2 September 2017

Happy Birthday to us ... 60 years strong!
 

Once again the City of Greater Dandenong Band has pulled off a spectacular evening of musical and visual entertainment with their 7th consecutive annual cabaret concert at the Springvale Town Hall.
 

This year’s theme, “Celebrating 60 Years” was a nod to the longevity of the Band and its ongoing and historical contribution to the City of Greater Dandenong. The 320+ crowd were once again entertained with hit songs of the last 60 years with a themed and decorated hall to match.
 

The first half included some great numbers and medleys from artists such as ABBA, Buddy Holly, and Coldplay, as well as some classic ‘Boy Band’ numbers and some cracking good vocal items.
 

The first half also showcased the Bands’ commitment and connection to its community with the inaugural performance of Springvale Brass, a new and exciting learner brass band directed by Todd O’Shea. The Band’s membership is as varied in age as it is in ability and the crowd was most appreciative of the efforts of the group. Further to that, the Band was delighted to showcase and debut the Heatherhill Primary School Choir for their first public performance. Support of such groups is a cornerstone of the City of Greater Dandenong Band’s community strength and is something of which the Band is rightly proud.
 

The second half of the evening took over where the first left off with numbers from Elvis, Queen, Michael Jackson, and the Beatles to name but a few. The Band once again dressed up as iconic figures - musical and otherwise - of the last 60 years with its usual gusto. Costumes, including many in the crowd, paid homage to Angus Young from ACDC, all 4 members of the Wiggles, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Blues Brothers, the Spice Girls, Darth Vader, ABBA and many more. The Musical Director, Michael Mathers, donned the full kit of arguably one of the most iconic figures of the last 60 years conducting the entire second half dressed as Neil Armstrong ... complete with helmet and back pack!
 

Throughout the evening the audience were entertained by the vocal talents of three of the band members with Maddi Mathers singing the Cher Classic “River Deep Mountain High”, Cassi de Lacy- Vawdon singing the Leonard Cohen masterpiece “Hallelujah”, and Emily Wiltshire singing Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain”. All three ladies and the band combined to close out the evening with Frank Sinatra’s signature “My Way”.
 

The band certainly did it their way and the evening was once again a massive success with audience members leaving wanting more.
 

Plans are currently underway for next year’s cabaret with an official date and announcement of the theme to be made public in the near future. With the hall at near capacity based on current numbers, once announced, be sure to book in early to avoid disappointment.
 

Congratulations and Thank You to our Cabaret Committee - Cathy Bardi, Cassi de Lacy-Vawdon, Stephanie Gilfedder, Timothy Hellyer, Catherine Hillman, Matt Hillman, Michael Mathers, Nicole Mathers, Todd O'Shea, Trudy O'Shea, Natalie Potenzi, Cameron Sanders, Sharon Tacey & Rachelle Thom, also our MC Peter Dowler, sound/lighting/projection tech Donna Maree Dowler, Springvale Brass MD Todd O'Shea, Dandenong Band MD Michael Mathers, music arrangers Nicole Pernice & Annie Pirotta, Chantelle Riordan for all of these photographs, all the Band Members, and especially all of our supporters who came along and made the night the massive success that it was!