Last year Vika & Linda released their first Christmas album Gee Whiz, It’s Christmas! which debuted at #2 on the ARIA charts. They followed it up with a sell-out Christmas show at Melbourne Recital Centre which went down so well that they’re doing it again. And Vika & Linda know Christmas is all about family, so this year they’re inviting some other musical kin to join in the fun, including Mark Seymour and his daughter Eva as well as The Little Stevies.
When most people think of Vika & Linda they think of music that digs deep into soul and gospel and their rich Tongan heritage. They may think they can imagine what a Vika & Linda Christmas show might sound like, and they’d probably be right, more or less. But they probably wouldn’t expect Christmas songs by Slade, Wizzard, Queen, Tom Petty and even the Ramones! Of course, in the sisters’ hands it’s ALL soul music, so whether they’re digging deep into the sort of repertoire that’s expected of them – songs associated with the likes of Stevie Wonder, the Staple Singers, Willie Nelson, even Elvis – or having some fun with some crazy glam and punk songs, it is all sublime.
So, with a repertoire full of surprises and with their band The Bullettes – Cameron Bruce (keyboards), Ben Edgar (guitars), Richard Bradbeer (bass) and Lachlan O’Kane (drums) – on hand to help Vika & Linda lay it down right.
GEE WHIZ IT’S CHRISTMAS AGAIN…. A FAMILY AFFAIR will take place Saturday December 9 at the Melbourne Recital Centre with tickets available from the Melbourne Recital Centre website. Presale at Monday 11 September 11am (password: GEEWHIZ), and General Onsale: Wednesday 13 September 11am.