Pittwater Life July 2023 Issue

News
Oh yes, it’s the great pretenders
Why pay hundreds of dollars to
see a stadium band, spending
hours in car park queues
afterwards, when the biggest names in
rock are regularly performing on the
peninsula?
Well, sort of…
Irish playwright Oscar Wilde said
that ‘imitation is the sincerest form of
flattery’. And on the Northern Beaches,
that flattery will get you everywhere
– from Manly to Avalon, cover bands
continue to hit the stage.
While tribute bands have always been
popular, COVID took them to new heights.
As big bands were grounded from touring
the world, local audiences’ hunger for
familiar hits needed to be sated. Step
forward the many talented Aussies in
costumes and wigs to fill that void.
It looks like they’re here to stay, and
here are some of the acts you can see on
the peninsula imminently, that will help
you fake it through the night…
ABBA are perhaps most ripe for the
imitation game, and two of the best
ABBA tribute bands will be playing the
beaches this year. Abbalanche come
to Dee Why RSL on August 5, with
Agnetha and Frida in their boots and
sequins, supported by Bjorn and Benny
(real names Peter and Bob). Meanwhile
Abbasback play Collaroy Beach Club in
December. If you’re a bit of a dancing
queen and you have a dream, then these
super troupers might be for you. Do I
want to go? I do, I do, I do, I do, I do.
For Fleetwood Mac fans who have
heard rumours, they aren’t little lies;
Running in the shadows of Fleetwood
Mac will play Avalon RSL on August 19,
while Fleetwood Nicks will be at the
Collaroy Beach Club on October 14. Both
TRIBUTE ACTS: Abbalanche are a super-trouper act that will play at Dee Why RSL in August; while
Simply Divinyls who channel the late, great Chrissy Amphlett will play at the Collaroy Beach Club.
are great bands, but if you can only see
one of them, then go your own way.
To celebrate 50 years of Dark Side of
the Moon, there are also two Pink Floyd
experiences in the near future. You can
shine on like crazy diamonds when The
Dark Side – Pink Floyd Experience play
Collaroy Beach Club this coming month,
on July 22. Or become comfortably
numb at The Great Gig in the Sky, at
Dee Why RSL on October 21. (Floyd fans
will wish they were here.)
For the Brits there are also plenty of
choices. Long Way South play a mix
of punk and Britpop, including Blur,
Oasis, The Smiths and The Jam. They’re
at Manly Boatshed on July 1. (And yes,
they play Wonderwall.) Also look out
for Monkey Spanner and Voxneon who
are favourites at Avalon RSL. Monkey
Spanner play Ska and 2Tone hits such
as Madness and The Specials, while
Voxneon are an ’80s synth pop band
playing Depeche Mode, Duran Duran,
Human League and Tear for Fears.
Last but not least, you can’t beat good
old Aussie Pub Rock. Simply Divinyls
channel the legendary late Chrissy
Amphlett as they provide pleasure (but
no pain) for all the boys in town. In
fact, they’re so good that when I think
about them… well, you know. They’ll be
at Collaroy Beach Club on August 19.
Also at the Beach Club on September 23
is the Last Stand Chisel Barnes Show.
Ideal for the working class man, enjoy
some cheap wine as you listen to Flame
Trees and Khe Sanh. And finally – also
at the Beach Club – Dirty Deeds AC/
DC Show is on November 18 and should
shake you all night long.
So hells bells, for those about to rock,
it is not a long way to the top, or indeed
a highway to hell. Just get back in black
on the peninsula – and let there be rock.
– Rob Pegley
*Check venue websites for tickets
14 JULY 2023
The Local Voice Since 1991