Australian music legend Normie Rowe is set to return to Maldon later this month to play his second SteamPacket ‘Under the Stars’ gig.
Speaking to the Express from the Gold Coast late last week, the incomparable singer, performer and actor said after the challenges of COVID he was looking forward to returning to his home state for the special one-off Victorian show with The Playboys.
Normie and his band will be performing at SteamPacket’s new outdoor venue, the Maldon Golf Club, on Saturday March 12.
The veteran performer is currently recovering from minor finger surgery, but is sure he will be fighting fit and ready to pick up the plectrum and deliver a showcase of some of his greatest hits spanning his five decades in the industry.
Normie said the world was a very different to what it was when he last played at Maldon Railway Station in 2018.
“It’s been hard on a lot of people, and the boys and I are looking forward to delivering a fun show where people can really enjoy themselves, but there will be some pathos in there too. It’s cathartic,” he said.
Normie said that while the pandemic put paid to 39 sold out shows across the country, many other artists and Australians were a lot worse off.
“I’m lucky to have made a name for myself and to be welcomed back time and again. But it’s been incredibly tough on a lot of artists and the government support hasn’t really been there for them,” he said.
Normie said he enjoyed doing one particularly memorable Zoom performance from his home on the Gold Coast during the height of the pandemic. Linking in with his band and fellow muso Johnny Young for two sold out shows in Western Australia.
“As they say, the show must go on, and we didn’t want to let down our fans. I put up some curtains and some lights and set up a bit of a stage and joined them via Zoom, but there is nothing quite like the atmosphere of playing live,” he said.
During the downtime, Normie has been working on the re-release of an album recorded in the late 70s, which was originally only released on vinyl, to make his catalogue more widely available to the fans.
The entertainer has also unearthed some never-before-released tracks recorded in London and has been working on some new material.
Normie said that in the intervening years some of his songs had taken on new meaning.
“Many songs may be interpreted in a different way by a new generation of fans who are looking at things through a different lens,” he said.
SteamPacket Maldon’s Clif Edwards said locals who enjoyed the Russell Morris gig in January were looking forward to seeing Normie rock the same venue.
“You could draw some comparisons between our styles,” Normie said.
“Our drummers both have a very similar sound. My drummer ‘Trotta’ is turning 80 in June and still rocking!” he said.
Normie said he hoped to make a stopover at the Victorian Goldfields Railway and check out their new-look first class carriage, the Acheron, while he was in town.
“I grew up near the railway in Melbourne and it brought back a lot of memories exploring the old rolling stock at Maldon. I was really impressed with the passion and enthusiasm of the volunteers,” he said.
To get your tickets to Normie’s SteamPacket show visit steampacket.com.au or trybooking.com
