Off the back of the exclusive ‘Elvis: Direct From Graceland exhibition’, Burning Love at Bendigo is a new contemporary music series celebrating the King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley.
Taking to Bendigo’s historic fire station, the Engine Room, the new concert series – named after Elvis’ 1972 hit ‘Burning Love’ – will feature a perfectly curated lineup of cool and considered performers in a theatrical seated setting.
Running across weekends in May and June, the concert series will traverse the genres that the King helped to define, bringing the likes of Emma Donovan & The Putbacks, Gabriella Cohen, Cool Sounds and Freya Josephine Hollick to the stage.
Throughout the series, each act will tap into a different genre of Elvis’s musical legacy including gospel, soul, country, early pop, Americana, blues and 60s rock ‘n’ roll.
Kicking off the series on Saturday 7 May, Australia’s queen of soul Emma Donovan will lead Melbourne’s almighty rhythm combo The Putbacks through a curated program of funk and soul with a twist on the Elvis-inspired gospel tunes that Emma grew up with.
Having just released her third album, Gabriella Cohen’s laidback, tongue-in-cheek throwbacks to 60s girl groups and Lou Reed-cool will draw the Elvis-loving crowds on Saturday 21 May, while Australian Cosmic Country Queen Freya Josephine Hollick will lead from the front with her soulful take on alternative country music on Saturday 4 June.
Rounding out the iconic series on Saturday, 11 June, Melbourne guitar-pop band Cool Sounds will bring their effortless Nashville cool that’s full of poetic lyricism, whammy-county guitar and Randy Newman-esque melodies.
Each night the headline artist will be supported by and guest star with a special ‘Elvis Tribute’ set put together by The Burning Lovers Band – a line-up of local Bendigo musical royalty, featuring musicians from Cosmic Psychos, Bluestown Junction, Ramble Town, Benny and the Fly By Nighters and The Quarry Hillbillies, who have come together for this series to celebrate the music of the King.
Burning Love will take place at The Engine Room, 58 View Street, Bendigo. Tickets and further information at burninglovebendigo.com
