Crowded House, Rod Stewart to perform at Centennial Vineyards in Bowral

After years of uncertainty about the future of concerts at the venue, Bowral’s Centennial Vineyards will play host two massive acts next year.

After years of uncertainty about the future of concerts at the venue, Bowral’s Centennial Vineyards will play host to music superstars Crowded House and Rod Stewart next year.

Crowded House has announced they will be undertaking a nationwide tour in April 2022 to promote new album Dreamers Are Waiting.

It will be the first Australian tour by the iconic Australian band in 12 years – and they’re heading to the Southern Highlands.

Centennial Vineyards’ A Day on the Green concert on Saturday April 16 next year will showcase their anthems as well as the new Crowded House album, which recently won an ARIA Award for Best Contemporary Album.

Crowded House (from left) Nick Seymour, Elroy Finn, Mitchell Froom, Neil Finn and Liam Finn. Picture: Kerry Brown

The band, formed in Melbourne in 1985, has enjoyed decades of success and admiration for their melodic hits like Don’t Dream It’s Over.

Owner of Centennial John Large,said the band’s concert would rejuvenate the Southern Highlands and remind residents about the benefits of live music events.

“It will be a bit uplifting for local people, it’s good for the businesses and good for Centennial, but it’s equally as good for the Southern Highlands from a tourism point of view,” he said.

“It’s a win-win for everybody.”

Centennial Vineyards has been embroiled in a long debate with Wingecarribee Shire Council about the value of hosting daytime concerts on their land. Although the venue has been hosting A Day on the Green events since 2006, complaints from neighbours and council have forced several changes.

Centennial Vineyards in Bowral will host two musical superstar acts in 2022. Picture: Facebook

For the past year, Mr Large has been trying to find a way to increase the capacity of the venue from its current limit of 10,000 people to 14,000.

“14,000 is what we would like so we can stage international acts of a very premium level,” he said.

“It means people don’t have to go to the Hunter Valley to see these acts, they can see it right in their backyard.”

Council has also restricted Centennial to only hosting four concerts a year, which Mr Large said makes booking big acts difficult because of their nebulous schedules.

He said the venue had been lucky to book international music star Rod Stewart but the opportunity would not arise often.

Rod Stewart will kick off the revamped concerts at Centennial on March 27, after his tour was postponed last year due to Covid.

Both Rod Stewart and Crowded House will bring much-needed entertainment and tourism to the region after a difficult couple of years.

A previous Day on the Green event at Centennial Vineyards was well attended. Picture: Facebook

“It’s uplifting for people to have a bit of good stuff on their doorstep,” Mr Large said.

In the future, Mr Large said he hoped the council will be more collaborative in their approach to concerts and creative tourist ventures.

“I’d like to talk to council about the future of the events – how they see it, how it can help the area get recognition and exposure in the tourist market,” he said.

For the moment, he will enjoy the community buzz around the upcoming concerts.

With Crowded House and Rod Stewart coming to town, 2022 is set to be the best year of the decade so far.