Dates
Friday 05 September 2025
7:30pm at Hamer Hall
Saturday 06 September 2025
7:30pm at Hamer Hall
About this performance
The Whitlams joins the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in a one-off performance of their renowned symphonic collaboration. The Whitlams was the first Australian indie band to perform with Australia's finest orchestras back in 2004, and the show has developed in the ensuing 20 years with various composers adding arrangements as new albums have been written and released.
This retrospective performance of the band's career will see the MSO share centre stage, playing a wide palate of styles across the concert. Tim Freedman's friendship with the late Peter Sculthorpe is marked by two gorgeous string arrangements, and full symphonic treatments have been provided by MSO Principal Conductor Benjamin Northey, as well as Brett Dean, Iain Grandage, Daniel Denholm, Jamie Messenger, and this performance’s conductor Nicholas Buc.
"...superbly orchestrated with a sophistication of sound rare in a pop gig."
Classic compositions including "No Aphrodisiac" and "Blow Up the Pokies" will be joined by highlights of The Whitlams' 2020s resurgence with a song from each of the two recent albums, "Sancho" (2022), and the Americana influenced "Kookaburra" (2024).
The Whitlams' last three tours to Melbourne have been sellout standing shows at The Forum, The Northcote Theatre, and a four night run at The Corner Hotel. This Hamer Hall show is the first seated concert since 2017.
Tim Freedman says, "Once every seven years we get to perform in the middle of the beautiful storm of an 80-piece orchestra. This time it's with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in Australia's best sounding room, Hamer Hall. I'm counting down the days to what will be a really memorable evening."
Featuring
The Whitlams
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Nicholas Buc conductor
