by FilmInk Staff
Following an overwhelming response from audiences across Australia, The Songs of John Farnham: A Living Legend – The Celebration Concert Encore comes to the big screen for an encore season at cinemas everywhere across Australia from Thursday 22 October.
The extraordinary live broadcast event from the sold-out tribute concert at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena comes to cinemas nationwide in a newly re-edited version, giving fans another chance to experience the music, emotion and spectacular performances together on the big screen.
Under the musical direction of Chong Lim AM, the live concert brought together a 38-piece orchestra and the core John Farnham Band. Reviewers praised the all-star line-up for honouring the original arrangements while bringing their own distinctive energy to the performances, highlighting the evening’s emotional resonance and impressive production scale.
Personally invited by John, the artists bring fresh interpretations to the iconic anthems and beloved ballads that have soundtracked generations of Australian lives.
The production also celebrated landmark collaborations beyond John’s signature repertoire. Dannielle Gaha and Mark Vincent beautifully recaptured the grandeur of the Sydney 2000 Olympics with a stirring rendition of ‘Dare to Dream’, his duet with Olivia Newton-John. His acclaimed 1992 season of Jesus Christ Superstar was also honoured, with Kate Ceberano and Jon Stevens delivering a powerful reprise of ‘Everything’s Alright’.
Cochrane Entertainment’s Thea Jeanes-Cochrane said the response to the original broadcast demonstrated the enormous affection audiences hold for Farnham.
“Due to enormous demand, we are thrilled that this mega once in a generation concert event can return to cinemas Australia wide, giving even more fans the opportunity to come together and celebrate John and his music on the big screen in cinemas across the country. The amazing reviews of the concert also highlighted both the emotional weight of the night and the sheer scale of production.”
Paul Dainty and TEG Dainty acknowledge that the unprecedented demand for the concert showed just how deeply John Farnham’s songs resonate with his generations of fans.
Hello Jerry Films co-executive producers David Wilson and Chris Oliver-Taylor said the encore season offered an opportunity to shape the concert specifically for cinema audiences.
“We’ve built a new version of the live stream specifically for cinema audiences, capturing the power of the performances, the energy of Rod Laver Arena and the outpouring of love for John. We’re proud to bring this extraordinary celebration to the big screen, giving fans the chance to relive an unforgettable night or experience its magic for the first time.”
Screening this heartfelt celebration of one of Australia’s most beloved performers Australia-wide turns an incredible musical event into a powerful platform to raise awareness for Head and Neck Cancer Australia, the charity so close to John’s heart.
The Songs of John Farnham: A Living Legend – The Celebration Concert Encore opens at cinemas everywhere across Australia, from Thursday 22 October.
Tickets on sale now. Visit your local cinema’s website for session times and tickets.
