Colin Hay, the charismatic front man of the wildly popular ‘80’s rock band Men At Work, will give the capstone performance Saturday night, Sept. 16, at the Australian Music Festival at Nashville’s Centennial Park Amphitheatre. The event is part of the annual Australian Festival cultural-exchange extravaganza, which takes place at various Nashville locations from Tuesday, Sept. 12, to Sunday, Sept. 17.

Besides fronting Men At Work, Hay was also the band’s principal songwriter. He was roundly praised by critics for his witty lyrics and distinctive vocal delivery. In the U. S., Men At Work scored No. 1 hits with “Who Can It Be Now” and “Down Under,” the latter of which topped Billboard’s pop chart for four weeks. In 1982, the band won the Best New Artist Grammy. 

International country/rock star James Blundell will headline the Festival’s first major concert on Friday evening, Sept. 15, at the Australian Pavilion. Blundell is the recipient of nine Country Music Assn. of Australia Golden Guitar awards. He was signed to Capitol Records’ Nashville division in the early 1990’s, where he released the singles “Blue Heeler,” “Lonely Old Man” and “Time On His Hands.” Blundell will perform again on Saturday and Sunday.

The group Bushwackers has been tapped to close out the Festival Sunday afternoon, Sept. 17, with a show at the Australian Pavilion. Born out of the international folk music boom of the early 1970’s. The band’s great appeal during that time netted it 10 albums, national acclaim and the bestselling songbook in Australian history. In the years since, the band has retired, resurrected, added new members and resolutely plugged along. It currently records for ABC/EMI.

The Music Festival will also feature performances by Kylie Harris (Americana/country), Neil Murray (folk/rock), Pru Clearwater (pop/rock), Megan Laurie (country), Stephen Rowe (country), Luke O’Shea (alternative country), Lewis Burns (indigenous), Simon Bruce (folk/rock) Paul Killingly (Australiana) and Janine LeClair (Australian country).

Now living in Nashville, Harris hosts Great American Country’s On The Edge Of Country Series. She recently opened for Charley Pride on his cross-Canadian tour. Murray has been likened to Woody Guthrie because of his profound, wandering-inspired lyrics about his native land. Praised for her riveting stage performances and superb songwriting, Clearwater relocated from Australia to Nashville four years ago. She is currently recording a solo album, as well as touring and recording with the bands The Big Happy and The Naughty Skoolgirls. Laurie won three consecutive Champion of Champions awards for her music in Australia before decamping to America to study music at South Plains College in Texas.

Before embarking on his country music odyssey, Rowe was both a boxer and a professional ballet dancer. He was born in the remote Australian mining community of Broken Hill but now lives and sings in Los Angeles. O’Shea spun his brand of country music from the classic American country recordings his father owned and has gone on to write his songs about real events and people. Burns creates and performs his arts—he is a mural painter as well as a musician—according to the traditions of Australia’s first people. He is a master of the aboriginal didgeridoo.

Bruce has just released his first album in Australia, Restless Thoughts. He tours widely, occasionally in America. Killingly is an accomplished actor and minstrel whose program includes current Australiana hits and traditional Irish, Scottish and English songs. LeClair is a native of Canada, but calls Australia home. She was voted Best Female Vocalist at the Western Australia Country Music Awards in 2003.

Tickets to the Australian Music Festival (Sat. night only tickets are $7.50 when purchased in advance online or $10 at the gate.) 

All other acts perform throughout the Festival weekend on which ticket price is $5.00 to get in per day.

For the entire Music Down Under Schedule - Click Here