11 August 2014 (released)
11 August 2014
Wes Carr entered into our lives and living rooms when he took out the Australian Idol crown in 2008. Throughout the competition, Carr’s authenticity shone through, endearing him to many. The Australian Idol victory gave the South Australian musician a platform like no other to share his music with the world. “It (winning Australian Idol) changed the course of my life instantly and it made me more aware of myself personally as well as giving me a whole lot of opportunities….it really opened a different level of success and exposure which a lot of people strive to have and I kept my integrity throughout It,” explains Carr.
Carr is currently on tour around Australia in the poignant show, Rolling Thunder Vietnam. Rolling Thunder Vietnam is about conscription, combat, protest, homecoming, and the harrowing pain that comes with war. The Vietnam War was a devastating and confusing time and as a consequence a multitude of thought-provoking songs came out of that period and now define a generation.
Music allowed artists to freely express their opinions and thoughts in what was a very sad and perplexing period. ‘It (Rolling Thunder Vietnam) caters for all and is not your average musical. …we’re calling it a concert drama as there is no other real way to describe it,” says Carr. “It’s also a very important story about the Australian soldiers that were given two difficult options – you either go to war or you go to jail, and they were only 19. We are telling a real story that is so tragic and only happened decades ago. You can never really imagine what these men saw and how much trauma they experienced. It really is a healthy reminder that war doesn’t work."
Rolling Thunder Vietnam has an amazing soundtrack and includes an array of inspired and politically driven songs such as Fortunate Son, Most People I Know, All Along The Watchtower and Bridge Over Trouble Water, just to name a few. “These songs were written with a very strong intention and a political statement,” says Carr. "They are not your everyday songs and I think that’s why they lasted so long and are timeless.”
As a father to 2-year-old Willow, Carr finds it unimaginable to fathom sending off his son to war in 17 years time. Hopefully, someday we will learn from our past mistakes and future generations will be spared the grief our soldiers endured in the Vietnam War.
Rolling Thunder Vietnam pays tribute to the countless men who lost their lives and to the many who still struggle with the trauma today.
www.rollingthundervietnam.com“The irony is that out of the ugliness of war came songs of pure beauty.” - Chong Lim, musical director
ROLLING THUNDER VIETNAM TOUR DATES MELBOURNE – Hamer Hall
Friday 22 Aug 7.30pm
Saturday 23 Aug 2pm & 7.30pm
SYDNEY – State Theatre
Friday 29 August – 7.30pm
Saturday 30 August – 7.30pm
NEWCASTLE – Civic Theatre
Wednesday 3 September – 7.30pm
CANBERRA - Canberra Theatre
Sunday 7 September – 2pm & 6pm
NOWRA – Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre
Thursday 4 September – 8.00pm
PERTH – Crown Theatre, Burswood
Thursday 11 September – 7.30pm
Friday 12 Sept – 7.30pm
Saturday 13 Sept – 2pm & 7.30pm
HOBART – Wrest Point Entertainment Centre
Tuesday 16 September – 8:00pm
ADELAIDE – Thebarton Theatre
Friday 19 September – 8pm
Saturday 20 September – 8pm
Wes Carr's latest single is called "Anthem." Buy Anthem on iTunes here: http://smarturl.it/5e2fkl www.wescarr.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/wescarr
http://instagram.com/wescarr_
