AN AUDIENCE WITH ANDY
FOR INXS AUSTRALIAN band INXS and Canto-pop superstar Andy Lau Tak-wah have been approached to co-headline a massive Hong Kong concert at the end of the year.
As part of a promotion led by the Australian Consul General, Michael Hutchence and his fellow rockers are being lined up for a mid-December date at the Happy Valley racecourse.
Although no official announcement has been made on the event, it is understood Aboriginal band Yothu Yindi will also appear. Actor/singer Lau's presence will lend greater appeal to the Chinese-speaking audience; and he will be asked to nominate another Canto-pop performer for the show.
The ideal date for the event - planned as a Sunday afternoon of music, possibly also featuring local bands before the four, big-name acts take the stage - would be December 19. The preferred stage configuration would be along the lines of that used for the Symphony Under the Stars classical concert last year.
Although capacity will not be a problem, it will be interesting to see how organisers arrange the acts in terms of appearance. Would an army of INXS stars sit patiently through 11/2 hours of Andy Lau? Maybe not. Instead, expect Lau to be on last.
Meanwhile, the Jazz Club is about to spring back into action after a relatively quiet spell with a multitude of musicians lined up (including the inevitable old faces).
First, Guy Barker (who has just won the John Dankworth Award for his musicianship) and Georgie Fame are returning to the club at the end of the month.
Then, in October The Dankworths (sons and daughter of John Dankworth and Cleo Laine), are scheduled to perform..
They will be followed by the return of ex-Rolling Stone Mick Taylor and brilliant bluesman Clarence ''Gatemouth'' Brown.
Among the more esoteric acts planned are New Age practitioners The Acoustic Alchemy (tentatively scheduled for late November), and guitarist Ruben Ford, who will probably be here early next year.
