news, latest news, Normie Rowe, Dinah Lee, Jade Hurley, Glasshouse Port Macquarie, Wintersun, Max Merritt
Most 75-year-olds live a good life in retirement. But the performers never seem to want to stop working. In March, three notable singers of the 60s – former King of Pop Normie Rowe, Queen of Mod Dinah Lee and Prince of Rock ‘n’ Roll Jade Hurley – will bring their seasoned stage talents and multiple hits to the Glasshouse Port Macquarie scene. With a combined age of over 230, it begs the question – where do they get the energy? “I think the only thing you can change in life is your attitude,” says Rowe. “I really like doing what I do for a living to begin with. I really like meeting people after the show, I like traveling and going to other places.” Although National Service ended his meteoric career for a time, Rowe says he learned one thing in the Australian Army that has served him well to this day. “Every morning I get up and the first thing I do is make my bed. I’ve been doing this since the army.” Then I force myself to do at least one thing a day. At the end of the day, I check that it’s done. By the end of the year, I’ve done at least 365 things.” Rowe says “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey” that keeps you going. Versatile entertainer can’t wait to get back to The Glasshouse .location. I was there for the Wintersun festival. Loved working there, the staff were so accommodating.” Proving that retirement is not in his vocabulary, Rowe, who lives on the Gold Coast, has performed in Melbourne twice in recent weeks. “I was very lucky during the pandemic, every once in a while I got a call. “I went to Shark Bay for the anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Sydney. Then I had two sold-out gigs with Johnny Young when Mark McGowan closed the borders.” So I sat in the living room with my guitar, the band was 3,000 miles away, and technology brought us together on the big screen and the audience The three Australian entertainment legends have performed the show they bring to Port Macquarie around 10 or 11 times, Rowe says. “We did it at the Civic Theater in Newcastle 18 months ago and then down south -eastern Queensland. We can tweak it again on the sound check.” There’s also no stopping the trio after that. “Our industry has been devastated by the pandemic. This tour has been interrupted multiple times by COVID.” Rowe says it wasn’t just the artists who made it difficult. “It’s especially difficult for the promoter. He did all the publicity and paid for it, so the show has to be cancelled.” As he headed to his gym session, Rowe encouraged fans to come to the show. “You’ll have the best pleasure you could have ever had sitting down. It’s a few hours of wonderful memories that will have you smiling and saying ‘yes, I remember.'” We make all the hits – Jade covered rock ‘n’ roll; Dinah does Don’t You Know Kokomo and Reet Petit plus she does a wonderful tribute to Max Merritt. “And I’ll do all of my hits – about eight or 10 of them. You might even see me doing my hair in my Maui Jim glasses.” 3 Legends in Concert, March 25, 8 p.m.
Normie Rowe performs alongside Dinah Lee and Jade Hurley at Port Macquarie’s Glasshouse on March 25 at 8 p.m.
Most 75-year-olds live a good life in retirement. But the performers never seem to want to stop working.
In March, three notable singers of the 60s – former King of Pop Normie Rowe, Queen of Mod Dinah Lee and Prince of Rock ‘n’ Roll Jade Hurley – will bring their seasoned stage talents and multiple hits to the Glasshouse Port Macquarie scene.
With a combined age of over 230, it begs the question – where do they get the energy?
“I think the only thing you can change in life is your attitude,” says Rowe.
“I really like doing what I do for a living to begin with. I really like meeting people after the show, I like traveling and going to other places.”
Although National Service ended his meteoric career for a time, Rowe says he learned one thing in the Australian Army that has served him well to this day.
“Every morning I wake up and the first thing I do is make my bed. I’ve been doing it since the army.
“Then I force myself to do at least one thing a day. At the end of the day, I check to make sure it’s done. By the end of the year, I’ve done at least 365 things.”
Rowe says “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey” that keeps you going.
The versatile performer can’t wait to get back to the greenhouse.
“It’s a fantastic place. I was there for the Wintersun festival. I loved working there, the staff were very accommodating.”
Proving that retirement is not in his vocabulary, Rowe, who lives on the Gold Coast, has performed in Melbourne twice in recent weeks.
“I was very lucky during the pandemic, from time to time I received a call.
“I went to Shark Bay for the anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Sydney. Then I had two sold-out shows with Johnny Young when Mark McGowan closed the borders.
“So I sat in the living room with my guitar, the band was 3,000 miles away and the technology brought us together on the big screen and the audience loved it.
The three Australian entertainment legends have performed the show they bring to Port Macquarie around 10 or 11 times, says Rowe.
“We did it at the Civic Theater in Newcastle 18 months ago and then in South East Queensland. We can tweak it again when checking the sound.”
There’s also no stopping the trio after that.
“Having finished this run, we are heading in April to central Queensland.
“Our industry has been devastated by the pandemic. This tour has been interrupted by COVID multiple times.”
Rowe says it wasn’t just the artists who made it difficult.
“It’s especially difficult for the promoter. He did all the advertising and paid for it, and then the show has to be cancelled.”
As he headed to his gym session, Rowe encouraged fans to come to the show.
“You will have the best pleasure you can have sitting down. It’s a few hours of wonderful memories that will make you smile and say ‘yes, I remember that’.
“We do all the hits – Jade covered rock ‘n’ roll; Dinah does You don’t know Kokomo and Réet Petit in addition, it pays a magnificent tribute to Max Merritt.
“And I’ll do all my hits – about eight or 10 of them. You might even see me wearing my Maui Jim glasses.”
