Yodelling great keeps getting better

Venue: Nerang RSL

Date: July 17, 2013

Review by SHIRLEY BROUN

POPPED into Nerang RSL on the Qld Gold Coast today and who should be performing but multi-award winning country and yodelling great Wayne Horsburgh and the Howie Brothers.

Wayne Horsburgh

As one would expect, the auditorium was packed with only standing room for late-comers like me but I didn’t mind. I hadn’t seen Wayne `live’ on stage for many years and I jumped at the opportunity to see his latest show.

I entered just as Wayne began singing my childhood favourite `Telephone to Glory’ which was a big hit for the late Jimmy Little. It’s just one of those songs that stays with you forever. Mickey Gilley’s hit `Room Full of Roses’ soon followed and I knew I was in for a great show.

This year’s recipient of the Slim Dusty Country Act of the Year, Wayne and his easy flowing collection of popular songs confirmed his status as one of Australia’s top country performers. It’s a position he has held for as long as I can remember and one he is sure to maintain for a long time to come.

Wayne also stands out as one of the world’s top yodellers and once again his exquisite talents came to the fore on the Nerang RSL stage to the enjoyment of all.

Renowned yodellers Frank Ifield, Slim Whitman and Mary Schneider would be proud to have this much-loved Aussie, singing their hits and Wayne was sure to include some of their best in his latest performance. Chime Bells and Cowboy in Hawaii were among them.

Wayne also paid tribute to high-pitched yodelling country music star Slim Whitman who died recently on June 19, aged 90. His rendition of `Indian Love Call’ is credited with bringing him stardom and he followed on with hits including `Tumbling Tumbleweeds’, `Unchain My Heart’ and `I’ll Take You Home again Kathleen’, to name but a few.

In their own inimitable style the Howie Brothers provided a host of good music, musical accompaniment and humour to the performance, combining with Wayne in a smoothly executed, fun-filled show that had the enthusiastic audience dancing, singing and clapping along at every opportunity.

Having been a long-time follower and fan of Wayne Horsburgh’s music and his exquisite yodelling style I am genuinely looking forward to catching his show again – from his first note this time - in the very near future.

Although, it appears I could be in for a long wait as Wayne is off overseas in August for a month. This could be why there were so many fans eagerly purchasing his latest albums at the end of the show. Well, I suppose, a CD is the next best thing to seeing him `live’.

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