John FarnhamMusic and entertainment superstars Celine Dion, Richard Marx, Keith Urban, and Hugh Jackman will co-headline an epic tribute concert in honour of the one and only John Farnham.
The show, titled The Songs of John Farnham: A Living Legend, is taking place at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Sunday, 20 September.
The Herald Sun reports that many Australian acts will appear and honour Farnham. They include Jimmy Barnes, Tina Arena, Jon Stevens, Kate Ceberano, Jessica Mauboy, Diesel, Mahalia Barnes, Ross Wilson, Human Nature, Jack Jones, and more. The show is being put on by Paul Dainty, President and CEO of TEG DAINTY.
Farnham has personally invited each of the artists performing to sing at the event, where they’ll deliver renditions of his classic songs like You’re The Voice, That’s Freedom, Two Strong Hearts, Pressure Down, and many others.
The Herald Sun also notes that Jackman and Dion will have their performances broadcast via satellite. For the performers in the room, they’ll be backed by Farnham’s legendary band, led by Chong Lim, as well as a 38-piece orchestra.
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John Farnham: A Living Legend will raise funds for Head and Neck Cancer Australia, which supported the homegrown music icon with his two-year battle with mouth cancer. In July 2023, Farnham was declared “cancer-free.”
In a statement, Farnham said he’s been “incredibly lucky” to pursue music and have the Australian public “embrace” his songs the way they have.
He continued, “This [tribute concert] isn’t about me — it’s about giving something back and supporting a cause that means a great deal to me.
“The fact that so many extraordinary artists from around the world have so generously agreed to be part of this night is incredibly humbling and says far more about the spirit behind this event than it does about me. I hope everyone has a great night.”
Head and Neck Cancer Australia Chief Executive Nadia Rosin added, “John Farnham’s impact on the cancer community has been profound. By sharing his experience, he has helped raise the voices of Australians facing a similar battle and helped … better understand what’s at stake.”
In August 2022, Farnham had successful surgery that removed a cancerous growth in his mouth. Nine News reports that the surgery took 12 hours and required 26 surgeons.
Farnham said about his diagnosis in 2022, “Cancer diagnosis is something that so many people face every single day, and countless others have walked this path before me.
"The one thing I know for sure is that we have the best specialist healthcare professionals in Victoria, and we can all be grateful for that. I know I am.”
