General News
31 July, 2023
Flanagan fills the room
The twelfth Old School Sessions at the Oasis in Rainbow saw Melbourne singer/songwriter John Flanagan perform to a near-capacity audience. This audience included visitors from surrounding towns such as Hopeton and Jeparit, as well as locals, with...
The twelfth Old School Sessions at the Oasis in Rainbow saw Melbourne singer/songwriter John Flanagan perform to a near-capacity audience.
This audience included visitors from surrounding towns such as Hopeton and Jeparit, as well as locals, with a number of them attending their very first Old School Session.
Yolande Hutson from Jeparit was one of those enjoying her first audible entertainment evening at the Oasis.
“I didn’t know what to expect but really enjoyed the night," she said.
"It was a great setting, loved the intimacy of the room, the sound was just right and the performance from John very entertaining.
"The bonus supper at the end was a nice finish to the evening.”
John Flanagan’s set saw him perform songs from his current release Manhood Method Actor, which has received rave reviews in the music press.
He opened the evening with the soulful “Ain’t No Easy Love”.
Another standout song from his recent album was “Son of a Father” - a deeply moving and personal song.
The performance also featured songs from his 2016 album There’s Another Way to Where You’re Going, including “Bodhi Tree” and “All Things”.
During the performance, John played guitar, banjo, harmonica and - for the first time in a live performance - piano.
His singing style aroused memories of James Taylor and Jackson Browne, so it was fitting that his cover of Taylor’s 1971 version of Carole Kings “You’ve got a Friend”, was a popular one and encouraged the audience to sing along.
His onstage banter also really got the audience involved in his gig.