John Farnham Celebrated with All-Star Tribute Concert Benefiting Cancer Research
An all-star concert honoring John Farnham is set to take place in Melbourne, celebrating his musical legacy and supporting cancer research.
John Farnham will be celebrated with an all-star tribute concert in Melbourne this September. The event will highlight his remarkable career and raise awareness for cancer, a disease Farnham has bravely battled in recent years.
The Songs Of John Farnham: A Living Legend The Celebration will be held at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday, Sept. 20. The concert will feature 120 artists and musicians, with proceeds benefiting Head and Neck Cancer Australia.
Confirmed performers include Keith Urban, Tina Arena, Jimmy Barnes, Kate Ceberano, Ross Wilson, Human Nature, Richard Marx, Jessica Mauboy, and Jon Stevens. Celine Dion and Hugh Jackman will also participate via satellite.
Farnham’s longtime musical director, Chong Lim, will lead the John Farnham Band, along with a 38-piece orchestra and choir. Organizers promise a powerful sound befitting Farnham's extensive catalog.
"I’ve been incredibly lucky to spend my life doing what I love, and even luckier to have Australians embrace my music the way they have,” Farnham shared in a statement. “This night isn’t about me — it’s about giving something back and supporting a cause that means a great deal to me.”
Farnham personally invited each artist to perform. He holds a record-breaking connection with the 15,000-capacity Rod Laver Arena, having performed there 94 times for over 1 million fans.
"The fact that so many extraordinary artists from around the world have so generously agreed to be part of this night is incredibly humbling,” he added. “I hope everyone has a great night. Just enjoy the music and have a laugh too.”
With 1986's Whispering Jack, Farnham achieved a monumental comeback, becoming a national pop icon. The album spent 25 weeks at No. 1 and sold over a million copies, making it the best-selling album by an Australian artist in the country’s history.
Whispering Jack includes Farnham’s signature song, “You’re The Voice,” a top 10 hit in the U.K. and a beloved Australian anthem.
The ARIA Hall of Fame inductee faced a significant health challenge, undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous growth in August 2022. Since then, he has made limited public appearances. In October 2024, his voice was heard for the first time in over two years in an audiobook excerpt from his memoir.
The 2023 documentary, John Farnham: Finding the Voice, became the highest-grossing Australian music documentary. A musical based on Whispering Jack is also in development.
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The Melbourne concert is produced by Tony Cochrane and Thea Jeanes-Cochrane of Cochrane Entertainment Collective and Paul Dainty of TEG Dainty.
Celine Dion, a fan and collaborator of Farnham, stated, “John Farnham is truly one of the great voices of the world. I have such beautiful memories of the time we shared on stage together — his generosity, his humor, and that incredible voice that fills your heart the moment you hear it. It’s such an honor and a privilege for me to be included to celebrate the extraordinary legacy John has given to music. He’s an iconic artist, and he’s also a deeply special human being. I know his songs will continue to live in people’s hearts for generations to come.”
Tickets go on sale Tuesday, June 2 at 10am AEST via Ticketek.
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