Sri Lankan band Mirage’s final appearance, as they signed off in style after a third sellout performance. – By Trevine Rodrigo (eLanka – Melbourne)

Temperatures soared in Melbourne to nearly 40 degrees Celsius but it did little to discourage a capacity crowd attending Sri Lankan band Mirage’s final appearance, as they signed off in style after a third sellout performance. 

Event organisers Chris and Annie Cannon were apologetic at the hurried change of plan due to the extreme weather conditions that forced everyone inside the venue and making the hall a bit overcrowded. 

But the clamour for tickets could have made it worse if a cap was not put on it leaving about a hundred interested patrons disappointed. 

However, there was no doubt it was an outstanding success, music and delicious food wise. Thai Street Food can take a bow in that respect. 

From a Mirage perspective, the tour was a revelation to dance goers who got to savour their fantastic talent and all indications point to their return to Australia in the not too distant future. In fact an impressed Bertie Ekanaike told us they would return possibly next year. 

Donald Pieries,  Manilal Perera and Toosha Rajarathna had music lovers spellbound with their supercharged vocals. 

Mirage was grateful to master promoter Bertie Ekanaike for taking a punt on them and allowing dance goers in Melbourne to enjoy their amazing repertoire in music. 

Esric Jackson spared no pain to make the travelling band comfortable ferrying them around Melbourne. 

Mirage leader Donald Pieries was estatic at the response his band received. His ‘icing on the cake’, pun intended, was a hat-trick of birthday celebrations organised by Chris and Annie Cannon and Chas Cabin in Hallam. 

Brilliant bassist Benjy Ranabahu says,” I had a fantastic time with the boys, and the music lovers in Melbourne were second to none in the world. We are looking forward to returning to Australia and showcasing our wide repertoire of music which we could not deliver in our three gigs”, he said.

The band leaves for Colombo with their image lifted after successful stints in Seychelles Islands and Melbourne and to regular gigs in Colombo. 

Australia awaits their return.