Hosted on the grounds of Parliament House, Australia Celebrates Live showcased performances from Katie Noonan and the Captains, Sneaky Sound System, Spiderbait, The Potbelleez and crowd favourite, rock legends INXS. The event was the perfect precursor to one of the most celebrated days in the country.
Alongside the all-star line-up was Geoffery Rush who accepted the Australian of the Year award. He thanked his Australian fans far and wide, his appreciation for the privilege clear.
Host Paul Mercurio pleased the crowd with his witty banter and was joined shortly after by James Mathison and Myf Warhurst to lead the show.
First of the performers, Katie Noonan and the Captains kicked off the evening by performing smooth tunes from their new album Emperors Box reappearing later on in the evening to perform a mellow and moving version of Midnight Oil’s Beds Are Burning.
INXS were warmly welcomed by the crowd and performed a mix of new and old classics including Pretty Vegas, New Sensation, Suicide Blonde and newest hit We Are United. New front man Ciaran Gribbin was excitedly welcomed on stage by the crowd.
Opening act for Kanye Wests’s Big Day Out Sideshows and still riding high on the back of their third album From Here To Anywhere, Sneaky Sound System had everyone dancing up a storm to popular upbeat tracks including UFO and Not My Problem.
Aussie rockers Spiderbait played the infamous Black Betty followed by The Potbelleez popular tracks Don’t Hold Back and Are You With Me.
Australia Celebrates Live lived up to expectations and fulfilled its reputation of being one of the best free live events in the country. The entire event was also broadcast across Australia on ABC.
Photography by Ben Appleton – Photox Photography.
