LCpl Phil Johansen and Musn Ben Cobden, 1RAR Band, perform the Stomp routine during the concert at Magnetic Island Primary School. Photo by Cpl Belinda Mepham, Army newspaper

1RAR's wiggle time

By Cpl Belinda Mepham
JIVING and grooving their little hearts out, primary school students and teachers from Magnetic Island Primary school rocked the morning away to 1RAR Band's Austin Powers concert recently.

The tin roof nearly lifted off the assembly area as the band stirred the children's enthusiasm with a colourful and active performance from Gold Member, Dr Evil and his beloved Mini Me. Austin Powers was played by Cpl Gary Linton and Foxy Cleopatra was played by Musn Megan Holmes.

Thought to be gate-crashing the concert, Ska8er Boi, alias Musn Lincoln Quilliam, was chased around by the school principal until it became evident that he was a part of the show.

Popular tunes from Shrek, such as I'm A Believer, and the Wiggles' Hot Potato, Fruit Salad and Dorothy the Dinosaur, performed by Musn Ben Cobden and Cpl Linton sent the littlies into a spin of pure enthusiasm as the band won them over - even the most stubborn hands began clapping.

Stomp, an urban improvised percussion display using garbage cans and loads of energetic bashing from the crew demonstrated that music could be made using anything you're willing to put your imagination into.

Current popular top 40 songs Stacy's Mom and Hey Ya were also crowd favourites.

The 1RAR Band is widely recognised as brilliant local entertainment among the Townsville, Thuringowa, Magnetic Island, Cairns and Airlie Beach communities.

They perform all types,of music, from big band, jazz and swing, rock and popular chart busting songs and, of course, the Wiggles.

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