NewsBite

John Farnham becomes oldest artist to perform at Falls Festival

Australia’s beloved Farnsy had Falls Festival Lorne rocking when he took to the main stage on Saturday night. But festival-goers were unaware of the record the 70-year-old broke during the performance.

John Farnham performing at Falls Festival in Lorne. Picture Ian Laidlaw
John Farnham performing at Falls Festival in Lorne. Picture Ian Laidlaw

John Farnham has become the oldest artist to perform at Falls Festival, playing the main stage at Lorne tonight.

Farnham, who turned 70 this year, told the Herald Sun before the event he had been looking forward to playing to the “much younger audience” that Falls attracts.

“I’m some old fart bouncing around up there under the lights, hopefully they’ll keep watching in case I fall over.”

Farnham, who had been researching the music of his fellow performers over the last few months, was followed last night by Triple J favourite Vera Blue.

John Farnham performing at Falls Festival in Lorne. Picture Ian Laidlaw
John Farnham performing at Falls Festival in Lorne. Picture Ian Laidlaw

Tonight’s Falls line-up is headlined by Halsey, Peking Duk, Banks and Holy Holy, with Pnau, Disclosure, Jungle Giants and Milky Chance playing Monday, and Lewis Capaldi and Vampire Weekend among the headline acts on New Year’s Eve in Lorne.

Tickets are still available for the event.

This year saw Farnham cancel a handful of shows after he was hospitalised following infection after a routine surgery.

John Farnham performing to a packed crowd at Falls Festival in Lorne. Picture: Ian Laidlaw
John Farnham performing to a packed crowd at Falls Festival in Lorne. Picture: Ian Laidlaw

It led to the singer overhauling his health, including hiring a personal trainer and giving up his beloved cigars.

“I’ve given up smoking which has been the best thing in the world. My lungs are never going to get better, it’s been 25 years, but I’m feeling good.”

MORE NEWS

WHAT’S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS NYE

RETIRED RICHMOND STAR SPLITS FROM WIFE

THE INCIDENT THAT MADE SAM NEWMAN GIVE UP BOOZE

Farnham is working on new music, and hopes he may have something ready to release in 2020, after passing on a song written by one of the biggest songwriters in the world.

“It was a great song, it just wasn’t right for me, it was too ‘young’,” he said.

“I’m always looking for songs, I’m 70 now. I’ve got to find grown up songs. That’s the difficult part.”

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/john-farnham-becomes-oldest-artist-to-perform-at-falls-festival/news-story/2b64195a79ed3d69c906a679f4133ce7