Big drawcard…Down Under

Whenever our artistes travel to Australia, Sri Lankans gather, in large numbers, to catch the action.

This could be due to nostalgia…missing the music of their land of birth!

Annesley Malawana and the Super Chimes proved that point when every one of their gigs, in Australia, turned out to be ‘full-house’ events.

Our man, in Melbourne, Trevine Rodrigo, had this to say about one of their events he checked out…

Annesley and his own set up, the Super Chimes, came, saw, and conquered Australia, with their breathtaking reproductions of that famous band, the Super Golden Chimes…many decades ago.

I had a brief chat with Annesley, one of Sri Lanka’s icons, and he assured me that the hunger to go on has not waned in the least. Not mainly because of the infectious clamour and following they get.

So, admittedly, not being the biggest fan of Sri Lankan folk music, but a big fan of the affable Annesley, and the originals of the Super Golden Chimes, such as Rukshan Perera, Dixon and Chandral Fonseka, my wife, Anne, and I, ventured to the second Melbourne performance, and we left in awe…overwhelmed by their fantastic talent.

Indrani Perera

To make it even more pleasing was that the band broke from the stereotype and opened the night with Western covers that would compare with the best.

The dinner dance, at the Hungarian Community Centre, in Boronia, was a sellout, and the enthusiastic crowd had a wonderful night of superb music, yummy food, and complemented with a raffle that delivered great prizes.

Annesley and the Super Chimes rolled back the clock with most of the best Super Golden Chimes hits, with the vocals and back up not far from the originals.

Adding spice to the night was the performance of the endearing nightingale of Sri Lankan music, Indrani Perera, who created emotional nostalgia. The crowd just stood on the dance floor, reminisced, sang along, and applauded a Sri Lankan national iconic treasure in music.

For us, and our personal enjoyment, was Annesley Malawana, in fine form, singing English favourites from an era when we sang along at parties; Ricky Nelson’s ‘I Need You’ and Don Williams ‘My Best Friend’, which gave us, and most of the crowd, immense personal pleasure.

Packed venues at all their performances

Annesley Malawana was rapt at the response he and his band received at the hectic schedule, which began in Melbourne, to Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and back to Melbourne.

Annesley did admit, to the writer, that it was a challenging tour.

They will always be a drawcard, in Australia, judging by that memorable performance.