Crowded House’s Liam Finn on the band’s enduring success ahead of Townsville show

Crowded House’s Liam Finn was just three years old when the band he now plays in was topping the charts, touring the world and building a legacy. Now he’s part of the crew.

Iconic rock band Crowded House will perform in Townsville next week after the lead singer tested positive to Covid-19 and was forced to reschedule the tour.

The addition of a Townsville date, November 3, is because an earlier leg of the Dreamers Are Waiting tour was cancelled when Finn tested positive.

It meant the postponed event had locations, including Townsville, added to the tour.

Townsville hosted one of the first appearances of the band after Finn left Split Enz and formed the Mullanes — the name an early version of Crowded House played under in Townsville in 1985.

Crowded House (from left) Nick Seymour, Elroy Finn, Mitchell Froom, Neil Finn and Liam Finn. Picture: Kerry Brown 2021

Finn’s son, Liam, joined the band in 2020 beside brother Elroy as well as keyboardist Mitchell Froom and classic line-up member Nick Seymour.

“I think I came to Townsville in probably like 2002 or thereabouts with my old band, but that was a really long time ago now,” Liamsaid.

“Getting to pick up the week of cancelled shows from earlier in the year has meant that we’ve had the chance to play in a few more regional places, which we wouldn’t normally get the chance to come to, so it’s a pretty special moment, really.”

Musician Liam Finn, son of Neil Finn, who is travelling with Crowded House.

Liam, who was only three years old when Crowded House was at its peak, still remembers watching his father play live and wishing he could be there beside him.

“It feels quite fitting and quite natural to be in this position now,” he said.

“I grew up watching Crowded House on stage and idolising them and just wishing I was doing that. It really whet the appetite to want to make music and certainly to perform, once you see the effect that it had on people and the joy it could bring them.”

Australian rock band Crowded House released its seven album 'Dreamers Are Waiting' in June 2021. From left, Liam Finn, Mitchell Froom, Neil Finn, Elroy Finn and Nick Seymour. Picture: supplied

After an early period spent building his own reputation and working to keep his and his father’s music careers separate, a renewed sense of family eventually pushed the two together creatively.

“It wasn’t until me and my wife were expecting our first child and we were spending a lot of time with my folks,” Liamsaid.

“My dad and I just started making music together and writing songs together. We even ended up touring with mum on the bass and Elroy, my brother, on drums.

“It’s a pretty tricky thing to look across the stage, see your mum and dad and your brother. “You realise pretty quickly that we’ve got something pretty unique in this family.”

Crowded House will perform in Townsville at the Entertainment Centre on November 3. Tickets can bought via Live Nation.

Originally published as Crowded House’s Liam Finn on the band’s enduring success ahead of Townsville show