John Farnham’s tribute concert this past weekend is heading back to the big screen.
Announced by HOYTS on Wednesday, “The Songs of John Farnham: A Living Legend – The Celebration Concert,” which took place Sunday night at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena and beamed into cinemas on the night, will be returning to the big screen due to its massive success.
Despite playing on just 50 screens around the country, 23,000 fans flocked to the cinemas to see the show, which raked in $1.16 million at the box office and came in at No. 3 for the weekend overall.
“When the concert sold out so quickly, we were honoured to help extend this special celebration beyond Rod Laver Arena and give fans across Australia the opportunity to experience it together in cinemas,” HOYTS General Manager of Programming and Content, Michelle Gater, said
“Demand for the live broadcast was incredible, with sessions selling out rapidly. Additional screenings were added to accommodate the response from fans.
“Delivering a live broadcast simultaneously across cinemas nationally was a significant undertaking and required an enormous collaborative effort from everyone involved. It was incredibly special to see cinemas filled with John Farnham fans coming together to share in the celebration, and we’re very proud to have played a part in making that possible.”
Details of the encore season, including participating locations, session times and ticketing information, will be announced soon, though fans have been promised a re-edited version of the concert.
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Rolling Stone AU/NZ was at Rod Laver Arena for the concert, which saw live sets from the likes of Keith Urban, Tina Arena, and Jimmy Barnes, as well as a livestreamed performance of “You’re the Voice” from Celine Dion.
“What a legacy!” the review reads. “It’s safe to say Farnham would’ve been bursting with pride and crying happy tears while viewing this all-star tribute concert from the comfort of his own home.”
Check out the full review of the show here.
From Rolling Stone AU/NZ