It was Narrabri’s biggest night.
International superstar Keith Urban flew in from Melbourne aboard his chartered jet on Friday afternoon and left for Sydney, and a Sunday Perth concert late that night.
In between, the three times Grammy and Aria award winner rocked a crowd of almost 6000 at Collins Park in a history making concert, delivering high energy entertainment, reaffirming the loyalty of fans and winning many new ones.
The night was cold, but the welcome was warm.
“Bit nippy, Narrabri,” Keith admitted as he fronted the enthusiastic crowd.
The packed audience, suitably rugged up, was warmer than the fog breathing performers on stage as the temperature fell to single digit degrees.
The crowd was in the mood for a great night and Keith Urban’s performance drew an enthusiastic response.
And the star’s visit to Narrabri gave a significant economic boost to the town.
The mayor, Cr Conrad Bolton, estimated the influx of people brought at least $1.5 million in to the community.
Maitland street was abuzz on Friday and Saturday and pubs and clubs did a roaring trade.
The Collins Park concert crowd was a friendly one and a great atmosphere was abroad.
There were no incidents of bad behaviour on the ground - everyone was there for a good time, and had a great time.
At one stage a ladies bra was hurled from the crowd, to audience cheers, and landed on the stage.
The Crossing Theatre manager Trent Bruinsma was pleased with the night, adding some organisational elements will need to be tweaked before the next big show.
The bar was busy, beers and soft drinks were in plentiful supply for the patient, but the spirits supply was quickly exhausted.
This was Keith Urban’s first visit to Narrabri and probably the first visit for thousands of his fans. The audience represented a roll call of near and far flung NSW country towns, the coast, Sydney and interstate.
“We were sitting next to a couple who had come from Hong Kong for the Narrabri show,” a concert goer told The Courier. “And sitting on the other side were people from Sydney.”
The show was a fantastic night of great entertainment.
‘Once In A Lifetime’, dedicated to Keith’s wife Oscar winning actress Nicole Kidman, preceded by a from the heart tribute to Nicole in the song’s preamble touched the audience.
When Keith explained his tour engagements he said he was asked “Isn’t Narrabri enough? Why do you need to go to all the other places? Do you really need Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Townsville.”
The concert delivered everything the audience had expected, and more, with the star on stage for nearly three hours, much longer than even the most ardent fans had hoped.
Keith performed songs from his new Fuse album. He was joined by 2013 Toyota Star Maker winner, Bathurst’s Kaylee Bell, to perform his and Miranda Lambert’s hit duet We Were Us.
Keith brought some Inverell ladies on stage, donating a signed guitar for their fundraiser.
Earlier he played his way through the audience, presenting a guitar to awestruck former resident Emily Smith, visiting from Mudgee.
The music kept coming.
The show began at 8.30, finished at 10.15 and continued with a half hour encore.
Prior to the concert, a group of local residents including excited Narrabri High School music students were invited back stage for a meet and greet with the star, proceeding in an orderly progression past Keith’s personal security man, the large but affable Randy from Tennessee.
Later, from the stage Keith thanked music teacher Helen Conroy and Narrabri High for actively promoting music in the school curriculum and bringing the students along.
“It is just great to see a progressive country school encouraging music opportunities for its students,” he said.
The end of the concert, long encore included, came too soon for the huge crowd, and then Keith was gone, back to Narrabri airport for a flight to Sydney, and a morning departure for Perth.
The 6000 strong crowd quickly dispersed and within 20 minutes only scattered small groups remained and Collins Park oval was almost back to normal.
For several hundred, it was on to the official after party at The Crossing Theatre. It was a big night, the biggest ever at Collins Park, and an event which set the scene for future performers who have the power to pull thousands from the region, and far beyond, into Narrabri Shire.
Pictures in Thursday’s Courier.
International superstar Keith Urban flew in from Melbourne aboard his chartered jet on Friday afternoon and left for Sydney, and a Sunday Perth concert late that night.
In between, the three times Grammy and Aria award winner rocked a crowd of almost 6000 at Collins Park in a history making concert, delivering high energy entertainment, reaffirming the loyalty of fans and winning many new ones.
The night was cold, but the welcome was warm.
“Bit nippy, Narrabri,” Keith admitted as he fronted the enthusiastic crowd.
The packed audience, suitably rugged up, was warmer than the fog breathing performers on stage as the temperature fell to single digit degrees.
The crowd was in the mood for a great night and Keith Urban’s performance drew an enthusiastic response.
And the star’s visit to Narrabri gave a significant economic boost to the town.
The mayor, Cr Conrad Bolton, estimated the influx of people brought at least $1.5 million in to the community.
Maitland street was abuzz on Friday and Saturday and pubs and clubs did a roaring trade.
The Collins Park concert crowd was a friendly one and a great atmosphere was abroad.
There were no incidents of bad behaviour on the ground - everyone was there for a good time, and had a great time.
At one stage a ladies bra was hurled from the crowd, to audience cheers, and landed on the stage.
The Crossing Theatre manager Trent Bruinsma was pleased with the night, adding some organisational elements will need to be tweaked before the next big show.
The bar was busy, beers and soft drinks were in plentiful supply for the patient, but the spirits supply was quickly exhausted.
This was Keith Urban’s first visit to Narrabri and probably the first visit for thousands of his fans. The audience represented a roll call of near and far flung NSW country towns, the coast, Sydney and interstate.
“We were sitting next to a couple who had come from Hong Kong for the Narrabri show,” a concert goer told The Courier. “And sitting on the other side were people from Sydney.”
The show was a fantastic night of great entertainment.
‘Once In A Lifetime’, dedicated to Keith’s wife Oscar winning actress Nicole Kidman, preceded by a from the heart tribute to Nicole in the song’s preamble touched the audience.
When Keith explained his tour engagements he said he was asked “Isn’t Narrabri enough? Why do you need to go to all the other places? Do you really need Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Townsville.”
The concert delivered everything the audience had expected, and more, with the star on stage for nearly three hours, much longer than even the most ardent fans had hoped.
Keith performed songs from his new Fuse album. He was joined by 2013 Toyota Star Maker winner, Bathurst’s Kaylee Bell, to perform his and Miranda Lambert’s hit duet We Were Us.
Keith brought some Inverell ladies on stage, donating a signed guitar for their fundraiser.
Earlier he played his way through the audience, presenting a guitar to awestruck former resident Emily Smith, visiting from Mudgee.
The music kept coming.
The show began at 8.30, finished at 10.15 and continued with a half hour encore.
Prior to the concert, a group of local residents including excited Narrabri High School music students were invited back stage for a meet and greet with the star, proceeding in an orderly progression past Keith’s personal security man, the large but affable Randy from Tennessee.
Later, from the stage Keith thanked music teacher Helen Conroy and Narrabri High for actively promoting music in the school curriculum and bringing the students along.
“It is just great to see a progressive country school encouraging music opportunities for its students,” he said.
The end of the concert, long encore included, came too soon for the huge crowd, and then Keith was gone, back to Narrabri airport for a flight to Sydney, and a morning departure for Perth.
The 6000 strong crowd quickly dispersed and within 20 minutes only scattered small groups remained and Collins Park oval was almost back to normal.
For several hundred, it was on to the official after party at The Crossing Theatre. It was a big night, the biggest ever at Collins Park, and an event which set the scene for future performers who have the power to pull thousands from the region, and far beyond, into Narrabri Shire.
Pictures in Thursday’s Courier.