Seventies concert…

an overwhelming success

The Golden Oldies era, is still very much enjoyed by music lovers, and, what was popular in the ’60s and ’70s, is taking the spotlight…once again – both, locally, and overseas, as well.

This applies not only to the western scene but also the music created by our Sinhala artistes.

In Dubai, there was quite a crowd to take in the scene at the ‘Golden Oldies of the ’70s…live in Dubai’, concert which featured Rajiv Sebastian, Annesley Malawana, Corrine Almeida, Indrani Perera, Anil Bhareti and Vernon Perera, along with the band Downtown – made up of musicians, based in Dubai.

The entertainers, from Sri Lanka, left for Dubai, on Thursday, January 26th, and were greeted by the organisers, on arrival at the airport, with Corrine and Indrani being presented with bouquets.

There was also a welcome reception at the hotel, the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, where they were housed, and where the concert took place.

Elaborating further, Rajiv Sebastian said that they spent the following day, after their arrival, rehearsing, and then Saturday morning, January 28th, they found some time, before the big event, in the evening, to do some shopping, and sightseeing.

And, then they all waited impatiently for the evening’s happening scene.

From 8.00 pm to 3.00 am, the seventies hits were dished out and the crowd went ga-ga, listening to Annesley, Indrani, Anil, Vernon, Corrine and Rajiv…in that order.

Before the local stars went into action, the band Downtown did a spot and, after the intermission, the same format followed, with Rajiv ending the concert with a baila session.

Corrine and Rajiv also did a few English songs, as requested by some of the guests.

Originally, the concert was to end at 2.00 am but extended by an hour due to the enthusiasm shown by the crowd.

Also present was the Consulate General of Sri Lanka, in Dubai, and he decided to stay till 1.00 am, an indication that the ‘Golden Oldies of the ’70s…live in Dubai’ was an overwhelming success.