Switched On: The Whitlams
Friday 11 October from 8pm to 11pm Saturday 30 November from 8pm to 11pm
The Whitlams takes the stage to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the double platinum album, Love This City, and write a new chapter in its storied history on the City Recital Hall stage.
The album was the ambitious big budget follow up to the award-winning Eternal Nightcap, and its reputation has gathered steam over the years, recently being named in Rolling Stone's Best Australian Albums of All Time list last year at no. 101. Spawning famous singles "Blow Up the Pokies" and "Thank You (for loving me at my worst)", the album had a thick vein of social commentary, exploring issues and attitudes around poker machines, the Sydney Olympics and East Timor, as well as the usual strong splash of Whitlams' world-wise romanticism. It will be played in full with a greatest hits set including live favourites. But that's not all – this time they're bringing a brass section to add the power and melody that enlivened the lushly orchestrated long player.
Tim Freedman will be joined by long term cohorts guitarist Jak Housden and drummer Terepai Richmond, who were both part of the sessions back in 1999, with new member multi-instrumentalist Ian Peres.
It will be an evening of memories, milestones and humour as the band delivers its usual rambunctious performance, complete with the power of brass.
Come join the band at City Recital Hall where you will be inspired to party like it's 1999.
Supporting The Whitlams is Charm of Finches.
Melbourne sister duo Charm of Finches delivers intricate folk-pop that is simultaneously graceful and darkly bewitching. Their seamless blood harmonies traverse melancholy and wonder in equal measure.
The sisters, Mabel and Ivy Windred-Wornes, released their third full length album Wonderful Oblivion in 2021 through New York-based label AntiFragile Music to critical acclaim. They have since toured extensively through the UK, Europe and Canada in 2022/23.
Winners of the Australian Folk Music Awards Best Folk Album (2022) and Music Victoria Best Contemporary Folk Act (2021), their music has been nominated twice for the prestigious Australian Music Prize.
In February 2023 the sisters spent a month in rural Nova Scotia recording with acclaimed Canadian producer Daniel Ledwell (Jenn Grant, Oh Pep!), inspired by the frozen beauty of the landscape and their transient life on the road with their music. The result is their fourth studio album Marlinchen In The Snow released through Spunk! Records in 2024.