DAYS LIKE THESE… with DIESEL – New music documentary series explores Australia’s most memorable concerts

Days Like These…with Diesel is a new documentary series revisiting some of Australia’s most memorable concerts launches on ABC TV PLUS in May

The 12 episodes hosted and narrated by musician Mark Lizotte, aka ‘Diesel’, use a compelling mix of archival footage and new interviews to revisit some of Australia’s most seminal concerts and uncover the intriguing stories behind them.

Each episode tells of an exceptional, unforgettable concert and what made it so special. By talking to people who were there; band members, tour managers, and musicians from other bands.

Mark explores the unique circumstances that led to each of the concerts featured and finds out why they became such memorable events.

Amongst the early episodes, we see Jet play to a home audience after an extensive period touring overseas; the farewell concert from Hunters & Collectors; Baby Animals celebrate their 25^th anniversary; The Angels mesmerise the audience at Narara; Diesel takes to the stage with his family; a high-voltage performance by Rose Tattoo at the unusual venue of Boggo Road Gaol, and Jimmy Barnes, who conquered a heart attack and heart surgery, putting on a remarkable show at the Sydney Opera House.

Contributors to the series read like a roll call of ‘who’s who’ in Australian music and include Rose Tattoo’s Angry Anderson, Icehouse’s Iva Davies, Eurogliders’ Grace Knight, Troy Cassar-Daley and Baby Animals’ Suze DeMarchi.

Through Mark’s exceptional understanding of songwriting, performance and music history –

combined with a healthy dose of curiosity, irreverence and wit – viewers are transported on a memorable journey of musical discovery.

They’ll get to re-live amazing concerts – almost in their entirety – and hear recollections from people who were there, including the fascinating behind-the-scenes circumstances that combined to create these special nights.

Day Like These…with Diesel was produced and directed by Beyond Entertainment’s Frank Chidiac. He comments:

“We are thrilled that this incredible trip through Australia’s live music history has been completed and is about to air on ABC.

Diesel has proved an exceptional host and narrator. His understanding of the music industry and ability to talk musician to musician has allowed us to capture wonderful new insights and anecdotes that would not otherwise have been available to the production.”

Mark Lizotte added:

“Days Like These…with Diesel has been an absolute delight and honour to host. The series brings together some of the most quintessential Australian bands from the past few decades, that help define our nation’s recent music past, and celebrates important, moments in their concert history.”

Days Like These…with Diesel has been co-produced by Beyond Entertainment with Bloodlines Music. Warren Costello is creator and both Warren and Dean McLachlan are executive producers for Bloodlines Music.

The series was produced and directed by Frank Chidiac, with his colleagues Martin Fabinyi and Mikael Borglund as executive producers for Beyond Entertainment.

Episodes:

• 01        Jet – The Forum (2004)
• 02        Baby Animals – 25th Anniversary (2016)
• 03        Hunters & Collectors – Selina’s (1998)
• 04        The Angels – Narara (1983)
• 05        Diesel – The Metro (2004)
• 06        Rose Tattoo – Boggo Road Jail (1993)
• 07        Jimmy Barnes – The Opera House (2009)
• 08        Eurogliders – The Hordern (1984)
• 09        Archie Roach – Into The Bloodstream (2012)
• 10        Icehouse – Melbourne (1988)
• 11       Troy Cassar-Daley – Seymour Centre (2010)
• 12        Cold Chisel – Ringside Horden Pavillion (2003)

Days Like These…with Diesel will premiere on ABC TV Plus (and ABC iView) at 8.30p

Episodes 1-7 will run through May/June, with the remainder of the series scheduled to air from September.