As if 35 years wasn’t enough of a wait for Culture Club to finally play Adelaide in June this year, the band thankfully decided to ‘go round again’ and perform a bunch of shows in more boutique surroundings in what they call the Encore Tour. The gorgeous surrounds of Seppeltsfield Winery hosted the 80’s pop icons on Friday night under the stars with a truly festival feel to it. The buzz before the show was energetic as fellow 80’s alumni Pseudo Echo & Real Life set the tone for a nostalgic jaunt back to simpler times, with many of the crowd having first experienced Culture Club as school kids.
Winners of Glam Adelaide’s meet and greet giveaway Chrissie Kourniotis & Priya Ravi (pictured below) were thrilled with their chance to get up close to the band prior to the performance, and were grinning from ear to ear after their encounter.
Another couple at the meet and greet, Brenda and Paul from Port Elliott were overwhelmed with joy and Brenda could hardly contain herself after meeting her teen idols. “It’s unreal, I’ve been a fan since the 80’s and I just met them. How nostalgic and surreal,” she said as she wiped away tears of joy. Such is the effect that Culture Club have on their fans. It isn’t just a music thing, it reaches far deeper than that for many as it evokes memories of youth long gone, a time in our lives when things were simpler, and people were a lot nicer to one another. Culture Club spoke of diversity, and the songs they sang (and continue to do so) represent more than their music, they also signify an era, our youth, and a bloody bold fashion statement!
Original members Jon Moss, Roy Hay, Mikey Craig and the enigmatic Boy George were ‘on fleek’ as they played their songs with the same passion and love in which they were first conceived. Their band and backup singers are exquisite, with the female vocalists shining each time they belted out a note. Of course, George is a generous front man and gives the girls their own ‘moment in the sun’ throughout the performance, especially the one “with the great big f*#k off earrings,” as he put it, referring to the singer’s large accessories. His banter to the crowd was much more laid back than the June concert, showing a confidence that makes for an enjoyable performance. He’s clearly not shy of dropping the casual ‘F bomb’, but this is after all Boy George and we’re all grown-ups!
Their string of hits are played throughout the show of course, and they save their most famous hit Karma Chameleon until the encore along with Prince’s Purple Rain, and T-Rex’s Get It On in a finale fit for a queen.
Amidst the pristine grounds of Seppeltsfield, Culture Club upheld how relevant they still are and emanated the love that they have been shown for almost 40 years through their music.
It was a beautiful experience within and without. Hopefully it won’t be another 35 years before we see them again.
They move onto Hope Estate Winery, Hunter Valley on Sat 10th Dec and then Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne on Sun 11th Dec.
DazzHassan
@DazzHassan
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Setlist- Seppeltsfield 9th Dec 2016
Church of the poison mind
It’s a Miracle
Tumble 4 ya
Move away
Everything I own
Black Money
Interlude
Time (Clock of the heart)
Like I used to
Different man
Miss me
Crying game
Do you really want to hurt me?
Victims
War song
Encore
Karma Chameleon
Purple Rain
Get it on
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