COUNTRY superstar Johnny Cash was a music industry legend for over half a century, with an instantly recognisable voice and style. The hit movie “I Walk the Line” introduced his dramatic life story and his unmistakeable, tough music to a younger generation of music lovers.
Vocalist and writer Barry Ferrier has brought together a team of talented performers to create an immersive music theatre show, “I Hear That Train a-Comin’: The Johnny Cash Story”.
Featuring the contrasting voices of Barry “Dr Baz” Ferrier and vivacious songstress Ilona Harker, this great show is a musical tribute to Man in Black, his epic life story and his love affair with partner June Carter, threaded through with a tongue in cheek look at Johnny Cash’s wild side and their stormy relationship.
The vivacious and versatile Ilona Harker plays the three women in Johnny’s life, his “Mama” Carrie, first wife Vivienne and June Carter Cash. With authentic rockabilly she ‘hoots and hollers’ her way through this toe-tapping, side slapping mix of great songs and stories.
The show captures Johnny looking back on his rise from humble conditions as a child on a poor cotton farm soaking up gospel and country music, to tough times on work gangs, enlistment during the Korean war as a US airman, which got him to the honky tonks of Germany where he began to hone his characteristic style and began writing his unique songs … and on to his rise as a music sensation and a recording artist for the legendary Sun Records, alongside Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis.
The show strings together all Johnny Cash’s great hits and signature tunes as his fascinating larger than – life story unfolds, and woven through this rich musical journey is a fascinating glimpse into the darker side of his life, his drug taking, outlaw image and the Prison Concerts, and his epic redeeming love story with lifetime soulmate June Carter, a child star of the famous country music icons ‘The Carter Family’.
Reminiscing on the tough origins, their rise to fame, and Cash’s drug addiction, they laugh, they joke, they fight and they harmonise, as they bring so many great songs to life, accompanied by the rockabilly rhythm of the Tennessee Two with lush backing vocals from Slim Pickens on Bass and Neil McCann on twangy Fender guitar.
It’s a polished and entertaining upbeat musical show to get you yee-haa-ing and your toes a tapping.
Catch this awesome show for free at Tewantin Noosa RSL on Saturday 17 October at 8pm. Ensure a great view with a dinner reservation on 5447 1766.
