Music fans up on their feet for Australian rock legend Ross Hannaford

A STELLAR line-up of Melbourne musicians will come together for two benefit concerts next weekend for rock legend Ross Hannaford.

N17ht900a1 Caption: The guitar recently stolen from Ross Hannaford.

A STELLAR line-up of Melbourne musicians will come together for two benefit concerts on the weekend for rock legend Ross Hannaford.

The guitarist from seminal Australian 1970s Rock band Daddy Cool also played with numerous other bands such as Lucky Dog, One Foundation and Hey Gringo and with artists such as Renee Geyer and Bart Willoughby, Hannaford is battling serious illness.

Among those joining artists like Paul Kelly, the Rockwiz Orchestra and Daddy Cool band mates Ross Wilson, Gary Young and Wayne Duncan, are his long-time friends and collaborators, singer songwriters Margot Barrett from Alphington and Steve Hoy from Bentleigh.

“Ross has not been able to work or do any of his gigs — he had to cancel a national tour,” Barrett said.

“We want to raise money for him so he can put food on the table and doesn’t have to be worried and stressed.”

Barrett said she and Hannaford, a Yarraville resident, had been close friends since art school in the late 1960s and had written numerous songs and been in several bands together.

During recent years, Hannaford has become a familiar figure in his orange overalls busking with drummer Bart Willoughby (No Fixed Address) in Melbourne’s CBD, Camberwell and South Melbourne Markets.

Barrett and Hoy both joined in with him in his last busking session at South Melbourne Market a few months ago before he became too ill to play.

Hannaford’s name is on literally hundreds of albums from dozens of artists as guitarist, including Steve Hoy’s 1985 acclaimed album Anticipation and they have since worked together on numerous other projects.

“I can’t think of any other musician as much loved as Ross is,” Hoy said.

“He’s always had a great vibe about him.

“He’s very generous with his performances.”

Hoy said the idea of having a benefit concert came about after friend and singer saxophonist Joe Camilleri offered to give up Memo Music Hall venue he was booked in for on the weekend.

“There’s a lot of love out there for Ross — we’ve got a lot of people on the bill,” he said.

“Brian Nankervis (Rockwiz) will hold it all together (he’s the MC).”

Hoy said it was unlikely Hannaford himself would make it along to the gig because he was “a bit too fragile”.

The first concert (on Saturday July 18) sold out in 24 hours but there are still tickets available for the second, a matinee on Sunday, July 19, from 3pm to 6pm at Memo Music Hall, 90 Acland St, St Kilda. Tickets $75 (reserve seating) or $60 general admission.

Tickets on sale at memomusichall.com.au or donate to the benefit at trybooking.com here.