The iconic venue was recently inaugurated with a throwback Beatles performance from the Australian Rock Collective.
Hillsong Church have handed the keys of Festival Hall to Live Nation, who have since transformed the iconic Melbourne venue back into exclusively a performance space. The industry-only launch saw the Australian Rock Collective (ARC) performing a remarkable tribute to the venue’s history by flawlessly recreating The Beatles’ iconic set from their legendary appearance at Festival Hall in 1964.
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Comprised of Darren Middleton (Powderfinger), Mark Wilson (Jet), Davey Lane (You Am I), and Kram (Spiderbait), they played a powerful throwback set by faithfully recreating the set list of The Beatles’ Melbourne show, equipped with Rickenbacker guitars. Mesmerising the crowd with early Beatles classics, they transported everyone back to a time when Beatlemania was the only global pandemic worth talking about.
Beatlemania was well and truly at its height in Australia where the band were performing several shows across their whirlwind 13-day visit down under. Their final sold-out show in Melbourne saw John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and stand-in drummer Jimmie Nicol (due to Ringo Starr suffering an illness) perform hit singles She Loves You, I Saw Her Standing There, Twist and Shout, Can’t Buy Me Love and Long Tall Sally.
Festival Hall has hosted some truly impressive alumni over the years, showcasing Frank Sinatra, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Shirley Bassey, and Powderfinger, just to name a few. It was also where I saw my first concert in Melbourne (an all-ages Allday show – in case you were wondering).
Originally opening in 1913 as the West Melbourne Stadium, Festival Hall has a long and diverse history. Initially serving as a roller-skating rink and later transforming into a renowned boxing arena, it quickly became a beloved venue for sports and entertainment.
Despite being tragically destroyed by fire in 1955, the resilient establishment was rebuilt in time for the 1956 Olympic Games, showcasing gymnastics and wrestling. Festival Hall gained legendary status in the 1950s and 1960s as one of Australia’s most iconic music venues.
Welcome back to the scene, Festival Hall. For all their upcoming gigs, head here.
