The Lithgow Lowdown- Club Lithgow

As part of a federal initiative for strengthening rural communities, The Lithgow Lowdown is a family-friendly, star-studded local hoedown taking place from 1PM-6PM at Club Lithgow on November 25, (just a few minutes away from Lithgow train station on Main St). It is an all ages event, although people under the age of 18 must bring an adult.

FEATURING THE LITHGOW ALL-STARS: 

•  Colin Burgess (AC/DC, The Masters Apprentices)

•  Denny Burgess (The Masters Apprentices)

•  Charlie McMahon (Midnight Oil, Gondwanaland, pictured below)

•  Steve Hall (Jimmy & The Boys)

•  Dr. Jason Thornton (Frank Sinatra, Cher, Cat Stevens)

The Lithgow All-Stars are rounded out by members of the following local bands: 

Hollowpoint (pictured below), Glam Jam, Eggmalt, Celestial Oath, 12 Gauge Rampage, Bonniedoon, Quoll, Snake In The Jar and The Stoney Broke Band

OTHER SUPPORTING PERFORMERS INCLUDE: 

• Yanhadarrambal/Jade Flynn – independent set 

• Acid Amora – Blue Mountains rock band

• Sam Bucca – independent set/All-Stars member

• Ash Manning (Choirboys, James Reyne, Devin Townsend) – All-Stars Member

• David Laverty (Snake In The Jar) – All-Stars Member

• Glenda Phipps (The Stoney Broke Band) – All-Stars Member

• Lez Fender – All-Stars member

MC’d by Marty Bright

Welcome To Country by Aunty Helen Riley of the Mingaan Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporation

Headlining act The Lithgow All-Stars are a large handpicked group featuring talented members of some of Australia’s best rock acts of the 60s, 70s and 80s: Colin Burgess (AC/DC, The Masters Apprentices), Denny Burgess (The Masters Apprentices), and Charlie McMahon (Midnight Oil, Gondwanaland). McMahon and the Burgess brothers are joined by Steve Hall, of shock rockers Jimmy & The Boys, and esteemed saxophonist Dr. Jason Thornton, hired gun for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Cher, and Cat Stevens, along with Ash Manning (Choirboys, James Reyne, Devin Townsend).

As a celebration of community and collaboration, these musicians will be offering their collective centuries of experience to a handful of emerging Lithgow artists of all ages and genres, who will round out the band. The Lithgow All-Stars and their collaborators will be performing new renditions of songs from their prime respective acts: AC/DC, Midnight Oil, and The Masters Apprentices. 

Learning about stagecraft, songwriting, and performance skills in the process, many participants are overjoyed to be working with Aussie rock royalty. This maintains a tradition of mentorships from event co-organisers Retro Rehash, who have previously put local musicians on stages with the likes of Angry Anderson from Rose Tattoo, Steve Kilbey from The Church, and Michael Smith from The Atlantics. 

The event also provides a setting for the formation of new artistic connections, between the local government areas of Lithgow and the Blue Mountains. A young Blue Mountains rock band, Acid Amora, will also perform on the day, in-between sets from co-organiser Sam Bucca, and Indigenous singer-songwriter Yanhadarrambal/Jade Flynn. International comedian Marty Bright will host as MC.

“The more experience that you have playing in front of people, the better you will be at your craft. You can be very experienced but you can still pick up something from younger guys. Enthusiasm counts for a lot.” – Denny Burgess, The Masters Apprentices & The Australian Songwriters Association

“I was very impressed with the band I’ve been working with, Hollowpoint…they’re extraordinary. I hope I can give them some of my experience and help them get into some original composing”. – Charlie McMahon, Midnight Oil & Gondwanaland 

“It was great to meet Charlie, he’s such an iconic part of the Australian music industry, with a lifetime of musical experience. We can’t wait to catch up with him again.” – Hollowpoint

“Lithgow needs this type of stuff as it struggles a bit in some areas. Things like this bring people together.” – Glen Snow, Glam Jam 

Wiradjuri Elder Aunty Helen Riley from the Mingaan Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporation (MWAC) will be presenting the Welcome To Country for the event, which reinforces an important Indigenous focus for the organisers of the Lithgow Lowdown. The event will raise money for the MWAC and their climate-aware fire training and cultural burn programs, which preserve and present traditional land management practices, such as cool burning, in readiness for bushfire season. An information session about cool burning will also take place at the event. The Lithgow Lowdown will also raise money for the MWAC’s Indigenous Ranger Program, which helps to promote cultural understanding of traditional practices. 

This event is a result of combined efforts from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal and their Strengthening Rural Communities program, the Greater Blue Mountains Creative Arts Network, Retro Rehash, and Club Lithgow; as well as accommodation sponsors, The Commercial Hotel. 

The Lithgow Lowdown is shaping up to be an awesome afternoon of community collaboration and old time rock ’n’ roll, backed by Lithgow tourism, small businesses, and the local Indigenous community.

Tickets: $20, available on the door, or via https://events.humanitix.com/lithgow-lowdown