THE Millicent Rotunda has probably never staged a Christmas Eve event in its 107-year history as the one on Monday’s balmy night.
Over the course of three hours, local duo “JB and Crowey” played classic pub rock for a gathering of 300 who sprawled over the grassy grounds of the parklands.
There were no food or drink stalls and no admission charge made but rather just two local lads playing cover versions of well-known songs first performed by the likes of Daddy Cool and Kenny Rogers.
As the parklands are a no-alcohol zone, numerous families were attracted to the free concert.
Jason Baker and Ash Crowe and their amplified guitars have become familiar sights in pubs and clubs in the Millicent and Mount Gambier area over the past year or so.
Mr Baker said they were prompted to put on a free show as Millicent no longer had a Christmas Eve street party.
“We perform for the love of it,” Mr Baker said.
“It is our way of thanking the community for their support over the past 18 months”.
His remarks were endorsed by Mr Crowe.
“We have weekly rehearsals and average a couple of gigs per month,” Mr Crowe said.
“We also play at weddings and birthday parties.”
Among the revellers who welcomed the concert was Port Hedland couple Matt and Amanda Osmond and their baby daughter Maisie.
Mr Osmond, formerly of Millicent, said the concert in the parklands was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends and family.
Other Christmas Eve events in Millicent were church services and a nativity play presented by St Paul’s Lutheran Church in the railway lands.
As is required by law, Millicent’s three regulated shops shut their doors at 6pm.
