Entertainment
8 August, 2026
Classic West Coast sound returns to Reef Casino
THE Little Steely Brothers will bring their tribute to the classic West Coast sound back to Cairns this month, with three free performances at BAR36 in The Reef Hotel Casino.
The Brisbane-based six-piece will perform on 14-16 August, with shows at 9pm on 14 and 15 August and a special early performance from 5.30pm on Sunday 16 August.
Audiences can expect music from Little River Band, Eagles, Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers and other acts that defined the 1970s and 1980s West Coast sound. Founding member Greg Richards said the band’s longevity stemmed from playing music they genuinely enjoyed rather than simply choosing crowd favourites.
“We picked songs that we really wanted to play rather than concentrating on the songs that we thought would go over at pubs,” he said.
Mr Richards said that approach helped the band carve out its own niche when few other groups were performing Steely Dan or Little River Band material.
While Little Steely Brothers are billed as a tribute act, Mr Richards said the focus had always been on faithfully recreating the music rather than the image of the original artists.
“We put all our efforts into trying to sound like the original recording rather than trying to look like them,” he said.
The formula has attracted audiences across generations.
“We have young people that are in their 20s who are really enjoying it,” Mr Richards said.
“I actually was cheeky enough to say to a fellow once, ‘How come you know these songs? They’re all way older than you are.’ And he said, ‘Oh, my Dad always played this stuff and he loved it.’”
Mr Richards said the resurgence of what is now commonly known as “yacht rock” had also introduced the music to a new audience.
Returning to Cairns, Mr Richards said audiences could expect more of the band’s trademark harmonies and classic hits, along with a couple of new additions to the setlist.
“It’s just 70s and 80s material in that West Coast style and played to the best of our ability,” he said.
The three performances at BAR36 are part of the venue’s 30-year celebrations and are free to attend.
