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ROCK N ROLL LEGEND: Jimmy Barnes rocks the crowd at Whyalla's By The C concert.
Jimmy Barnes rocked Whyalla's By The C concert on the weekend and hit the high notes for the city’s economy.
If fold-up chair sales and hotel room bookings are any indication, By The C was a huge success and music to the ears of business owners in Whyalla. The Zaccaria Concerts gig featured Barnes, Daryl Braithwaite, Ian Moss, Richard Clapton and Ross Wilson on the Oval at Whyalla High on Saturday.
Chairman of the Whyalla Tourism Focus Group, Barbara Derham said every hotel room in Whyalla was booked out weeks in advance of the show while shops, service stations, hotels and cafes were noticeably busier over the weekend.
RAW POWER: Jimmy Barnes belts out another song at By The C
Barbara’s own Foreshore Inn was booked out months ago and, right up the last minute, she was still trying to find accommodation with visitors to Whyalla accounting for more than half of the 4000-plus people at the concert.
At least one hardware store and department store sold out of fold-up chairs and sun hats for the Council-supported music event.
“I was ringing around as late as Saturday morning trying to get people rooms,” Barbara said.
“We’ve heard Westland Shopping Centre was busy, supermarkets were full of customers and even the chemists were having big runs on things like sun screen.
“Everyone was walking around happy … it was a great vibe in town all weekend.
“This is why the Tourism Focus Group has been lobbying for more events, they are so important for our city.”
AUSSIE ICON: Ian Moss performs at Whyalla's By The C concert.
A gesture by Zaccaria Concerts to provide free buses was well received, as was the move to allow small eskies and snack food into the concert.
The free buses helped disperse the crowd after the event with police reporting no major incidents and declaring they were “happy with the general behaviour of the crowd”.
ROSS THE BOSS: Ross Wilson gets the crowd going at By The C
Whyalla Mayor Clare McLaughlin said Council was proud to support the event and she thanked the organisers, council workers, police, ambulance and all the nearby residents who accepted the day of concert music on their doorstep.
“I saw nearby residents setting up chairs on their verandahs and having their own By The C party which just added to the buzz around town,” Mayor McLaughlin said.
“The atmosphere inside the concert was amazing, everyone having a great time and so thankful we are able to attract such outstanding acts to our city."
Whyalla’s next big event on the calendar is the uneARTh Festival at Easter in the Ada Ryan Gardens featuring two days of free entertainment. The headline act for this festival will be announced soon.
CROWD FAVOURITE: The punters went nuts when Daryl Braithwaite sung his signature Horses hit.
MUSIC ROYALTY: Richard Clapton roll out all his hits at By The C.
PACKED HOUSE: Daryl Braithwaite was a huge hit at By The C.