Mushroom 50 was an all-star celebration of Australian hits and history

Paul Kelly and band perform cover Sunnyboys at Mushroom 50, live at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena (Supplied: Tim Lambert/Mushroom Creative House)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this article contains names of people who have died.

Not many independent labels could pack a stadium with a star-studded, four-and-a-half hour extravaganza.

Then again, not many have had as big a culture-shifting impact as Mushroom, and the Australian powerhouse flexed its full live music might on Sunday evening with a slick production at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena with plenty of highs, and few lulls.

Billed as ’50 Songs for 50 Years’, the concert featured Australian music stars past and present – Jimmy Barnes, Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins, Yothu Yindi, Kate Ceberano, DMA’S, Amy Shark and many more – turning in impressive performances and loving tributes to Mushroom and its late, great founder and maverick Michael Gudinski.

Simulcast on Channel 7, the event saw each act playing their hits and covers of their labelmates, along with video packages and messages sharing in celebrating the Mushroom “family” and its legacy.

With a catalogue spanning multiple decades, genres, and chart-topping moments, the sheer weight of Mushroom’s songbook was on full display.

Avoiding sequencing the show chronologically was a smart move, and presented back-to-back, it really did feel like an evening’s tour through the soundtrack to an entire generation.

From Jimmy Barnes kicking off proceedings by blasting through ‘Working Class Man’ as pyro erupted around him, to Missy Higgins’ breakout ‘Scar’ and Hunters & Collectors’ ‘Holy Grail’ prompting deafening sing-alongs, the night thrived on the strength of the music and the artists who penned them.

The most interesting aspect was the re-interpretations of classics from the Mushroom catalogue. Soulful siblings Vika & Linda got in first, with a rousing take on Skyhooks’ ‘Living In the ’70s’ – the glam rock anthem that rescued Mushroom from financial ruin in the seventies and truly kicked off their hit-making legacy.

Missy Higgins discussed how “massive changes” in her personal life led to her interpretation of ‘Wide Open Road’ by The Triffids, leaning into the 1986 original’s anthemic power. Elsewhere, The Temper Trap offered their version of The Church’s ‘Under The Milky Way’ before a sky-scraping rendition of their own 2008 indie rock favourite ‘Sweet Disposition’.

More divisive was Amy Shark’s reworking of Kylie MInogue’s ‘I Just Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’. It makes sense on paper – an upbeat, guitar-driven pop-rock take more in line with Shark’s own sound world. In practice, it removed the intrigue and infectious club allure of the 2001 original, earning criticism on social media.

Regardless, the artist-on-artist moments provided some of Mushroom 50’s undisputed highlights.

Dan Sultan’s was the performance to really write home about. Following a video package dedicated to the importance and influence of Uncle Archie Roach, Sultan took on his Stolen Generation anthem ‘Took The Children Away’.

Performing on piano and letting his soulful voice soar, Sultan transformed the song into a show-stopping number, building to a band-and-strings climax. And while there was a mild risk in giving the sombre original the theatrical treatment, this version threaded the needle, managing to be both heartbreaking and triumphant.

It epitomised what the Mushroom 50 experience was capable of and the power of its legacy: Gudinski signing a young Roach and his truth-to-power songcraft, Sultan picking up the mantle two decades later. His appearance added an extra metatextual layer, having returned to ARIA-winning form after experiencing personal lows in recent years.

In culmination, it made for a masterful, deeply moving performance that left more than a few weeping as much as cheering.

Rare is the bill that features Paul Kelly where he isn’t a stand-out. Joined by his trusty band, the legendary Australian songsmith rattled through ‘Before Too Long’ before honouring one of his “favourite songwriters” Jeremy Oxley of 1980s band Sunnyboys.

Telling the crowd he’d “studied” their song ‘Alone With You’, Kelly was visibly having a ball performing the punk-infused number, pogo-ing around the stage and cosying up to special guest, original Sunnyboys guitarist Richard Burgman.

The mighty Yothu Yindi followed, with the iconic Yolŋu group given a rousing introduction from Briggs.

They immediately got the crowd on their feet for deadly versions of ‘Djapana (Sunset Dreaming)’ and crossover mega-hit ‘Treaty’, which in light of recent national conversations, still hits exactly where it counts.

Similarly, 80s rockers Goanna gave a sterling rendition of ‘Solid Rock’ earlier in the evening, prompting cheers of recognition.

Intriguingly, some acts skipped doing their biggest, most well-known hits entirely. 1990s folk-popsters Frente! showed up to do ‘Ordinary Angels’, rather than ‘Accidentally Kelly Street’ or ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’ but sounded no less charming.

Later, DMA’S avoiding their breakout 2016 single ‘Delete’ or their Hottest 100 topping Like A Version take on Cher’s ‘Believe’ in favour of ‘Silver’ and ‘Lay Down’ – songs that prove their growth into the kind of melodic, arena-straddling rock that’s harder to pull off these days.

They certainly outshone the meat-and-potatoes sets from The Rubens and Birds of Tokyo, despite each rolling out more popular songs (the Hottest 100 topping ‘Hoops’ and #3 single ‘Lanterns’, respectively).

Sometimes made-for-TV events can be disjointed affairs for those in the room. Mushroom clearly understood this. Drawing from their film and TV experience, several people at the top must’ve made sure that this event was to be a live concert first and an experience for Channel 7 broadcast second.

There were pieces to camera side-of-stage from a cast of local personalities (Myf Warhurst, Mick Molloy, Andy Lee, and Asher Keddie among them) but aside from the sight of a highwire camera swooping overhead, there was very little to distract from Mushroom 50 feeling anything other than a live concert.

There was certainly spectacle – giant screens projected vintage music videos, montage packages, and close-ups of the performing artists. But the focus was always what was happening on stage, not what was being produced for air …with the exception of one gaffe.

Hunters & Collectors frontman Mark Seymour was able to perform the deathless ‘Throw Your Arms Around Me’ with Ed Sheeran, thanks to a remote satellite link-up. While it worked a treat on the TV broadcast, sadly, Sheeran couldn’t be seen in the venue, leaving many in the arena nonplussed or unaware they were hearing the global pop superstar. Regardless, it was a touching moment.

Seymour was then joined by the rest of the Hunters & Collectors line-up to close the show, tearing through a lively ‘Do You See What I See?’ and ‘Holy Grail’. It doesn’t matter how many AFL Grand Final sing-alongs the latter gets, it remains a fist-raising sing-along with impossible-to-ignore energy levels.

If there was any sense of ‘and now for a commercial break’, it wasn’t felt in the room, and perhaps during some of the evening’s most intimate performances, which played out on a B-stage at the rear of Rod Laver Arena.

Early on, Christine Anu and her daughter Zipporah offered a tender version of ‘My Island Home’, complete with a stirring verse sung in First Nations language.

Leonardo’s Bride played their ’90s alt-pop song ‘Even When I’m Sleeping’, with vocalist Abby Dobson sounding as good as ever alongside guitarist Dean Manning. Last but certainly not least on the second stage, Gordi and emerging artist Lotte Gallagher teamed up for a stripped back version of Split Enz stunner ‘Message To My Girl’, their breathtaking vocal harmonies providing a poignant moment before the big finale.

Everybody loves a good rock ‘n’ roll anecdote, and there were plenty shared throughout the course of the set, many of which centered around Mushroom’s influential mogul.

Like the time Matt Taylor of ’70s blues rockers Chain was convinced by Gudinski to go solo, recording his song ‘I Remember When I Was Young’ on remote farmland, as a video package from Australian radio personality Lee Simon explained. “It took three days for the police to find the studio” but by then the song was in the can.

The powerhouse Kate Ceberano dedicated her terrific performance of ’90s pop favourite ‘Pash’ to Gudinski, as well as her first kiss at “Westfield Shopping Town.”

“We love you and we miss you,” noted Aussie Queen of Pop Kylie Minogue, echoing the sentiments of several stars appearing in pre-recorded messages throughout the night, ranging from Russell Crowe and Troy Cassar-Daley to G Flip, Peter Andre and Fatman Scoop.

The most polarising tribute however, came from Deborah Conway and her partner Willy Zygier. Introducing her 1991 solo single ‘It’s Only The Beginning’, Conway shared how Gudinski wasn’t enthused by his new signee’s choice of wardrobe for the track’s music video.

“Where’s the miniskirt and sequins?” the musician shared, “But I think Michael would love this outfit,” she concluded, as a nod to Gudinski’s Jewish heritage.

The attire? An all-white suit and blue shirt with a Star of David pendant, emulating the Israeli flag – a political statement that fiercely divided social media reactions in light of the current Israel-Hamas War.

Nostalgia was certainly a major factor to Mushroom 50 but time was set aside to showcase new additons to the roster, with Matt Gudinski – continuing his father’s legacy – taking to the stage to big up some fresh discoveries.

First up, LOGAN — a 21-year-old multi-instrumentalist, singer, producer, and songwriter from Southeast Queensland. Performing his TikTok friendly hit ‘Famous’, he displayed classic showmanship with jerky dance moves and shuffling the breadth of the stage with hectic footwork in black-and-white spats.

He’s clearly an enthusiastic ball of energy who wants to be huge (in case this lyric didn’t tip you off: ‘Why don’t they treat my like I’m Famous/ They should just treat me like I’m Famous!’). If the song didn’t quite match up to his stage presence, he’s certainly one to watch.

Sydney-bred artist merci, mercy didn’t get to showcase her own material, which is a shame because her cover of Vance Joy’s inescapable folk-rock ditty ‘Riptide’ felt a little rote. It began at a slower, sadder pace (think Billie Eilish in ballad mode) before picking up tempo to orbit the original, then finally adding in the ukelele to faithfully match the familiar original.

More impressive and mesmerising was soul-and-blues act WILSN, whose stirring pipes were used in tribute to the late Renée Geyer’s signature ‘Heading In The Right Direction’. It’s a vocal most would be intimidated to handle but WILSN nailed it.

Concluding a performance of ‘Ego Is Not A Dirty Word’ with his Skyhooks mentor and producer Ross Wilson, Red Symons offered a tongue-in-cheek thanks to the house band “who sound better than the real band 50 years ago.”

He’s not wrong. The ensemble (which featured Even guitarist Ash Naylor, rhythm section of Luke Hodgson and Leigh Fisher, to name a few) were tasked with backing a rapid-fire roster of stars but rose to the challenge, and dynamics, mastering the changes in style and mood required every time.

One moment they were laying down punchy funk-pop for Machinations frontman Fred Loneragan’s ‘No Say In It’, the next they’re doing Elton John-worthy arena balladry for Dan Sultan, or leaning into the soft psychedelic touch to Kate Ceberano’s ‘Pash’.

A 10-piece choir also appeared sporadically, elevating the ‘oomph’ factor of Missy Higgins’ ‘Wide Open Road’ and providing the necessary Gospel lift to Bliss N Eso’s emotive ‘Moments’.

The calibre of the backing musicians was precisely the kind of detail that might’ve been overlooked in other large-scale productions, but proved to demonstrate the level of care and polish the Mushroom empire took in commemorating their half-century.

Overall, it was a fine celebration with four-and-a-half hours of high quality entertainment cruising by at a smooth pace while reminding us of of their rich legacy and importance.

Mushroom 50 can stand proud following on from similar birthday blockbusters – such as 1983’s 10th anniversary concert and 1998’s Mushroom 25 Live at the MCG.

It was a fitting salute to a towering 50 years of Australian music, and as many exclaimed throughout the evening, “here’s to another 50 more…”

Jimmy Barnes’No Second Prize’, ‘Working Class Man’

Vika & Linda’Living In The 70s’ (Skyhooks cover), ‘When Will You Fall For Me?’

Missy Higgins’Wide Open Road’ (The Triffids cover), ‘Scar’

The Rubens’Hoops’, ‘Good Mood’

Christine Anu & Zipporah’My Island Home’ (on B-stage)

Goanna’Solid Rock’

Diesel’Just Like A Fire Would’ (The Saints cover)

Ian Moss’Tucker’s Daughter’

The Temper Trap’Under The Milky Way’ (The Church cover), ‘Sweet Disposition’

Frente!’Ordinary Angels’

Deborah Conway & Willy Zygier’It’s Only The Beginning’

Kate Ceberano’Pash’

Paul Kelly’Before Too Long’, ‘Alone With You’ (Sunnyboys cover)

Yothu Yindi’Djapana (Sunset Dreaming)’, ‘Treaty’

Bliss N Eso’The Seas Is Rising’ ‘Moments’

Leonardo’s Bride’Even When I’m Sleeping’ (on B-stage)

DMA’S’Silver’, ‘Lay Down’

Fred Loneragan of Machinations’No Say In It’

Dan Sultan’Took The Children Away’ (Archie Roach cover), ‘Old Fitzroy’ with Missy Higgins

The Teskey Brothers’So Caught Up’, ‘Oceans of Emotions’

Ross Wilson’Ego Is Not A Dirty Word’ (Skyhooks cover) with Red Symons, ‘Cool World’

Amy Shark’I Just Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’ (Kylie Minogue cover)

Birds of Tokyo’Lanterns’, ‘Good Lord’

LOGAN’Famous’

WILSN’Heading In The Right Direction’ (Renee Geyer cover)

merci, mercy’Riptide’ (Vance Joy cover)

Gordi & Lotte Gallagher (on B-stage)’Message To My Girl’ (Split Enz cover)

Hunters & Collectors’Throw Your Arms Around Me’ with Ed Sheeran, ‘Do You See What I See?’, ‘Holy Grail’