http:// 2012-10-21T05:36:25Z 2012-10-21T05:36:25Z the-too-old-to-dance-man-proves-otherwise

The man who was told he was 'too old to dance' at a Cold Chisel concert last year, proved that fun has no age restrictions at Australia's first over 40s' rock concert in Townsville last night (October 20, 2012).More than 1,200 'oldies' rocked out at Not too old to Dance, the 10-hour musical time warp that was inspired by Richard Fuller's story and young-at-hearts everywhere.Event organiser Margie Ryder said: "It was like 'Hail King Richard' out there -- hundreds of people wanted to shake Richard's hand, give him a pat on the back or have a dance with the man that inspired it all."I'm over the moon with the feedback we received throughout the day. Admittedly, we had fewer people come through the gate than hoped, but every person who showed up had a good time and that's what Not too old to Dance was all about."The highlight of the night was certainly the Choirboys and 1927. Mark Gable in particular gave the crowd a really interactive experience and the crowd gave back 10-fold. That being said, our local bands rocked the house just as hard and I've had countless reports about how great they all were. It was fantastic to round up some of Townsville's best bands -- and Back'n'Business from Toowoomba -- and showcase the talent of our over 40 locals."Even before the big acts hit the stage there was a lot of talk happening in the crowd with comments like 'we can't wait until next year' and 'Joe Bloggs will be so disappointed he missed this'," said Mrs Ryder."We're yet to make a decision on whether there will be a next year -- there's a lot of due diligence to be done before we can make that call -- but if Not too old to Dance does go ahead again, we'll take some key learnings from yesterday. The big change will be reconsidering the age restrictions to allow everyone over 30 in, with 18 to 29 year olds requiring an over-40 'chaperone'. The last thing we want to do is deny young people who appreciate old music the chance to hear it live."Not too old to Dance donated a portion of ticket sales to beyondblue to help address issues associated with depression, anxiety and related illnesses. Choirboys front man and beyondblue ambassador, Mark Gable accepted the final donation of $6,310."There's a lot of depression among people over 40, particularly the men who don't really want to talk about it. Events like Not too old to Dance help to highlight the illness," said Gable."Primarily this kind of event has always been focused on young people, even when we were young. Now all these people have grown up, they'd rather be at home having a nice dinner or a glass of wine or beer, so to get them out to a situation like this is revolutionary."About Not too old to DanceIn 2011, at a Cold Chisel concert in Townsville, 43-year-old Richard Fuller was slapped with a $450 fine and told he was "too old to dance" after security guards threw him out of the concert for some harmless dancing in the aisle. The incident garnered national media coverage and sparked fierce support for Fuller's case. Inspired by Mr Fuller's story, Margie Ryder created Not too old to Dance, a charitable event inspired for the thousands of over 40s who enjoy an opportunity to let their hair down and rock on, while supporting a good cause.Not too old to Dance was held at Townsville's Tony Ireland Stadium on October 20, 2012 from 12pm to 10pm and included music from popular local cove rbands Godfathers of Funk, Live Wire, Alien8 and Midlife Crisis; Toowoomba's Back'n'Business; and Aussie music legends Choirboys and 1927.Concert goers were required to be 30 years or older and those born after 1972 must have been accompanied by a chaperone over 40.$10 from every ticket sold was donated to beyondblue to help address the issues associated with depression, anxiety and related illnesses.For more information and to join the Not too old to Dance mailing list go to www.not2old2dance.com.Photos will be available for download from 4pm, Sunday October 21. Please credit Stephen Duffie for all photosRadio grabs are now availableClick to share:Twitter #not2old2danceFacebook

2012-10-17T05:59:30Z gearing-up-for-australia-s-first-over-40s-rock-concert

A North Queensland man who was told he was 'too old to dance' at a Cold Chisel concert will prove otherwise when Australia's First Over 40s' Rock Concert is held at Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville this Saturday (October 20, 2012). Not too old to Dance is the first time an event of this magnitude has been staged exclusively for over 40s and is expected to draw more than 3,000 ageing air guitar enthusiasts. The 10-hour event will take place exactly one year and two days after Richard Fuller's double fist pumping earned him a court hearing, a $450 fine and national media attention. Mr Fuller said he is living proof that age is no barrier to enjoying music and that he's thrilled at the idea of an outdoor concert staged specifically for the mature market. "If my experience last year taught me anything, it's that there are hoards of 'oldies' like me around that still want loud music, a few cold beers and the freedom to dance when the mood strikes them," said Mr Fuller.  "There are always plenty of gigs on for the younger crowd and crooner fans -- especially here in regional Australia -- but this is the first I've heard of a day-long event custom made for the old rockers." Aussie pub rock legends Choirboys and 1927 will headline the concert, giving music enthusiasts a fabulous opportunity to let their hair down and relive their glory days. Bass guitarist for 1927, Simon Shapiro said the story behind Not too old to Dance really resonated with the band."The story of a man being told he was too old to dance really stirred something in us.  When we're performing we want people to dance.  You go to a concert to enjoy the music and if that makes your body feel like moving - then you should be able to do that," said Shapiro. "We're really looking forward to getting back to Townsville and playing at an open air concert.  We'll be praying for good weather and the general spirit of keeping youthful because if you can't dance and can't enjoy music, what's the point?"Popular local bands Back'n'Business, Godfathers of Funk, Alien8, LiveWire and MidLife Crisis round out the  Not too old to Dance line-up. Events organiser -- and the brain power behind Not too old to Dance --  Margie Ryder knows how to stage a crowd pleaser and while she assures concert goers that the event will provide a fabulous duck walk (a la Angus Young) down memory lane, it also has a serious side with $10 from every ticket sold being donated to beyondblue. "Depression and anxiety can often hit people as they reach their 40s," said Mrs Ryder. "Life stressors such as being over-worked; the loss of loved ones; or simply the challenges of juggling life, work and family can be prominent as people reach their mid-40s. We simply want people to take some time out for themselves, get away from the hassle of every day challenges and just relax with friends."About Not too old to DanceIn 2011, at a Cold Chisel concert in Townsville, 43-year-old Richard Fuller was slapped with a $450 fine and told he was "too old to dance" after security guards threw him out of the concert for some harmless dancing in the aisle. The incident garnered national media coverage and sparked fierce support for Fuller's case. Inspired by Mr Fuller's story, Margie Ryder created Not too old to Dance, a charitable event inspired for the thousands of over 40s who enjoy an opportunity to let their hair down and rock on, while supporting a good cause.Not too old to Dance will be held at Townsville's Tony Ireland Stadium on October 20, 2012 from 12pm to 10pm and will include music from popular local coverbands Back'n'Business, Godfathers of Funk, LiveWire, Alien8 and Midlife Crisis; as well as Aussie music legends Choirboys and 1927.Tickets cost $62.50 and are available online or at Party Shop Townsville, 90 Charters Towers Road. Concert goers must be 30 years or older and those born after 1972 must be accompanied by a chaperone over 40.$10 from every ticket sold will be donated to beyondblue to help address the issues associated with depression, anxiety and related illnesses.For more information, tickets and to join the Not too old to Dance mailing list go to www.not2old2dance.com.Click to share:Twitter: #Not2old2danceFacebookSee Townsville's retirees star alongside Choirboys’ and 1927's front men Mark Gable and Eric Weideman as they gear up for Australia's first over 40s rock concert.Ends#For more information, photos or to arrange an interview with Richard Fuller, Simon Shapiro or Margie Ryder, please contact Sarah Mathiesen from Harshmellow Media + Design on 0400 712 861 or e. sarah@harshmellow.com.au

2012-08-30T22:56:50Z choirboys-to-walk-oldies-down-memory-lane

Legendary Australian band, Choirboys will headline the country's first Over 40s' rock concert in Townsville on October 20, it was announced today (August 31, 2012).Not too old to Dance will mark the first time a 10-hour music event has been staged exclusively for those music-lovers who lived through the golden ages of 70s' and 80s' pub rock.The brains behind the operation, event organiser Margie Ryder said the addition of Choirboys to the Not too old to Dance line-up was a dream come true."Not too old to Dance is about us oldies having the chance to relive our glory days; and nobody symbolises the Aussie pub rock scene like Choirboys," said Mrs Ryder."The iconic band is a valuable addition to an already choc-full line-up. Some of Queensland's best cover bands will take the stage throughout the afternoon to tick off all the must-hear tunes from Cold Chisel,Rose Tattoo, Daddy Cool, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin… you name, you'll hear it."Then Choirboys will be the big finish, playing all their hits including the much-loved Run to Paradise."The full line-up also includes Back'n'Business, Godfathers of Funk, Alien8, LIVE WIRE and Mid-Life Crisis.Tickets to Not too old to Dance are now available at www.not2old2dance.com and will be on sale at Party Shop Townsville, 90 Charters Towers Road, as of Monday, September 3, 2012. However, keen concert goers are urged to get in quick as only 3,000 tickets are up for sale."We've capped ticket sales at 3,000 so that attendees will have plenty of room to get together a group of friends, spread out on a blanket, have a few relaxed drinks and dance into the night," Mrs Ryder said.About Not too old to DanceIn 2011, at a Cold Chisel concert in Townsville, 43-year-old Richard Fuller was slapped with a $450 fine and told he was "too old to dance" after security guards threw him out of the concert for some harmless dancing in the aisle. The incident garnered national media coverage and sparked fierce support for Fuller's case. Inspired by Mr Fuller's story, Margie Ryder created Not too old to Dance, a charitable event for the thousands of over 40s who enjoy an opportunity to let their hair down and rock on, while supporting a good cause.Not too old to Dance will be held at Townsville's Tony Ireland Stadium on October 20, 2012 from 12pm to 10pm. Tickets cost $62.50 and are available online or at Party Shop Townsville, 90 Charters Towers Road.$10 from every ticket sold will be donated to beyondblue to help address the issues associated with depression, anxiety and related illnesses.For more information, tickets and to join the Not too old to Dance mailing list go to www.not2old2dance.com.Click to share:Twitter #Not2old2danceFacebookEnds#For more information, contact Sarah Mathiesen from Harshmellow Media + Design on +614 0071 2861

2012-06-27T21:51:53Z the-man-who-was-too-old-to-dance-inspires-australia-s-first-over-40s-rock-concert

A North Queensland man who was told he was "too old to dance" at a Cold Chisel concert has had the last laugh today, with the announcement that his aisle-dancing antics have inspired Australia's First Over 40s' Rock Concert.The concert, Not too old to Dance, is expected to draw more than 3,000 ageing air guitar enthusiasts to Townsville in October, exactly one year and two days after Richard Fuller's double fist-pumping earned him a court hearing, a $450 fine and national media attention. Mr Fuller said he is thrilled at the idea of an outdoor concert staged specifically for the mature market."I think Not too old to Dance is a brilliant concept," said Mr Fuller."If my experience last year taught me anything, it's that there are hoards of 'oldies' like me around that still want loud music, a few cold beers and the freedom to dance when the mood strikes them."There are always plenty of gigs on for the younger crowd and crooner fans -- especially here in regional Australia -- but this is the first I've heard of a day-long event custom made for the old rockers."Not too old to Dance is the brain child of events organiser Margie Ryder. As the driving force behind award-winning events such as the Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival and the McDonald's Townsville Running Festival, Mrs Ryder knows how to stage a crowd-pleaser."Being an over-40 myself, I know that entertainment options for older people can be hard to come by – but that doesn’t mean we’re ready to sit down in our rocking chairs and take up knitting!"Not too old to Dance will give us oldies the chance to get out and spend a day indulging in the things we love – not what the kids want, or the boss needs, or the yard is begging for. The concert will be all about the music we lived for – Cold Chisel, AC/DC, Hunters and Collectors, INXS – performed by some of the best cover bands Queensland has to offer including Back n Business and the Godfathers of Funk."While the concert is sure to provide a fabulous duck walk (a la Angus Young) down memory lane, it also has a serious side with $10 from every ticket sold being donated to beyondblue. "Depression and anxiety can often hit people as they reach their 40s," said Mrs Ryder."Life stressors such as being over-worked; the loss of loved ones; or simply the challenges of juggling life, work and family can be prominent as people reach their mid-40s. We simply want people to take some time out for themselves, get away from the hassle of every day challenges and just relax with friends."Not too old to Dance will be a fantastic event for Townsville -- not only for those music lovers who will rock up on the day, but for all those local businesses and community organisations that we will need to engage to pull off an event of this scale: sound, lighting, security, food vendors. We're particularly excited to be the first cab off the rank for soon-to-be-launched local ticketing agency – www.townsvilletickets.com.au," Mrs Ryder said.But while everything is in place to deliver Not too old to Dance in October, sponsorship is still being sought to help bring Mrs Ryder's idea to life."I'd love to see organisations such as funeral insurance companies and health providers embrace the tongue-in-cheek spirit of this event by coming on board as sponsors. It's certainly a unique opportunity for brands to get in front of the busy decision-makers for a whole day and put on an event that they'll never forget…. At least not until the Alzheimer's sets in."For more information and to join the Not too old to Dance mailing list go to www.not2old2dance.com.