Fat Bottomed Girls, picnic rugs and Freddie: Music by the River turns 10
Get ready to hear I Want to Break Free and Fat Bottomed Girls belted from the banks of the Queanbeyan River in February as Music by the River officially turns 10.
On Saturday 21 February, QPRC, Icon Water and the Canberra Symphony Orchestra will join forces for the 10th annual Music by the River — and it’s going to be an unforgettable riverside tribute to one of the most beloved bands in history.
Powerhouse vocalist Kirrah Amosa will take on Queen’s greatest hits, from Bohemian Rhapsody and Somebody to Love to Radio Ga Ga and Don’t Stop Me Now. This is Freddie Mercury like you’ve never heard him before: symphonic, under the stars and free.
Kirrah is one of Australia’s rising musical theatre and pop talents. A singer-songwriter of Samoan heritage and known for her roles in The Voice Australia, RENT and Hamilton, Kirrah will bring serious Freddie energy to the stage.
“We are so proud to be holding our 10th annual Music by the River event — and what better way to celebrate this milestone than with the iconic music of Queen!” says Queanbeyan-Palerang Mayor Kenrick Winchester.
“Our partnership with Icon Water and the Canberra Symphony Orchestra has made Music by the River a beloved signature event of ours and I can’t wait to enjoy the event with our community.
“Being our tenth edition of Music by the River, we are certainly ‘Under Pressure’ to pull off another spectacular evening filled with good times and even better music, but we are certain that ‘We Will Rock You’!”
For Icon Water, it’s also a major milestone: “We’re proud to support Music by the River which is a celebration of community, and the culture of our region,” said General Manager of Customer Engagement Davina McCormick.
“Events like this bring people together, and we’re thrilled to help create moments of connection for our community.
“This year is especially meaningful as it is the 10th anniversary of Music by the River and we mark 100 years of providing water to Queanbeyan, a partnership that began in 1926 and continues to this day.”
And for the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, it’s personal. “The Canberra Symphony Orchestra has been part of Music by the River for most of its history,” said CSO Chief Executive Officer, Rachel Thomas.
“It’s one of our longest ongoing collaborations and we’re thrilled to be here again to celebrate its 10th year.
“This free, family-friendly outdoor concert epitomises what Canberra Symphony Orchestra is all about – making music accessible to everybody. Apart from being a great day out, it also gives audiences old and new the chance to see the incredible range of our orchestra.”
So bring a picnic rug, gather your mates, and join the celebration along the riverbanks at Queen Elizabeth II Park. There’ll be great food, epic music, and a whole lot of community spirit.
The event is free but booking tickets is essential. Grab your tickets here.
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About the Author: Briony Winchester
Part bogan, part wannabe plus-size model and part journalist, Bree's the woman behind Q! News. A born storyteller, she's been writing locally, nationally and internationally for more than 30 years.
