By Romy Stephens
The best of Noiseworks and INXS will be coming to Mount Evelyn this month as Jon Stevens prepares to hit the York on Lilydale stage.
After fronting the two bands over 15 years ago, Jon is now touring Australia and performing his favourite hits from both.
The Noiseworks & INXS Collection tour has already seen him travel across the country performing classic songs such as No Lies, Love Somebody, Never Tear Us Apart and more.
Jon said audiences have been really engaged, particularly because they are familiar with all of the songs.
“Every nights kind of full-on because people are just so into it,” he said.
“Every song you know, you’ve grown up with.
“It’s a big sing-along, people are so happy.
“Particularly in the pubs, the music from INXS was born out of the pubs.”
Jon first hit the big time in the early 1980s when he helped bring the classic Aussie rock sound of Noiseworks to Australian airwaves.
He continued to work even when Noiseworks was on hiatus, by following up with solo albums, multiple stints in stage productions and earned worldwide acclaim by taking centre stage with INXS during the early 2000s.
His next band – The Dead Daisies – stepped up that international reputation with the debut single Lock and Load written with and featuring the legendary Slash on guitar.
Jon said his latest tour was inspired by high demand and encouragement from INXS co-founder Andrew Farris.
“Andrew Farris came to one of our recent shows and told me I need to play more INXS songs.
“So, with his blessing, and the continual requests from fans, it is Noiseworks and INXS all the way.”
Despite playing in big arenas across the world Jon said his approach to playing in smaller venues, such as the York, doesn’t change.
He said audiences can still expect to be “rocked the hell out of.”
“Whether it’s 100,000 or 100 it’s the same performance,” he said.
“I don’t go half-arsed with a small crowd I go 100 miles an hour.
Jon will perform at the York on Lilydale on 10 October, for more information visit jonstevens.com.
