A SIMPLE trip to the movies in 2006 is what started Mark and Joanne Caligiuri’s entertainment journey as a popular Johnny Cash and June Carter tribute act.
“We went to see the movie that just came out at that time called Walk the Line, and I loved it, straight away I fell in love with the music, it was just really amazing,” Mark Caligiuri said.
“I just loved (Johnny Cash’s) personality and everything about them.”
Get Rhythm – A Tribute to Johnny Cash & June Carter is a high-energy show by the Caligiuri family, with the set including popular crowd favourites by the iconic husband and wife duo such as I Walk the Line, Folsom Prison Blues, Jackson and A Boy Name Sue.
“That is where the name Get Rhythm came from – obviously it’s the name of a Johnny Cash song, but also because we naturally are both very energetic and excited people, so we have a lot of energy on stage and a lot of audience interaction,” Joanne Caligiuri said.
The duo believe their passion for performing comes from their driving force of wanting to make people feel good.
“Something we both consider when performing, or in anything we do really, is how we can make people happy,” Joanne said.
“We have also got a mutual love and passion for music.
“So when you’re in a relationship with someone and you share that on stage, and then you have the whole family involved, you kind of feed off each other, so that keeps everyone going.”
In the band alongside the Caligiuris is Mark’s cousin Adam Prozzo on lead guitar, and Mark’s sons Chris (on double bass) and Lucas (on drums).
“I think the most significant thing that sets us apart from every other act is that we are a family, so we project that family feel,” Mark said.
Authenticity and genuineness is also something the family prides themselves on.
“We are authentic in terms of sound and the way we project our music,” Mark said.
“If you go back years ago to music in the 40s and 50s, there was a lot of family-based bands, including Johnny Cash and June Carter.
“So we are sort of carrying on that tradition by having a 100 per cent family band.”
While they are based in Melbourne, Joanne said, the whole band was keen to get out into regional Victoria.
“We love performing for the country people and we are definitely very excited about coming to Swan Hill.”
The show will be taking place that Swan Hill Town Hall Performing Arts and Conference Centre on October 29 at 8pm. Tickets will be available at the venue, by phone on 5036 2384, or online at swanhilltownhall.com/whats-on
