Sri Lankan born Country singer Kerrigan Labrooy has again hit the road with his popular country music concert series in Down Under. Kerri was a popular name in the Country Music scene in Sri Lanka some time back. But Country Music scene in Sri Lanka lost his glitter, when he was a just starting to hit the scene. Kerri migrated to Australia many years ago and slowly established his name Down Under as a Country singer.
He was in Colombo few years back as a guest performer at a popular Country and Western Concert. But the family commitments put his singing career on hold for sometime.
But with the huge scope in front, he didn’t want to let it be lost for good. Kerri is now ready to hit the Aussie bandstands with more energetic manner.
Kerrigan La-Brooy’s much anticipated come-back concert/dance in Melbourne on March 17th was a huge success. Having vowed never to leave his wife or kids behind, Kerrigan put his career on hold for over 5 years. But urged on by his wife’s yearning desire to see her hubby back in action, the only reason Kerrigan decided to hit the stage again was because he could have his children right there with him. Initially in a the backstage dressing room converted into a private play-room, complete with Television, Dvd, Cot, Toys and a close church friend to mind them - then eventually when it was their turn to perform, right there on stage with him!!
Kerrigan met his wife Michelle while touring and performing in New Zealand during a whirlwind World Tour which took in a staggering 19 countries in 2 months. The couple will be happily married 5 years in August 2012 and just a month later (Come September) they’ll have 5 children under the age of 4 ½.
Tickets for Kerrigan’s show sold out long before the event and more had to be printed. Those sold out as well. With an audience of over 300 Kerrigan pleased everyone. Some had travelled far and wide but the furthest was from overseas with someone from good old Sri Lanka bringing their flight forward specially for the show.
Kerrigan once again proved his enviable energy and stamina; entertaining for an hour and a half non-stop before intermission and then again for over an hour after. Eager to promote young talent, Kerrigan’s guests were brilliant, and included the Backstage Dance Academy, Jessie Hilder and Sheralyn Hill.
But just as the proud Dad had hoped, the highlight of the show was when Kerrigan’s band wagon, 4 children hit the stage – the eldest Kerrigan Jr. just a week over 4 years. Even 8 month old Xondra, the youngest of the La-Brooy Brood, was all smiles as she absorbed the limelight in a sling slung across her Dadda’s neck.
Incredibly, despite holding his baby-daughter, Kerrigan still managed to play the guitar while he sang a duet with Kerrigan Jr – the Jim Reeves classic, ‘But You Love Me Daddy’ which ironically Kerrigan had sung with his own Dad when he was just five years old, which according to Kerrigan was many ‘moons’ ago. Kerrigan is quick to point out the fact that his son Kerrigan Jr is doing the same song a year younger, proving he’s already better than his Dad.
Kerrigan then introduced Heathcliff and Tempest for more dancing, posing and singing. Of course Kerrigan Jr, (definitely his father’s son) bounded off stage to be introduced a 2nd time! Songs included more of ‘But You Love Me Daddy’, ‘Boom Shack-A-Lack’, ‘Jesus Loves Me’ and Bobby Darin’s ‘Things’, with ‘Deep And Wide’ as the finale after which they took their bows. The audience was in raptures and the applause was contagious. The children bowing were entertainment in itself.
Immediately following the show Kerrigan was booked for repeat performances by an audience who vowed to be back, wanting to know when Kerrigan would be making another appearance. He said it all depended on his children – having taken over 5 years to do this one. CD’s were snapped up along with copies of the children’s Book written and published by Kerrigan, ‘Caro The Talking Carrot’.
The audience was from different nationalities and well balanced. Naturally so was the food with ‘lamprais’ making a mouth-watering appearance at some tables. The dance floor was always crowded with lots of Line Dancing, Rocking ‘N’ Rolling, Waltzing, Two Stepping, Cha Chaing and Shaking & A Grooving.
Kerrigan’s Country repertoire included Buck Owens, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Hank Locklin’, Gene Watson, George Strait, George Jones, The Mavericks, Bellamy Brothers, Everly Brothers, Brooks & Dunn, Dwight Yoakam, Conway Twitty, Tom Jones, Jim Reeves, Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard, Billy Ray Cyrus, Foster & Allen, Ricky Nelson, Chuck Berry, Alan Jackson, Charlie Pride, Garth Brooks, Dean Martin, and by popular request some of Kerrigan’s own material which has won him numerous Awards and topped the charts both in Australia, Sri Lanka and other countries, including the Worldwide Mainstream Charts for an amazing 10 consecutive weeks.
Kerrigan’s closing song received an encore and he was quick to oblige with ‘Old Time Rock And Roll’, thanking them for asking and joking that he’d hoped they would.
The audience however were not satisfied with just one more and called for a 2nd encore, so Kerrigan finished up the night with a Clay Walker hit containing a strong moral message which he’s chosen to live by, titled ‘Live Laugh Love’. |
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