North head’s concert wonderland returns

Night at the Barracks’ 2022 inauguration was a roaring success, and now, get set for 2023 to be even better. Featuring another stellar line up, with some of the biggest names in Australian music, Missy Higgins, Hoodoo Gurus, Tom Burlinson, Tina Arena, and James Morrison all taking to the stage, as well as the legendary Kate Ceberano, for whom 2023 marks 40 years as a singer, songwriter, performer, artist, and national treasure.

“It was actually in Dee Why, in the 80s, performing with I’m Talking, our post-punk, funk-pop, rock band,” Kate recalls. “When I was a little pocket rocket that would get on stage and go, go, go, and it was the sweatiest night, so much energy, I remember coming to the realisation, that night, this was my purpose in life, to perform live, to make music, it was all so clear to me.”

Dee Why, the sweaty birthplace of Ms Ceberano’s realisation she was born for music greatness. We’ll take that. What an honour! And while no venue would dare compete with Dee Why in the 80s for the gold medal in Aussie pub rock folklore, the evolution of Kate’s career spanning 4 decades, 30 albums, making history to become the first woman named in the Australian Songwriters Association Hall of Fame, this all makes her upcoming, open air, Night at the Barracks performance sure to be one of Kate’s most spectacular yet.

There will also be no shortage of emotion brought to stage, with Kate’s 30th album, My Life is a Symphony, being 4 years in the making. “Covid took its toll in many ways, but for me, with a Hawaiian and Filipino heritage, there’s always been a focus on being industrious, doing whatever you can to get through, no matter the cards you’re dealt. Not being able to perform though, it was incredibly challenging. Then, my first performance back, I bawled like a baby. It was so overwhelming to be back doing what I love so much.”

Thankfully, Covid’s over, epic live music is back, and commencing 15 September, concluding 8 October, North Head Barracks will once more play host to the most extraordinary talents in the music industry. For Kate’s exclusive Sydney show on Saturday 23 September, she will be performing alongside the 30 piece Metropolitan Orchestra conducted by Sarah-Grace Williams, with her new album revisiting some of her best known songs, this will be a night to remember.

“I must admit, there was a tinge of envy last year, seeing the incredible line up of performers for the first ever Night at the Barracks, thinking awwh, why wasn’t I invited? But now, given my chance, I just can’t wait to get on stage, give it my all, and be part of the 2023 line up that is exceptional once again.”

We can’t finish the conversation without mentioning a very important native bird. “I’m actually very familiar with the Tawny Frogmouth,” says Kate. “A cab driver told me once, ‘You smile too big, show too much teeth,’ which I was obviously thrilled to hear, thanks mate. Soon after that though, I first discovered the Tawny Frogmouth bird and how adorable their huge mouths, well, beaks, are. That really helped me get over the cab driver’s kind words.”

While a Tawny Frogmouth’s endearingly large beak melts hearts, their hallmark birdsong creates an aural delight akin to a garbage truck’s beeping alarm while reversing. Safe to say, Kate and the Tawny part ways in similarities the moment superb vocals are required. And Kate’s superb, enthralling, formidable, soulful vocals have been centre stage in the Australian music industry now for 40 years, an incredible, almost surreal feat.