STUCK ON A TROPICAL ISLAND WITH AUSSIE ROCK LEGENDS!!

^{JIMMY BARNES & IAN MOSS ROCK THE MALDIVES}

If you’re a live music fan, you NEED to experience music travel once in your lifetime.

After booking three years ago and two postponements for obvious reasons, finally we boarded our flight to spend a week in paradise for five nights of live concerts, with about 250 of our closest like-minded friends, stuck on a tropical island with guitar legend Ian Moss from Cold Chisel and arguably Australia’s king of rock, lead vocalist from Cold Chisel, Jimmy Barnes and the rest of his talented family.

My husband and I flew by the flight from Singapore to Mare with Ian Moss, his wife Margeaux and son Julian, then on a boat with about 25 people to our small island. We arrived after dark, it was choppy and I thought well at least if I die I’m gonna die with Mossy.

The juggernaut that is “Barnsey Inc” has never been more on show than in the Maldives.  Having seen Jimmy solo and with his band Cold Chisel hundreds of times over the years, this experience has to be one of the best.

It’s often said that smart successful people surround themselves by smarter people and either by good design or good luck, Jimmy has certainly done that, including some very very smart women.

If Jimmy Barnes is the CEO of “Barnsey Inc”, then his 2IC must be his amazing eldest daughter Mahalia Barnes.  In between the concerts I attend, I forget what a powerhouse of a singer Mahalia is and if Jimmy is the king of Aussie Rock, then make way for the queen.  Mahalia has her eyes everywhere while they’re all on stage, jumping off to give Julian Moss some tips, stage directing Mum Jane and sister EJ on backing vocals, even telling the big boss JB that he’d done a good job at one stage.  Mahalia’s like the glue that holds it all together and makes it all work like magic.  What a woman, wife, mother and artist.  While on stage with guitarist hubby Ben Rodgers, their two children are never very far away, on and off the stage for a sing with Mum or dancing up a storm front of stage.

DAY ONE – SUNSET CONCERT 1

Jimmy Barnes, Australia’s king of rock set the stage on fire with this first night set.

Very difficult to select a highlight so I’ve just gone with one of my favourite songs.

I’d Die To Be With You Tonight – Video Credit:  Amateur iPhone Video Barry Crabtree

DAY TWO

SUNSET CONCERT 2

MAHALIA BARNES AND THE SOUL MATES

If you’ve never seen Mahalia sing before, you’ve really missed out.  The eldest of the Barnes’ children, Mahalia has definitely inherited her Dad’s pipes and sings like an angel, with such power and emotion.  As much as I’ve loved Cold Chisel and followed the band members for forty years, Malahia absolutely stole the show every time she graced the stage.  You just can’t take your eyes from her.  Fresh back from a seven week tour of the US with Joe Bonamassa, you have to catch one of her shows when you can.

Mahalia doesn’t always have a set list but plays what she feels and also takes requests for favourites from the audience.  Songs included:

In Love We Grow
Ain’t Nobody Else written by Clayton Doley (keys)
Little Light written by husband Ben and Mahalia for first daughter Ruby
I’m On Fire by Bruce Springsteen
Proud Mary with sister EJ & Jimmy
First Cut Is The Deepest with Jimmy and his wife Jane on backing vocals
Midnight Train to Georgia
Respect
Amazing Grace
Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen with Mossy’s son Julian and daughters Ruby & Rosie
I Am Woman
Three Times

Highlight was Bruce Springsteen cover I’m On Fire

I’m on Fire – Video Credit:  Amateur iPhone Video Barry Crabtree

DAY THREE

We bumped into Mahalia and her husband Ben at the spa as we came out of our couples massage they were going in.  Another embarrassing moment was when a dozen of us landlubbers were having a beginners surf lessons in the shallows as the entire Barnes family gathered on the jetty to board a boat for a family day trip.  So I can now say that I’ve stacked it off the surfboard at least half a dozen times in front of Australia’s rock ‘n’ roll royal family.

SUNSET CONCERT 3

Highlight was Creedence cover Green River

Green River – Video Credit:  Amateur iPhone Video Barry Crabtree

SUNSET CONCERT 4 – IAN MOSS

Mrs Moss was proudly videoing hubby and son from the front row.

Highlight was Tom Jones cover Green, Green Grass of Home

Green Green Grass of Home – Video Credit:  Amateur iPhone Video Barry Crabtree

DAY FIVE

As a holiday destination alone this resort is totally amazing.  It has beautiful blue clear waters, surfing, snorkelling, scuba-diving on the reef. parasailing, paddle boarding, swimming with the whales and the turtles, you name it.
Or if you aren’t into the more active pastimes, just relaxing in this setting is pretty hard to beat.
Put that together with five nights of sunset concerts on the beach, and being an Aussie music lover it was the best of both worlds and we will definitely be back.

SUNSET CONCERT 5

To Cold Chisel fans seeing Jimmy Barnes and Ian Moss singing together again is always an amazing walk down memory lane.  They look like they were having just as much fun as they did when they were teenagers and watching them having fun made us feel like teenagers again too.

Although Jimmy and Ian show no signs of slowing down, let alone retiring, the next generation are absolutely ready to take the reins. It’s hard to believe that after following Cold Chisel for the past 40 years, the “Tin Lids” (that we celebrated each birth of), now have talented amazing “Tin Lids” of their own. The Barnes family is Australia’s rock ‘n’ roll royal family and with their next generations musical talent their heritage is in good hands.
Long Live The King of Aussie Rock

Honoured to be invited to dance with the traditional dancers before the last show

The Weight featuring Julian Moss – Video Credit:  Amateur iPhone Video Barry Crabtree

DAY SEVEN

We were sooo sad to come to the end of the weekend and go home.

We’d definitely do more music travel if given the opportunity.  “Music in Paradise” have hosted other artists including Delta Goodrem, The Living End, Tex Perkins & Matt Walker, Xavier Rudd, Pete Murray and Ash Grunwald so there’s something for everyone.

Not to mention the many music cruises that are available.  There is a Supercruise of both “Rock & Country” in November with Suzi Quatro headlining, a Blues Suede Cruise next year, and it’s just been announced that Jimmy will be headlining the “Rock The Boat” cruise next year.

If I can convince hubby that we can afford it, we’ll see you down the front!!

Hear Cheryl on the radio on Radio Adelaide, RadioKSA & CoastFM

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCaAaJpRAIGLT4DEaETND2Yg

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