The Jacksons, Kool & The Gang, The Pointer Sisters, Village People
Sidney Myer Music Bowl
The evening was hot at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer music bowl as some of the music industry legends gathered under the canopy to raise the roof for the MJR Summer Series this week.
With the Sounds of the Supremes getting the early arrivals going by the time The Village People exploded out onto the arena the crowd was well and truly ready to party. The iconic disco group certainly did not disappoint with their high octane performance non-stop fun. With iconic songs ‘ Macho Man’ and ‘ In the Navy’ the super group showed Melbourne how to have a good time. With the iconic YMCA uniting the crowd under one roof, it was arms raised and hips shaking throughout the venue.
The Pointer Sisters were not about to be outdone however and they kept the momentum well and truly going for their set. The ladies showed the boys a thing or two and kept the dancing going with hits like ‘ Jump’ and ‘ So excited’ impressing the enthusiastic crowd. The girls having so much fun they didn’t appear to want to leave the stage, the crowd equally happy to let them stay.
Kool and the Gang were next up and showed everyone how to make an entrance. The twelve piece band dressed in silver, black and sequins looking like they were here to party. They raised the roof, not stopping for a second. Looking around the arena it resembled a congregation as the ‘ Celebration’ singers encouraged the crowd to dance, have fun and let go. Smiles plastered on faces emphasized that the crowd was indeed having the time of their lives.
Lastly it was time for the band everyone had been waiting for – The Jacksons. Making a dramatic entrance the brothers proved again why they are so loved. Screams from the audience were deafening as the siblings dressed in black military jackets danced in sync and sung some of their greatest hits. The brothers camaraderie on stage is joyful to watch and an uplifting experience to witness.
The MJR Summer series is the first of its kind to bring together a collective of music legends, and judging by the diversity of the audience the show was a huge success.
Words and Images by Amanda Lee Starkey