald 27/11/2004
16. ^ Eurythmics
17. ^ Google Group
18. ^ Def Leppard
19. ^ Google Group
20. ^ Central Coast Express Weekender, Friday 20 January 1984
21. ^ INXS
22. ^ Woy-Woy.com - Strange Happenings
23. ^ Google Group

External links

• Hutchence, Tina, Glassop, Patricia, "Just a Man"
• Australian Crawl Albums
• "How Green is my Valley", by Ben Cubby, The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 December 2004, retrieved 16 December 2005
• "The beat goes on", by Bernard Zuel, The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 November 2003, retrieved 16 December 2005