PARROTS, PIRATES & A PENCIL THIN MOUSTACHE

The songs of Jimmy Buffett

 Performed by Darren Coggan.

Jimmy Buffett – the name evokes a state of mind, his music a state of being. A combination of the romance of the ocean, a frivolous spirit and a good time in that laid back quasi-Caribbean style, all blended together like tequila, salt, and limes.

 

The Pascagoula singer-songwriter single handedly created the genre of tropical rock. Learning to play guitar in college to meet girls, Buffett parlayed his beach roots into a multimillion enterprise consisting of restaurants, stores and hotels located throughout the world.

 

Darren Coggan’s ‘Parrots, Pirates & A Pencil Thin Moustache’ celebrates all things that are Jimmy Buffett. A two hour cruise on which Darren charts a course for Margaritaville - that perfect laid-back town by the ocean, where the air is always warm, the sea is crystal clear and the locals spend their days mixing up margaritas without a care in the world.

 

“Margaritaville is a place you have to keep looking for, a place designed for complete escapism. This is where we try to take our audience through the legendary characters and stories in Buffett’s songs.” Said Darren.

 

Known for his humorous chronicles of a laid-back seafaring life; Buffett’s philosophical outlook is encapsulated in tunes like Come Monday, Fins, Margaritaville, Cheeseburger In Paradise, Volcano, Five O’clock Somewhere, A Pirate Looks At Forty, Pencil Thin Moustache and many more. Darren has put a whole new set of sails on these great Buffett songs and drops anchor in a few familiar ports along the way to reunite the audience with these ‘old friends’.   

 

As any ‘parrot head’ will tell you, a night of Jimmy Buffett music is simply a whole lot of fun, grown men in grass skirts, loud shirts with rubber sharks and parrots in their straw hats, singing away their worries at the top of their lungs.

 

“When I first moved to Sydney, I lived at Cronulla just down the road from The Brass Monkey. It is the perfect setting for a night of Buffett and I’m really looking forward to getting our fins up and feathers flashing.” Said Darren. 

 

Darren Coggan has toured extensively with stage shows Grease – The Mega Musical, Happy Days – The Arena Mega Musical, and Shout – The Musical Of The Wild One. His critically acclaimed show Peace Train – The Cat Stevens Story played to standing ovations in the most prestigious venues across Australia including The Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. He was awarded his second Golden Guitar at the 37th CMAA Country Music Awards for his moving album War Stories and is currently presenting for ‘Sydney Weekender’ on Network 7.

 

So let’s go down to the dock, throw off the bowlines and set sail….

VENUE:    THE BRASS MONKEY - CRONULLA

DATE:       FRIDAY MARCH 16, 2012

TIME:        DOORS OPEN 7:00PM, SHOW STARTS 9:30pm

TICKETS: 02 95443844   www.brassmonkey.com.au        

WAR STORIES

A Salute in story and song to the ANZAC spirit
Starring Darren Coggan

If you were entertained by Illawarra resident Darren Coggan’s Peace Train, the Cat Stevens Story – you will be moved by the honesty and spirit of his new production War Stories which kicks off a national tour at IPAC Wollongong on TUESDAY APRIL 24 at 7:30pm.

Inspired by his own family history, Darren connects us to an iconic part of our heritage. Personal and exceptional stories of Australians at war are woven into songs that provide an intimate perspective of the tales that have helped shape our nation.

War Stories takes you on an insightful journey into the lives of the Australians behind the lines. We reminisce about the generation of women who stayed at home and kept the country running. We celebrate the mateship, humour and courage in the Gallipoli trenches. And we honour our Indigenous diggers, a story rarely told.

“I’m very proud to be playing the IPAC Wollongong again, it has become my favourite theatre in Australia and is the perfect venue for the intimate nature of this show. War Stories presents both small and personal stories, footnote-like, that are outside the big, simple mainstream history of Australian’s at War and it makes those chapters of our military history more accessible, more human.” Said Darren.

“The show is more than a living graveyard and it is not an RSL smoko show. It is a two hour theatrical story piece with songs and a refreshing new look at what is such a defining part of our heritage.”

Awarded Heritage Song of the Year at the 37^th Golden Guitar Awards, Darren’s beautiful performance brings a warmth and integrity to the narrative. War Stories is a salute to the Australian spirit and how we find the strength to shine in the most intense and heart-breaking situations.

Darren Coggan has toured extensively with stage shows Grease – The Mega Musical, Happy Days – The Arena Mega Musical, and Shout – The Musical Of The Wild One. His critically acclaimed show Peace Train played to standing ovations in the most prestigious venues across Australia including The Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. Darren is currently presenting for ‘Sydney Weekender’ on Network 7.

“War Stories paints a vivid picture of Australia at War and is a hugely entertaining experience. This is a must see for all Australians.”

James Blundell – Ambassador for the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia.

"fascinating and perceptive songs, crafted and performed with great understanding."

Susan Jarvis, Country Music Capital News.

VENUE:    IPAC - WOLLONGONG

DATE:       TUESDAY APRIL 24, 2012

TIME:        7:30PM

TICKETS: ph 02 4224 5999 www.merrigong.com.au

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