FESTIVAL: RED HOT SUMMER TOUR – SERIES 3
ARTISTS: SUZI QUATRO / CHEAP TRICK / JON STEVENS / THE ANGELS / BABY ANIMALS / SCREAMING JETS / CHOCOLATE STARFISH
VENUES: QUEENS PARK, TOOWOOMBA / SANDSTONE POINT HOTEL, BRIBIE ISLAND
REVIEWER: HAYLEY TREADWELL
PHOTOGRAPHER: ANDREW TREADWELL PHOTOGRAPHY
There is a reason Red Hot Summer Tour won Festival of the Year!
We were lucky enough to attend 2 shows of series 3 and I am always so in awe of what a great show the team at RHST put on! From everyone working hard behind the scenes to the venue staff and the amazing artists on stage, Red Hot Summer Tour is always the best day out!
We visited Toowoomba RHST for the first time and I absolutely loved the family friendly venue! Kids dancing all over the place, mums dancing to Aussie classics with the babies in arms, it was a truly beautiful day in rock ‘n’ roll! And that was before anyone had hit the stage!
Sandstone Point the following day is an 18+ venue, which suits Sandstone well. A day out for the adults is always enjoyed
I love Chocolate Starfish opening up on series 3, they bring a magnificent energy to the stage which radiates through the while crowd getting people out of their seats and onto the feet!
The Angels and The Screaming Jets switched up their spot in the line up between the 2 days, but with crowds full of Classic Aussie Rock lovers, I don’t think it would have mattered where they were on the bill! Both acts were amazing and the crowd responded singing along to every song and playing their part beautifully when called to respond during the Angels classic, ‘Am I ever gonna see your face again’……….
Baby Animals never disappoint! And were on fire this series! Suze is one of my favourite ever front women and i am in awe of her every time she takes the stage! These guys are legendary and I hope they remain part of the RHST family for years to come.
Jon Stevens giving us his mixed set of INXS and Noiseworks was a highlight for me both days! The amount of energy I watched Jon and his band put into the first song both days was mind blowing, and they kept that energy right ’til the end!
I can’t take my eyes off Jon when he is on the stage, his performance is outstanding!
The 2 international acts for series 3 are Cheap Trick and Suzi Quatro!
I have been lucky enough to be side stage 4 times for Cheap Trick in that last few years, and one of my favourite things about seeing them is when Rick Nielsen throws handfuls of picks into the crowd! They mostly miss and end up in the photo pit and I love running long and picking them all up and passing them out to the eager and excited fans!!
The Flame in Toowoomba was absolutely beautiful, I think the crowd all sung along together! There is a reason this band is in the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame, you will never not have a good time at a Cheap Trick show.
Closing out the shows, was the undisputed Queen of Rock, Suzi Quatro. Suzi and her Aussie band comprising of Nat and Tim (who was on double duties also playing with Jon Stevens) on Guitars, Johnny (also doing double duties with Jon) on Drums, and Paolo on keys, took us on a trip to Devil Gate Drive and everywhere else in between. This was Suzi’s 39th tour of Australia, and her love for this country is more than evident, and a few Golden Gaytimes were spied backstage, apparently Suzi loves one of our ice cream staples.
The team at Face To Face Touring are just amazing, from all the people you don’t see to the MC Skechers, Paul PT Taylor, you are made to feel like family. We love coming to RHST, and to all of the different events Face To Face put on. So, in saying that, see you all at Summersalt 2024 Bribie Island.
Until the next gig,
Hayley
