History

RECENT  PUBLIC  APPEARANCES

Skandia Sailing Regatta: Their open air performance was staged at the Geelong Waterfront on Australia Day weekend. It was the band’s first public appearance since disbanding in1983.

Geelong RSL: The Show was a sell out! A most enjoyable, nostalgic and memorable night for all.

Pako Festa:  Grasshopper played at the first Pako Festa in 1982 and was invited back again to celebrate Pako Festa’s 30th Anniversary where they performed at an open air concert on the main stage at West Park.

40th Anniversary Show: Grasshopper again played to a packed house at the RSL as it celebrated its 40th Anniversary since the band was formed in 1972.

Christmas Breakout Show, Dec 2012: Another sold out Show at the RSL!

Lorne Foreshore, New Year’s Eve 2012: An open air concert at Lorne with a crowd estimated at 3000 or 4000. A most successful night with positive feedback.

Portarlington Mussel Festival, Jan 2013: Another open air show where the band performed at two different locations and was well-received by the crowds.

*Apart from the public appearances listed above, Grasshopper has also performed at a wide variety of private functions.

 

HISTORY and ACHIEVEMENTS

Debut Performance:

Grasshopper’s first public début was at The Geelong Palais in September 1972 followed by many Saturday night appearances.

In September 1994 Grasshopper briefly reformed to perform at a charity function. The night, ‘Remembering the Palais Days’, was an exciting re-union for a crowd of more than 2000 people who reminisced and danced the night away.

Grasshopper was also recently featured in a nostalgic Palais Exhibition held at The National Wool Museum in 2010.

 

Venues: In the 1970s Grasshopper was the resident band at The Grovedale Hotel and also The Golf View [now The Sphinx]. Other venues included The Waurn Ponds Hotel, The Sundowner [now The Gateway], The Dinosaur [now The Peninsula], The Torquay Hotel, Young Farmers’ Cabarets, Weddings, Football  

Clubs and open air concerts. The band was always heavily booked and at times played many nights a week.

 

Recordings:

Grasshopper released two vinyl records in the 1970s. The first was a single called ‘Put Yourself in My Place’ and the other was titled ‘What a Night’ which was the first twelve inch single released in Australia. Greg recalls that the song reached number ten on local radio.

Since reforming recently, Grasshopper have recorded seven CDs with a “ Best of ” compilation CD soon to be released in 2013.

                                                                   

Television:

Grasshopper, wearing their legendary green shirts, were part of history when they appeared on Channel 9’s ‘Kevin Dennis New Faces’ in 1974 as this was the first National color television broadcast. Having won their heat with the classic  Four Seasons’ song ‘Sherry Baby’, the band played one of their original songs titled ‘Another Chance’ in The Grand Final two weeks later coming equal first with the well-known comedian Col Elliot.

After their win on New faces, Daryl Somers invited the band to appear on his ‘Hey Hey, It’s Saturday’ morning show on which they performed two songs.

Subsequently, Grasshopper was also invited to play on Bert Newton’s legendary                 In Melbourne Tonight Show.

 

Support Acts :

Grasshopper was the support band for a show in December 1975 featuring the English group The Searchers when on their Australian tour .        The Searchers were renowned for their hits such as When You Walk in the Room, Needles and Pins, Love potion Number Nine , Sweets for My Sweet.

In the 1970s Grasshopper was also support group for Col Joy, Brian Cadd and Mississippi [later to become The Little River Band]. On several occasions they were the exclusive backing group for Ronnie Burns, a successful Australian rock singer/guitarist well remembered for his 60s and 70s hits Coalman and Smiley.