Centre Stage with BRIEN MCVERNON part #1, with special guest Ian Sandercoe at The Wickham Park Hotel Thursday 1st November.
Brien McVernon
Every month, Newcastle Singer/Songwriter Brien McVernon will be presenting a stripped-down original music night featuring a very special guest at The Wickham Park Hotel. The show will be 2 sets, with the second set featuring the invited guest. This special series of events will give the audience an intimate and interactive look into the stories, concepts and inspirations behind the music. Including career highlights, special stories and question time with the artists.
Songwriting has always been at the heart of all Brien’s bands. He started the Punk/New Wave band “The Phantom Agents” at Newcastle University back in 1981. This eventually grew into the highly acclaimed “Lipp System”, who went on the road supporting Pseudo Echo, The Church, Icehouse, Split Enz and almost every band during that era.
In 1988 Brien was looking for a new songwriting venture. Whilst he was living half in Sydney and half in Newcastle. Through a friend in Newcastle, he was recommended to Ian Sandercoe, a very passionate singer looking for new music to lift people’s spirit. Known to most as Candy, Ian has over 30 years experience within the creative industries working in Music, Theatre and Film.
Ian Sandercoe
It only took one meeting and these guys hit on a great formula. Several line-up ideas had been attempted before the legendary “Raiding Party” was formed and became the next band. Drawing huge crowds, night after night, which was helped along when the first single “Loveland” quickly climbed up the charts, reaching the top 10 in the 1st week of release. Raiding Party were really making an impact on the music scene.
The band continued to forge ahead and spent most of its offstage time in the studio writing and recording songs. Unfortunately, like many rock n roll stories, the band only lasted a couple of years before personal differences took its toll. Ian started working more in Melbourne and Brien formed another band called ‘Circuslife’…which is a story for another time!
Raiding Party (Reunion show)
Earlier this year, Brien and Ian were reunited on stage for the first time in 27 years with The Raiding Party Reunion show, and it was as electric as the early days.
You can catch both Brien and Ian, Centre Stage, as they go on a musical journey of how they started and where
they are now.
Event details
Date: Thursday 1st November 2018
Time: 6:30pm dinner & 7pm show starts
Cost: Free Entry with a full dinner menu available. Bookings essential.
Bookings: Please call the friendly staff at The Wickham Park Hotel to book your table. Ph: 02 4965 3201
An event not to be missed, book a table and enjoy the experience!