WaWaNee - Back to the 80s at Bird's Basement

Wa Wa Nee emerged as one of Australia's most prominent musical acts during the 1980s. The band was formed in 1985 by Steve Williams and Paul Gray. Their rapid ascent to fame followed their signing with CBS Records that same year. With hit singles like ‘Stimulation’ and ‘I Could Make You Love Me’, they made history by becoming the first Australian band to have two singles simultaneously in the top 10 of the national charts. In 1986, they released their eagerly awaited debut album, which achieved platinum certification. Their third consecutive top 10 single, ‘Sugar Free’, was followed by the top 20 hit ‘One and One’. Buoyed by their significant success in Australia, the band set their sights on the challenging United States market. In 1987, ‘Sugar Free’ entered the Top 40 charts in the U.S., and the band made appearances on popular American television shows, including American Bandstand with Dick Clark, Top of The Pops, and The Late Show with Arsenio Hall. In early 1989, the singles ‘Can’t Control Myself’ and ‘So Good’ reached the Top 30 in Australia, while their album ‘Blush’ peaked at #27. After releasing ‘I Want You’ in 1989, the band chose to disband. Following the dissolution of Wa Wa Nee, Steve Williams was invited by Paul Christie to join The Party Boys, contributing to the single ‘Do Wah Diddy’. He continued to tour with James Freud's band and Richard Clapton, later moving to Europe where he discovered a passion for teaching music. Upon returning to Australia, Steve collaborated with various artists, including Swanee, Ray Parker Jr, Real Life, Lee Kernaghan, Brian Cadd, Choirboys, and Zep Boys In 2006, Steve collaborated with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (ASO), and in 2008, he toured Australia with the ASO and Deep Purple’s Jon Lord. Today, Steve has gathered a talented band to celebrate the music of WaWaNee live, offering fans a chance to relive the late 80s during this special performance at Bird’s Basement.