A resurgence of artists from yesteryear have been heading back to the stage this year instead of towards the retirement home, and promoters say it’s because we love reliving the past.
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Tribute bands have always been a winner for venues, with the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre confident their upcoming Simon & Garfunkel show will play to a near full house.
‘‘I guess people like what they know, and they want to relive some sort of aspect of their youth,’’ said acting marketing manager for Merrigong Theatre Company Lyndel Hayes.
‘‘They also want to introduce, I think, any young people to that time in their life.’’
A stage version of the epic television series Monkey Magic (well known by children of the 1980s), is in its eighth season and expected to be another sellout show at IPAC in October following ‘‘rock concert’’ receptions.
Artistic director of the production Kim Carpenter said though Monkey: Journey to the West was based on the Chinese legend, Australians know it through pop culture.
‘‘When we got to Canberra [the audience] all came out with Monkey T-shirts, which they must have had in their drawers for a very long time in mothballs because we didn’t provide them.’’
The 80s Mania show featuring Cutting Crew, Nik Kershaw, Go West and Paul Young has already sold out venues in Sydney and Perth, with their sights on Wollongong in September.
‘‘I don’t know about the ’70s, but the ’80s and ’90s [artists] you get an enormous reaction to,’’ said publicist Lionel Midford.
British band 10cc may prove Mr Midford wrong as the rockers from Salford had great success in the 1970s, and ticket sales are strong for their Aussie tour including the show at the WIN Entertainment Centre in November.
‘‘Music is a great motivator for memories,’’ said general manager Stuart Barnes. ‘‘When you also get a band or an artist come through that you remember, it’s interesting to see them again as they are more mature, if you know what I mean. But I think it’s predominantly the fact that you relive your youth.’’
