General News
13 December, 2025
Smiles and toe tapping at tribute concert
The solid timber floors in country town halls were built to withstand Saturday night dances, engagements, weddings, and community celebrations for generations, and Warracknabeal Town Hall is no exception, and just as well.
On Wednesday, December 3, 200 pairs of feet tapped along to the sounds of Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, the Beatles, and more of the great hits of the '50s, '60s, and '70s during a tribute show by Danny Stain.
The sell-out show attracted music lovers from around the Wimmera for a morning packed with good toe-tapping music and memories.
The morning concerts are the creation of Alana M Music Promotions and Management and have exceeded all of her expectations, she told the Warracknabeal Herald.
"Being born and bred in Warracknabeal, it's a place that's close to my heart as it's where I grew up, so it meant a lot to me to be able to take the benefits of music back to my hometown for the community to enjoy," she said.
"I also wanted to create an opportunity to bring other people to town, which would hopefully also benefit the local eateries and shops, and to really get the town buzzing on the days of these events."
Local community groups benefit from the events, gaining the opportunity to provide morning tea and assist their organisation's fundraising efforts.
"So it's great these shows can give back to the town in many different ways," she said.
Even though the Wednesday Concert was a ticket sales success, for Alana, seeing smiles, people singing along, tapping their feet, and even having a dance or two was the true measure of success, she told the audience.
"I wanted to create an event for all of the reasons I mentioned, but also to create an opportunity for socialising, getting together and enjoying music that was such a part of people's lives in the day.'
The events she brings to the Warracknabeal Town Hall mainly feature music from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, which attracts people who grew up listening to that era's music, so they can relate to it because they know the songs.
She said she believes it allows them to take a trip down memory lane, as music can often do.
"I'm so grateful that these events at the Warracknabeal Town Hall have been so well supported, and the feedback from everyone enjoying them is incredible," she said.
Ken and Janet Voight travelled from Nhill to Warracknabeal for the concert with friend Lorraine Menzel and were looking forward to a morning of music they loved.
"It's the first one we have been to," they said. "And we are really looking forward to the music that we have enjoyed throughout our lives."
As people left the concert, they made their way to the local bakery and eateries, which Alana said fulfilled another of her hopes that the concerts she arranges will benefit the whole town.
Town Halls in rural Australia have been the heartbeat of the community for generations; however, insurance and maintenance costs have challenged some of them.
So, to see a sell-out concert at the Warracknabeal Town Hall showed that the town hall is just as important to the community now as it was in its heyday.
The next show at the Warracknabeal Town Hall is on Thursday, February 26, featuring Lance Birrell & Connie Kis Andersen, and tickets are on sale now.
