Music From the Home Front: Acts pay tribute to Michael Gudinski

REVIEW: Delta Goodrem, Amy Shark and more of Australia’s biggest musical acts blew their fans away with their songs at Music From The Home Front.

Delta Goodrem was one of Music From the Home Front’s highlights. Pic: Mushroom Creative House

Last year Music From the Home Front perfectly captured the times - people stuck at home, looking for entertainment.

Music industry titan Michael Gudinski pulled off a televised concert where musicians performed remotely from around the world, with a nod to Anzac Day.

A year on, tragically Michael Gudinski isn’t here to see his dream of Music From the Home Front becoming a concert turn into a reality, but his team have made it happen for him.

There was still the virtual element, with pre-recorded performances from Crowded House, Jimmy Barnes, Delta Goodrem and The Kid LAROI filmed all around the globe.

Tina Arena, on the Crown rooftop, graciously allowed newcomer Jess Hitchcock the chance to sing a verse of her hit Sorrento Moon.

Crowded House play on Music From the Home Front. Pic Mushroom Creative House

Music From the Homefront: Amy Shark on stage. Picture: Josie Hayden

Meanwhile at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, a COVID-safe crowd watched live music from Amy Shark, Vance Joy, The Rubens, Tash Sultana, Budjerah, Lime Cordiale, Mia Wray and the unlikely coupling of hip hop trio Bliss N Eso with country star Kasey Chambers.

Tash Sultana performed live at Music From the Home Front. Picture: Josie Hayden

Bliss N Eso were joined by country singer Kasey Chambers. Picture: Josie Hayden

Music From the Homefront. Kasey Chambers performing with Bliss N Eso. Picture: Josie Hayden

While the live bands played three songs for the 3000 strong crowd at the Bowl, most in pods on the lawn braving the rain, only one song from each set was later aired on TV and YouTube.

From the pre-recorded material, Delta Goodrem put her own spin on John Farnham’s You’re The Voice, keeping the crucial bagpipes while Crowded House and Jimmy Barnes cleverly introduced new material by throwing in a classic hit to boot.

Vance Joy plays in among the pods at the Bowl. Pic: Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images

The crowd at Music From the Home Front. Pic: Mushroom Creative House Ian Laidlaw

Gudinski would have been proud of daughter Kate in co-hosting mode and son Matt talking about carrying on the legacy.

Kate Gudinski told the audience “Thank you Dad for making tonight happen … he would be absolutely beaming if he was here.”

Sam Margin from the Rubens wearing a MG #1 tshirt. Picture: Josie Hayden

The Rubens’ Sam Margin wore a T-shirt in honour of Gudinski and said “Michael Gudinski changed the music industry forever, he made Melbourne what it is today, we miss him so much.”

Vance Joy told the crowd of Gudinski’s vision for Home Front “thanks Michael for dreaming it up, it’s so awesome to see it on this scale” while Bliss N Eso’s new single Good People aired with visual tributes to Gudinski.

Music From the Homefront. Royal Melbourne Hospital Scrub Choir performing with Ben Lee. Picture: Josie Hayden

And there were plenty of Gudinski’s beloved collaborations - You Am I with Hayley Mary covering Skyhooks, Mahalia Barnes, Kate Ceberano and Nikki Costa covering The Real Thing and a finale of Ben Lee and Gordi with the Royal Melbourne Scrub Choir for a finale of We’re All In This Together.

Could we be looking at a second live album this year?